AUCKLAND’S SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 832, 28 November 1929, Page 1

AUCKLAND’S SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE

OPENING OF WAR MEMORIAL

“Link Between Dead and Living”

homage paid to brave men

Great Crowd Views Consecration

A PLACE of memories crowns a bush-fringed hill and keeps its seaward watch above Waitemata’s silver waters. From the City’s heart, quietened for a brief afternoon, comes the line of a solemn pilgrimage. It is an hour which marks the climax of Auckland’s tribute to her sons, and with proud gratefulness her people perform their act of homage to brave warriors—an act as old as war. Through a leafy glade that clothed the slopes before pioneers brought the sound of an Empire’s war-drums to New Zealand shores, a thankful people made their way. pausing at last where trees give place to grassy spaces. Before them tower the noble columns of a white building, built on the lasting rock of remembrance. At its foot lies the chaste marble of the Court of Honour, and in the centre stands the Cenotaph—central symbol of the community’s recognition of youth’s sacrifice. Within the walls of the museum memorial and resting on six high-flung columns is a quiet hall and shrine—a massive marble slab round which the silken flags of the Allies hang droopingly. Here the silence is broken only by the muffled sounds of a great crowd assembling without. To right and to left on the flanks of the tall building that is their tangible tribute the expectant people are grouped, their eyes on the dignified Cenotaph. It is the moment for ceremony, for thanksgiving, and the consecrating for sacred use a material achievement of man. A welcome to the King’s representative, and an address to the waiting people. An offering to the Almighty in hymn and prayer, and a reading from the Book that chronicles the greatest sacrifice. In a hush that extends to the edge of the rustling bush. New Zealand's high representatives of England’s and Scotland's churches step forward together, united in the common purpose of dedication. The moments pass . . . “May this Cenotaph be a link between the dead and the living and a solemn appeal to present and future to remember the past and give honour to whom honour is due.” . . . the Primate of New Zealand and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly have completed their task. A memorial has been endowed with spiritual meaning and clothed with its ceremonial significance.

THENi striking sharp and clear through the pregnant silence, “The Last Post” with its long-drawn notes that fade away as a soft prelude to a soldier’s rest. The majestic volume of “Lest We Forget,” a national hymn. Finally the patriarchal blessing and the rousing hopeful call of the Reveille. The dedication ceremony has draw n to its meaningful close, and there follow the formal ceremonies of the day—ceremonies which mark the fruition of a community effort without parallel of magnitude in Auckland’s history.

It is the time to receive that which the city has done to perpetuate the deeds of its sons. Sir Charles Fergusson. the central figure in a scene oL' impressive brilliance. presents the Cenotaph the city and the towering memorial museum to the representative of its custodians.

Holding in his upraised hand the mere, symbol of the direct and inevitable association with the memorial the Maori race may claim, the iJovernor-General knocks and demands entrance.

The high doors swing back and a great building receives the representatives of those who made it possible. The people who remain, held by a great climax of sentiment and a quiet pride for what has been accomplished, *'ait with their floral tributes which, in a fitting moment when the sun has dipped and the day has reached its evening, will be placed at the foot of the cenotaph. It is in the heart or this big Auckland assembly that the flower of remembrance is blossoming in greatest prolusion, for there stand mothers, lathers, widows, sisters and brothers of men whose memorial has come into striking, concrete being: there stand mer themselves who claim as warrior brothers the phantom army oil the consecrated hill above the city and the sea. STFEAM OF PEOPLE From on; o’clock onward the approaches to the Memorial were flowing with a constant stream of people from a l parts off the City. Most came on foot, but motor-cars and taxis brought their quota, and when emptied formed a long avenue, through which the people passed to the height. At 1.30 battalions from the colleges and the schools formed up on the Domain in readiness to take up Position near the Cenotaph. Old sol'liers of earlier wars and veterans of he Great War in mufti and in uniform were conspicuous by their decorations. A breeze tempered the heat from a strong sun. The Cenotaph dominating the approaches caught the sunlight and made a commanding prospect.

