URENUI WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16723, 26 April 1920, Page 6

URENUI WAR MEMORIAL.

UNVEILED ON SUNDAY. A memorial to fallen soldiers was unveiled" ttfc (Jrenui on Sunday. It stands on a rounded hill-top in the cemetery beside the Main North Road, and, looks out over a wide expanse of fertile valley and low hills, rising to the distant ranges of tho broken country inland. Tho unveiling ceremony took place in tho afternoon, in pleasant sunshine. People gathered to the number of about four hundred, from all parts of the surrounding district;' and among them was a largo proportion of returned soldiers, fifty or more of these veterans of a great war being present. A simple and impressive service was held, the ministers conducting it being the Rev. G. H. Gavin, the Rev. F. H. Lawrence, and Mr. A. H. Gould. The singing of the hymns was led by the combined choirs of tho Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches of Waitara and Urcnui. The music was provided by the Urcnui orchestra, with .Miss Marlow (Waitara) at the organ, Mr. AV. T. Jennings, M.P.,'unveiled tlie memorial, which is a granite obelisk of simple design. Before doing so Ma*. Jennings contrasted that day, with its gathering in God’s sunshine and with peace and happiness, except for those who. had a great sorrow, with the day five years before when Now Zealand’s sons landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was sure that, throughout the whole of New Zealand, Anzao Day was being observed as it was there, in a. solemn and proper manner, and he hoped that it would be handed down as one of the days in Now Zealand history to be remembered always. Other days; such as St. Andrew’s, St. Patrick’s and-St. George’s, were observed, and we knew little of the circumstances of their origin, hut wo all knew of tho terrific sufferings our boys had gone through on Anzac Day. Mr. Jennings also spoke of thp cry for peace and brotherhood while the newspapers showed every day thnt there was no peace in tho hearts of men. It could only come through a development of the spiritual side of our natures and a lessening of tho greediness which was going on. Speaking of the memorial, Mr. Jennings paid a tribute to Mrs. J. Rockett, the honorary secretary of the memorial committee, and tlie others who had been instrumental in accomplishing this great work. AVhilo the memorial was being unveiled tbo returned soldiers stood at attention i.n a group. Bugler Walker sounder! the “Last Post.”

Air. A. H. Gould, Presbyterian Home Missioner, delivered an address, his theme being sacrifice and what it meant in tho past, to-day, and in the future. A collection was taken up, and will he divided between the four churches.

Tho memorial obelisk is" inscribed as follows; “Erected by the residents of tlie Urenni district in honour of tho men who were killed in the Great "War. 1914-1918.” The names of deceased soldiers who went from the district covered by tho Urenui branch of the North Taranaki Patriotic Society are also inscribed. as follows; “Urenui: D. R. Webster. J. W. Buckler, R. Anderson, J. .T. Kelly, J. J. Falconer, J. E. Bell, M. Beck, W. J. Richards, J. MacDonald, Riri Pukcre. “L’ruti; J, W. Candy, C. Kirton, T. H. Walsh, F. G. Richardson, W. J. Bracken, J. Rao. “Pukca-ruhe; R, H. Waterson, J. H. Waters, R. H. Farmer, H. A. ‘Waterson, P. Taylor. “Onnero: J. T. Graham, J. S. Hanson. C. Ustello, C. V. Hanson. “Okoke; L. M. Jones, J. W. Derby.”