SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1920, Page 3

SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

MONUMENT AT TIKORANGI. The unveiling of a memorial to fallen soldiers at Tikorangi, which had to be postponed from a former occasion on account of nln, took place on Sunday afternoon in glorious weather. Several hundreds of people assembled in the graveyard where the monument has been erected. A simple form of service was conducted by the Rev. G. H. Gavin and Mr. A. H. Gould, and the unveiling was done by Mr. W. T. Jennings, JI.P. A lead in the singing of the hymns was given by the combined choirs of the Anglican, Presbytovlan, anil Wesleyan Churctes, of Waltara, while Mrs. Matlow presided at the organ. The Waltara Municipal Band, under Bandmaster Sampson, also assisted In the service. "/cad, Kindly Light," was played at the opening of the service, and "In Memory of the Brave," before the National Anthem at tho conclusion.

The Rev. G. H. flavin, In an address, first | mentioned the purpose of the gathering, and said 1-e- took it that they might make it an occasion, not only of honoring tho men of the district who fell, but also of paying their respect and reverence to all the great multitude, men and women too, who laid down their lives on sea and land, In the air and under the water, during tho terrible war. The monument that had been placed in the churel-yard would stand there for many a year to the memory of thoso men and It would tell its lesson to those who passed by. What was that lesson? What was the message It was to tell?—for that was the reason for placing the monument. He believed that the men who had laid down tteir lives and all those who fought for their auntry and d'd their best, had left us this lesson: Firstly, the lesson of courage; secondly, the lesson of self-sacrifice; and, thirdly, the lesson cf devotion to duty. Preceding, the Rev. Mr. Gavin emphasised the point that these virtues—courage, self-sacrlflce, and devotion to duty—were needed in time of peace as well as In time of war. "We all have our duty in life," he concluded. "See to it, so far as we can, that we play the game as these men did."

.Mr. Jennings, speaking before unveiling the monument, said he did not know of any place m New Zealand where more historic ground could have been chosen for such a ceremony. There were some present that day who remembered tl:e troublesome times In this district, and to them it must be a momentous occasion to look on the monument and think that their sons fulfilled In another ileld the same duty,' showed the same courage, and made the same sacrifice as their comrade had in this district CO years ago. Referr-n'j to what Mr. Ravin had said, Mr. Jennings, mentioned a line in one of the hymns that had bene sung, "One in charity." ' He proceeded to speak of the need of charity and goodwill towards one another that the preseir state of unrest in the world called for. The effect of the strain on some of the men who had come back could not be wono-veJ at Mr. .Teiuilnas prrfdeeiicd. He< made an appeal that we stouid be just and generous and considerate towards these men. If rhey made .mistakes, let us be charitable tj tliim and lift them up instead of cast'.n,; them down He conciuded with an expression of sympathy with the fallen men, and as he unveiled the monument the "Last Post" was sounded.

Granite from Scotland was obtained by the memorial committee as the material for ■ lie monument and It las a handsome ap pc.ir.ince. Prom a massive square base a slender column, surmounted by a veiled urn rises to a height of 23 feet. The inscription Is: "Erected by the residents of Tlkorar.gi In mcimn-y of their men who made the supreme sacrifice for home and country In the the great war, 1914-1918." The name's of the men who lost their lives are: rrivate J. JI. -V. Furze, rrivate C. N. Furze, Rifleman W. F. Terrill, Private E. D. Alexander, Rifleman F. A. Cole.