His Excellency and Lady Alice Fergusson were received by a reception committee composed of the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, Mr. A. S. Bankart, Sir James Gunson and Mr. H. E. Vaile. In his opening address Mr. Bankart

said: “We lxave met here today to perform the final act of this great enterprise. I have received many apologies, the most notable being those from the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, who, through indisposition, is unable to be present, and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who has personally intimated to me his great regret that he is unable to be present. “We rejoice that your Excellencies’ stay in our midst has been sufficiently prolonged and that your many engage-, meats have permitted you to share with us this culmination of the several years which have been devoted to this work.

| “The memorable years, 1914-191 S, | full as they were with strife and j anxieties, brought citizens of all classes very closely together. The ; common peril called forth all that was best in us, and in their respective j spheres all strove to alleviate the j common suffering which had to he borne by ail. Peace brought with it j ether problems, the most prominent j of which was the repatriation of our soldiers. It was not till 1920 that the 1 citizens were able to start to put into | material form that which had long been in their thoughts—the establisli- | ment in our midst of a memorial I which would perpetuate for all time 1 the deeds of those men and women ; who had answered the call of country, of Empire and of civilisation itself. NINE YEARS AGO ; “Nine years ago Sir James Gunson, as Mayor of Auckland, called a public meeting of citizens to consider the Question of providing a memorial and ; the formation in which tha* memorial I should be expressed. Several pro- ’ positions were placed before that meeting, and after the fullest discussion it was unanimously resolved to erect a museum which, while of a utilitarian and cultural character, should ; at the same time embody significant war memorial features. “The financial goal was set at I £200,000, aud it was laid down that as ! the memorial was intended to be a i spontaneous thanks-oft'ering no adventitious aids such as art unions should be availed of in raising the amount reI quired, and the citizens are to be eon--1 gratulated on the fact that the total sum subscribed has been the result of free-will offerings only. Within a year the response had been so encouraging as to justify the committee in inviting designs from architects.” Mr. Bankart detailed the progress of the architects and the laying of ; the foundation stone by Mr. Coates in August, 1925. He said that after many ] inquiries it was decided to obtain tbe I necessary stone for the building from Portland. England. The museum was completed in August this year, five years after the foundation stone was ilaid. Mr. Bankart said that a great deal ! of work had been necessary in pre- , paring the site, which had been granted by the City Council, and there was still some work to be done on the area surrounding the museum. When this work was finished he felt sure that the surroundings would be in consonance with the museum itself.

The speaker continued: “In furtherance of the special war memorial features the committee resolved to obtain the consent of the Auckland City Council to the placing of a paved Court of Honour on the land facing the War Memorial Museum, and to the erection of a Cenotaph there. These have now been completed. “It is fitting, I think, at this stage, to

express on behalf of the committee their grateful appreciation of the assistance given to their work—the trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank with grants totalling £50,000, Parliament in voting £37,500, the Auckland City Council contribution of £IO,OOO (in addition to the site), the Auckland Harbour Board and the Auckland Electric-Power Board with

their contributions of £5.000 and £2,000 respectively, and the Auckland Racing Club with its donation of £2,500 respectively, and the Aucltto individual citizens, whose response has yielded more than £93,000. The investment of these funds has resulted in the receipt of over £35.000 for interest, which reflects great credit on Mr. V. J. Larner. who has filled the position of honorary treasurer. “Your Excellency, the memorial takes two forms—the Museum building and the Cenotaph, both embodying the same spirit. They are to be entrusted to the care of different bodies—the Court of Honour and the Cenotaph to the Mayor and councillors of the City of Auckland, and the Museum building to the trustees of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Before asking your Excellency to perform the final act of handing over the Memorial, the Citizens’ Oommittee desires that the Cenotaph shall be consecrated to the ‘glorious dead.’ ” Turning to the Archbishop. Mr. Bankart said: “Your Grace, I have now to ask you to consecrate the Cenotaph, by which act we mean that these blocks of stone be sanctified and set apart as a sacred memorial to those whose sacrifice was accepted in the Great War.’’ The assembly sang the hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” following which the Rev. W’m. Morrison read a passage of Scripture. His Grace then offered the Dedicatory Prayer. Mr. Bankart then asked his Excellency to accept the Memorial and

