KAKARIKI SCHOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 6

KAKARIKI SCHOOL

MEMORIAL UNVEILED 5 GIRL’S BRAVERY REMEMBEREL I fatality on railway bridge An impressive ceremony took place , yesterday when a memorial was un- ’ veiled at the Kakariki Schoo! to com- , memorate the unselfish bravery of J lances Mason, aged 10, who tried to ‘ shield her cousin, Molly Camplip, aged : 3, when both were killed on the Kakariki Bridge on December 26, 1933, bv ) a train. The ceremony was conducted by the Rov. Bayliss, of Halcombe, and . the memorial was unveiled by the Hon I J. G. Cobbe. ‘"Greater love hath no man (han this, that Ife lay down his life for his > friend,’’ said Rev. Bayliss, addressing . a congregation of 250'adults and children. He said that those who laid 5 down their lives for others of their own free will, belonged to a glorious 1 company. The idea of helping others ’ was the chief glory of the race. The 1 tragedy on the bridge, in which a child had sought to protect and shield another, had been a glorious avt. The memorial would remain a perpetual inspiration and incentive to self-forget-fulness and noble needs. The Hon. Cobbe said Frances Mason had proved herself a heroine where thousands in the same place would have jumped to safety.* Her action should bo a bright example to the scholars at the Kakariki School, and it would be remembered when they had all passed away. Mr and Mrs Mason had the sympathy of all, and it would be some consolation to them to know that Frances had shown cour- \ that would be looked upon with pride in days to come. The memorial was framed with polished rimu, with, an inscription encircled with a wreath and inscribed with a text and brief account of the accident, together with a tribute signed by pupils of schools in Wellington. The frame was the gift of the Wellington Technical College, and the message, signed by the children, was the gift of Messrs Tingcv and Company, of V ellington. The message was taken to the various schools bv officers of the Salvation Army to be signed. The memorial is inscribed as follows: “In mcmoriam. Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lav down his life for his friend. To the memory of Frances Mason, 10 years of age, who bravely and unselfishly tried to shield her little cousin, when they were caught by a train on a railway bridge near Kakariki on December 26, 1933. And of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. ’ ’ . the tribute is in a frame of oak encircled in. a wreath of forget-me-nots and dais.es and reads, “Frances Mason—The children of Wellington, represented by the signatures of one girl of ten years of ago from each school, wish to express their deep sympathy with Mr and Mrs Mason in the loss of their little daughter, Frances, in tjie sad railway accident at Kakariki on Boxing Day, 1933, and semi for placing in the school at which she attended, tli.s humble tribute to her wonderful act of self sacrifice and devotion when she braved death in a noble effort to save the life of her little cousin of three, and we pray that the story of her bravery will live for always in the hearts of the people, teaching its beautiful lesson of unselfish devotion to the children of to-day and to those who come hereafter.’’ It is signed by Ivy Grimes (Berhampore), Joyce Wilks (Brooklyn), Joan Chinnery (Clyde Quay), Bonita Stewart (Ila i tai tai), Joyce Strange (Houghton Valley), Marie Wilkins (Island Bay), Joan Jorgensen (Kaiwana), Doreen Grigg (Karori), Baverley Webster (Karori West), Kathleen Eckhoff (Kelburn), Shirley Magee (Khandallah), Lois Eating (Kilburnie), Molly Cozens (Lyall Bay), Lenorc Hcnrick (Miramar Central), Margaret Wainwright (Miramar South), Lila Coddle (MountCook), Muriel Jeffery (Newtown), Shirley Radcliffe (Ngaio), Winifred Cody (Northlands), Betty Rooney (Ohira Bay), Cynthia Way (Ridgway), Lorna Farcy (Rosencath), Mysia Farm slow (Scatown), Nola King (South Wellington), Gwen Croft (To Aro), Gwen Brown (Terrace), Margaret Mellish (Thorndon), Valerio Martin (Wadcstown), Joan Clark (Worse: Bay). The Rev. Bayliss presented to Audrey Fergusson, on behalf of the scholars, an inscribed tribute of the story of the heroic deed in prose, as follows: A little country churchyard, Where the wild flowers bloom apace, A little grave where the birds keep guard, A brave child’s resting place. In many lands on sea and shore, Both men and women brave, Their lives have given their cross they bore, Another ’s life to save. But never nobler story told, No cross more bravely borne, When Frances Mason, 10 years old, Laid down her life one summer’! morn. To shield the toddler at her side, A babe of three; heroic, grand; Unflinching as the ocean tide, She faces death, she bravely stand.* And lifts that mite far out of react As on the bridge, their bridge of fate, Thunders a mighty train with screech Of grinding brakes; too late, The distance far too short; no time Just four short seconds flee, In vain that sacrifice divine Both passed into eternity. To their Heavenly Father, loving, kind, Their souls have sped their flight, May the manner of her passing fi/0 Acceptance in His sight. And may her name immortal live New' Zealand’s daughter brave, No greater love than this to give Her life her friend’s to save. And may this wondrous story smit® Our hearts with deep emotion. That in such manner love should prove Unselfish, fond devotion. The little broken body’s spent, But that spirit will live for aye, (jod heal the hearts with <orrcrw rent, ‘Thy Will be done,’ we luimbfr pray. ’ ’ To the memory of our brav/‘ schoolmate. A tribute from tlie children of the Kakariki SchoqUAt the conclusion of <4ffe ceixJMony. Mr Robert Fergusson Returned th®\ks to the speakers on behalf of the Kahd\ riki School Committee.