WAR MEMORIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17192, 8 November 1923, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL.

CEREMONY AT LITTLE RIVER. SPEECH BY LORD JELLICOE. European and Maori residents of Little River assembled at the gates to their domain to day to welcome his Excellency the Governor-Generali who unveiled a war memorial there. It is an imposing triple arch of stone, mostly brought from quarries on Banks Peninsula. On the front there is an inscription : “ At tho going down oF tho sun and in the morning we will remembei Soldiers’ names arc in gilt letters on two panels. The memorial commemorates men who fell in the South African War as well ns the men who fell in tho Great War. Picturesqueness was added to the ceremony by the presence of Maoris, some of whom wore native costumes His Excellency was accompanied b* Commander J. Dove. He was met by M r J. O. Coop, chairman of tho Wairewa County Council, and members of tho council. Amongst others present were Sir It. Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence, and Lady Rhodes. Colonel R Young, Officer Commanding the Southern District, Air D. Bruce, chairman of the Akaroa County Council, Mr (l Armstrong, Mayor of Akaroa. and Mr G. Harper, solicitor to the W airewa County Council.

When his Excellency stepped out ot his car in front of the gates he was greeted by “ Haeremai. liaeremai.” the old Maori welcome, chanted musically bv Mrs M. Tini, Airs N. Tini, Airs M. Kipa, Airs M. Tupo and Mrs Rahi Whaitiri. They wore old-time flax or feather mats, and feathers in then' hair. They had old-time flax sandals on their feet, and they brandished ornamented taiahas and wooden or whalebone meres. Later they gave another interesting touch to the proceedings by singing in unison, in Maori, with soft, rich voices, a hymn for the dead and a< Katana’s Hymn.” The following names are on Inc panels: — THE GREAT WAR. Private E. W. Batchelor. Trooper R. Birdling. Rifleman A. Clough. Corporal J. F. Fahey. Driver A. Gilbert. Private J. Hhyes. Trooper J. T. Irwin. Private T. Gilmour. Corporal W. Johnston. Private S. Alahson. Sergeant A. Manson. Corporal C. H. Noyce. Lance-Corporal L. Radford. Rifleman R. Russell. Private J. Shearet. Private J. R. Swadel. Rifleman O. Sutherland. Private Honepa To Para. Private H. J. White. Lance-Corporal H. T. A. "W right. Private F. Young. SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. Corporal C. Parkinson. Trooper R. Al’lntyre. Private J. Alaloney.

Air Coop said it was fitting that the memorial should ho unveiled by one who had done great deeds for the freedom of the Empirq. On that solemn occasion heartfelt sympathy went out to the mothers and fathers of thu. fallen His Excellency said that it was fitting that liis Majesty’s representative in this Dominion should be invited to honour those in that district who went to serve tho Empire, and gave their lives on tho -field of battle. If his Majesty were there, he, as head of the Empire, would express gratitude for the great deeds done in those days when the Empire, as well as civilisation, was in peril. He was pleased to be present, also, as a naval officer. At the momentous time when tho New Zeaand Expeditionary Force was closely associated with the Navy on the shores of Gallipoli, there was a strong spirit comradeship between them. New Zealand thou made a name for herself that never would fade. War was very terrible. Jt had been said that it brought out the finest qualities in men and women. It was true that it brought out some of the worst in men. but when people thought of the spirit of comradeship, self-sacrifice, and devotion to duty of men and women in the Great War, people must feel that, terrible as war was, it brought forth qualities of which everybody must be very proud. While sympathy was felt for those who had lost loved ones, there remained deep pride in their achievements. If the same qualities were brought out in peace, the world would be a better place to live in. 7 1. was the duty of all, particularly their duty to succeeding generations, to see ‘ that these qualities were not forgotten. He was pleased to meet men who had goue to the war from Little River, and had returned. They knew the sacrifices the men whose memory was commemorated had made and the privations they had endured. The previous day he had read a poem by Sir Charles Bowen, a Canterbury settler. It was written soon after the Crimean War, was dedicated to the Dominions overseas, and it prophesied how they, the growing young countries of the Empire, would respond to the Empire’s call 1 oh, England, hear thee proudly In the direst need of war. For thy sous, hte sons cf Freedom, Are sailing from afar. No lingering or debating till the dcadlr flight ho won; The maiden sends her lover, the mother sends ber son. They are Katherine, they are Katherine from the mountains and the lea, i° rally round the banner of the Island of the Free. Thei© is one other thing about this ceremony/* hi* Excellency con eluded. “Tn this district, ‘'where pakelia and Maori have lived together t° a greater extent, perhaps, than in any other part of the South Island, there is a war memorial erected by Alaoris to commemorate a conflict in one of their tribal wars; and here we have a war memorial that marks the union of the two races, and recognises what both have done.?* Other addresses were given. His Excellency placed a wreath on tho arch. The ** Last Post ” was -minded by Air AY. Columbus, and the Little River Brass Band played “Son.of New Zealand” and “Soldiers of the Queen.” the latter in respect to South African solders. as it, was one of tho most popular tunes during the Sou th A fri ra n Wa r.