present the Cenotaph to the Mayor. In doing so he said: “I have now to ask you to present the Cenotaph and the Court of Honour in which it stands and lies before ns to the Mayor of Auckland. The Cenotaph—the empty tomb —is a fitting emblem of our faith in the resurrection and, as in the days to come we gather round this pillar of remembrance, to express our gratitude for our deliverance, may we ever remember that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses by whose sacrifice we were saved. It is fitting that this outward form of our soldiers’ love for those their comrades who have gone before should have been erected at this place, and I request your Excellency to pass on to the authorities of this City this our gift as a tribute to those who fought and died in the cause of freedom, honour and righteousness.” GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ADDRESS “I want you to take back your minds to a period 2,000 years ago,” Sir Charles said. “When in Ancient Greece it was the custom for the inhabitants to assemble on some beautiful spot to which were brought in beautiful caskets the remains of those who had died in battle, with other caskets representing those who had died and who had not been brought back. . . . Someone was then called upon to pay a tribute to their memory, and after that the people went away quietly to their homes . . .” Above the doorway of this museum would be seen the words of a great Athenian statesman, Pericles, who had spoken on an occasion of the kind

to which he had referred. The whole tenor of his speech was that we should not grieve too much for those who had died for their country, hut rather that our eyes should turn to the glory which surrounded their memory. He had said it was easy to talk of brave fighting, but he would rather that his hearers should fix their eyes day by day upon the greatness of their

country, and reflect that the Empire had been acquired by men who knew their duty and had the courage to do it, fearing dishonour and being willing always to give their lives for their country.

Today’s function was similar in its circumstances. This Cenotaph did not represent the graves of the fallen but rather the glory of what survives them. It reminded us that these men knew their duty and had the courage to do it —surely the noblest of all attributes. It depended how each one of us responded to the call of duty as to the answer to the question: “Were these lives wasted; did they die in vain?” The lives would have been wasted if we today did not dedicate our lives to duty and to our country. On the upper wall of the museum were pictures typical of the men who fell—men of all branches of the services and different types of war instruments —a picture of war. Then there was a contrast in a nearby picture representing peace, reminding him of a widely-known quotation beginning:

“I dreamed that overhead I saw in twilight grey. An army of the dead marching on its way . .

The lessons of these comparisons were that everyone should strive to ensure a state of things in the world that would make war impossible. The Bishop of London had recently said that the world needed a great revival of religion. “i have now to ask you to take care of this Cenotaph, which has been erected to commemorate those from this province who died in the Great War.” Sir Charles concluded. "I know it will be tended with loving care not only by yourselves, but by those who follow you.”

The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. who ! followed, said: Your Excellency, : I accept on behalf of the citizens of : Auckland the trust imposed upon them ■ to maintain and preserve for the present and future inhabitants of our city i this Cenotaph you now present. This monument will, 1 am certain, ever be ] regarded as an expression of the 1 reverence in which are held those who i : gave their all for our Empire, and died | that we might live. Whatever obligations may be en- ! tailed by your gift I, on behalf of the City Corporation, assume them, and I . give my own persona) undertaking i that during my term of office the i Cenotaph will be guarded with the utmost care and attention, and the obligation of personal responsibility will be handed on by me to my suc- | cessor. HANDING OVER OF MUSEUM Then came the ceremony of hand- ’ ing over the Museum itself. In rej questing the Governor-General to do ; so Mr. Bankart said: “At Athens, iu ! the Acropolis which dominates their

beloved city, the ancient Greeks set that most magnificent of temples—the Parthenon —to shelter the carved image of their Goddess. There, through the centuries, it stood a silent witness to the piety that was dead and a faith that had passed away. “Here in a clime as sunny and on Ft height no less commanding we have set our memorial to those heroic sons and daughters of Auckland, both living and dead, by whose sacrifice we remain free. It is worthy of note that not only is the architecture of this noble building a heritage from ancient Greece, where men were taught to value that freedom to secure which our sailors and soldiers fought and suffered and died, but that the inscription which has been chosen to be placed on the face of this memorial is taken from an immortal part of that country’s glorious literature — the oration of Pericles over the men of Athens who had died in battle. “Thus are the heroisms and the cultures of the ages linked together and thus does one touch of idealism and sacrifice make Hie whole world kin. Here then shall our memorial stand, our witness of a debt that will ever be with us and a gratitude that will never die.”

His Excellency then declared the museum open and the official visitors entered the building. A party limited in number and including the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers was then allowed in the museum for inspection. HELD IN TRUST

“The Auckland War Memorial Museum belongs to no Individual or group of individuals, but to the community as a whole, and we shall merely hold it in trust for them,” said Mr. H. E. Vaile, in accepting the museum from his Excellency. “I think citizens decided wisely when, after full consideration of the proposals, they selected a museum as the most appropriate memorial. There will be enshrined in this building not only the history of the Great War and of other wars, hut of New Zealand itself—including that of the great Maori race, of which we are so proud. “The museum will be a living thing in this community, and I need scarcely assure you that the institute which controls it will, as far as its resources allow, do all possible to inculcate in the present and future generations a love of country, a pride of their city, and a proper appreciation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers. “This is a great and solemn occasion in the history of Auckland <jnd marks the consummation of a great ideal conceived years ago, and whatever criticisms may be made both committees can truthfully say that they have done their best, and I believe that the vast majority of citizens will be well satisfied with the result. At all events Auckland now has a memorial and a museum of which not only this City, but the whole of New Zealand may well be proud. “It is hardly necessary for me to assure you again that the trust reposed by you today in the Auckland Institute will be faithfully administered.” Before actually handing over the building, Sir Charles Fergusson expressed appreciation of the part which Mr. A. S. Bankhart had taken in the work —requiring, as it did, great courage and perseverance and fraught as it was with great difficulties. The result was worthy of a great city, and it would stand for centuries as a monument to those who had gone before.

Sir Charles then handed the building into the keeping of Mr. H. E. Vaile, president of the Auckland Institute, expressing the hope also that the scheme to have inscribed the names of the fallen as a lasting memorial to their sacrifice and courage might, be carried through. He felt that If the proposal now afoot with this objective were finally carried out. it would give gratification and relief to thousands of people.

MAORI RITUAL

Colourful Leaders at Opening Tomorrow BANISHING EVIL SPIRITS

Incan- tions by a tohunga to dispel the shadows of evil spirits, and the crossing of the threshold by a high-born woman, are the picturesque rituals for the Maori opening of Hotunui’s house in the War Memorial Museum tomorrow morning. The oratory of detached tribal chiefs will be surpassed by the combined custom of the main tribes of Auckland Province in what will be the most significant assembly of Maori peoples in the city. Today, Maoris from all districts are arriving in Auckland. This evening, at the quarters in Ellerslie, the chieftains will arrange the niceties of the ceremonial necessary to complete the procedure. Prominent Europeans to observe what will be essentially a Polynesian tomo (opening) ceremony will be the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, to whom the leaders of the tribes will be presented after the ceremony; the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon; and Mr. H. E. Vaile, president of the Auckland Institute and Museum. The Maoris will assemble in the Domain at 8.30 o’clock, and St. Stephen's College Maori boys will form a guard of honour for his Excellency. Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, is now not expected to attend, and the Maori king, Te Rata Mahuta. will be absent through illness. Princess Te Puea Herangi, of Ngaruawahia; Mita Taupopoki. of Rotorua; and the Hon. W. Rikihana, M.L.C., of North Auckland, will be three influential leaders present.

Three chieftains from Rotorua will make an interesting link with the legend of Tutanekai and Hinemoa, the lovers of centuries ago. Tutanekai Taua is descended from the original Tutanei kai, and Pirika te Miroi and Te Naera te Awekotuku are chieftains i of Ngr.ti-Tunohopu, the tribe of i Tutanekai. i

Wi Hongl. descendant of Hons Heke, the North Auckland marauder, and Te Heuheu Tukino. descendant of the ancient priest Ngatoro-i-Uangi, who penetrated the fastnesses of Tougarlro National Park, are other prominent guests. The Arawa. Tokerau. Tai-Uawhiti, Waikato, and MataAtua tribal districts will have lull representation. Tradition has it that tapu prevails in new houses. Baleful enchantments have their origin in the destruction of trees, the children of Tane. god of the forests. Kawanga-whare and whai-kawa ceremonies are needed to dispel tapu. and three incantations by* a priest, who sweeps sacred foliago along the principal parts of the house, are made. The assembled Maoris intono “Haumi-e.” “li-e.” “Taiki-e,” the native equivalent of “Amen.” and the last tapu is broken when a woman, steps across the threshold.