MEMORIAL TABLET.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160795, 1 November 1920, Page 4

MEMORIAL TABLET.

TO FORMER TEACHERS. UNVEILING CEREMONY, ' The memorial tablet erected in the vestibule of the Wanganui Education Beard’s offices by the Wanganui branch of the N.Z.E.I. to the memory of former male teachers in the district who paid the supreme sacrifice during the war was unveiled on Saturday morning by General Sir A. Russell. The gathering was a large and representative one, and included teachers from various parts. of the district, including Feilding and Palmerston North, members of the Education Board, School Committees, next-of-kin of the deceased teachers, and a number of pupils of the Wanganui schools. The names of the teachers engraved on the tablet were; A. W. Booth, W. G. Curne, F. M. Dabinett, J. H. Gray, W. G. Gibbs, E. P. Gibson, T. B. McAulifie, C. E. Phillips, G. Robbie, D. Robertson, F. Rule, A. Taylor, R. Watts and F. Wiltshire. Messrs E. P. Gibson and D. Dobertson were members of the teaching staff of the Technical College, Proceedings opened by a special choir of boys and girls, under the baton of Mr J. Aitken, singing the National Anthem. Mr F. Be Berry, president of the Wanganui branch of the N.Z.E.1., in addressing the gathering, stated that the teachers of the Wanganui district were very proud of the war record of their colleagues. Out of the total number of male teachers, 90 from the district served during the war, and 14 had paid to their country the last full measure of sacrifice, and by doing that had created a tradition that would inspire teachers and would be a continual fire burning to light the paths of those who come along later. Nothing so good and noble as the sacrifice made by those teachers could possibly die, and their activities would have an everlasting influence on those who were carrying on the work of the profession. Those teachers had been actuated by the loftiest motives, so that the children who came after them might have the privilege of enjoying the precious heritage. Actions such as these had taught to the whole worM the eternal lessons of truth, honour, and God, and while teaching that their comrades, at the hands of the Great Director, had received promotion. The teachers of the district were proud to have erected a memorial to these men. Though they might erect a memorial tablet, there was still another memorial that neither pen nor chisel could trace. That raeffiorial would be fouud in the tender hearts of the children who came under the influence of those men who had made the great sacrifice, and the time would come when nation would no longer lift up the sword against nation and there would be no more war. The speaker then extended a welcome to General Russell. General Russell said he was very glad to have the privelege of being present to pay homage to the memory of teachers who had fallen during the Great War. Speaking as one with a very wide experience, he could say honestly that the New Zealand Division owed a great deal to the teachers who came from New Zealand and who served in the ranks or as officers. The teachers to a great extent had been moulding and leading the lives of the young people of the country, and it was only natural that when the call came they should have been found amongst the first to respond. No doubt the offering of their services had entailed a great deal of inconvenience and sacrifice on their part. Right tluough the war he could remember with pride their work and the great deal of earnestness, devotion, and sacrifice that made by the members of the teaching profession. We were met, he said, to, do honour to the memory of fallen teachers, and we should ask ourselves whether our duty will be done when the “Last Post” is sounded and the gathering leaves the building. He maintained that the mere erection of memorials in the country was not sufficient. The most effective memorial they could raise was in their own hearts, and by their actions show that they had been learning the lesson and appreciating it. The main trouble in the world at present was due to that insistence of selfishness that had been established in public and private life. We should insist upon looldng at matters from the point of view of benefit to the whole community and not from motives of selfish greed. The teachers in the schools had a better chance of moulding the future through the children passing through their hands, so that the country may enjoy happiness and prosperity. General Russell then unveiled the tablet, after which the children sang Kipling’s “Recessional.” Mr D. W. Lowe, headmaster of the College Street School, Palmerston North, then brieiry addressed the gathering, and handed over the memorial tablet to Mr W. A. Collins, chairman of Education Board, for safe keeping. Mr Collins’ reply was as follows: On behalf dl the Wanganui Education Board I accept from you the custody of this tablet erected in honour of those members of the teaching profession in this district who nobly gave their lives in the cause of liberty and justice. Throughout the years to come the duty of seeing that the tablet is honoured and cared for yvill devolve on the Education Board, and I need hardly eay that this will be regarded as a sacred trust. While we of the present day require no memorial to remind us of the sacrifice made for their country by the teachers whose names are before us, it is desirable that there should be something of a permanent nature such as this tablet to keep before the people of the future the part played by our men in the Great War, and it is fitting that the memorial to our fallen teachers should be erected in this office, which

in the course of the year is visited by many hundreds of those engaged in the work of .education. I feel that on this occasion the words of tlip vice-chancellor of St. Andrew’s University are most appropriate, and I will conclude by quoting them to you; “Youths, with greatness only in dream or in vision, set out on the path of sendee, and they went as bravely as the heroes of the romantic past. Some fell, giving all they hao; some won glory on the field; some but did their duty. Their country needed them. Britain must preserve her honour, and her freedom must be guarded. The honour of Britain was their honour; the freedom of Britain was their freedom. The call of the country was enough for these men, of the country that, in spite of blunders, mistakes, and errors, had won freedom and had preached freedom in all the world; ani they went forth, with courage and determination, to fight for a sacred cause.” The gathering then remained silent with bowed heads for a minute in reverence to the memory of the fallen, after which the Bugle Band from Queen’s Park School sounded the “Last Post.” The visitors were entertained at morning tea by the teachers.

/The lighter Mana 'which stuck at the entrance on Friday afternoon was put [.-|pu the slip to-day for examination. Bt vGoal stocks are getting low in Wan|fcanui and some relief will be given ifity two shipments now in the roadstead, ranmich should be discharged within the Hfext two or three days. nHr E. A. Cheat, who was injured at MRp Tramway power-house some time wigb, is making splendid progress torecovery, although he is not 1 yet | Bcle to leave hospital. * / Joseph Stienar was charged at the Court this morning with indecent assault upon a female aged 12 years, and on the application of the police was remanded for a week. ' The promoters of the public meeting to discuss the tram question are nothing if not persistent, and as a result of their efforts A meeting has been arranged for Wednesday evening, and will he held in the Druids’ Hall. An old age pensioner named James W. Williams, aged 70 years, dropped dead at the store at Putiki this morning. Deceased was in the employ of Mrs Barnes in that locality. It is understood that he had recently received medical treatment for heart trouble. At the Court this morning three local residents were charged with being on the licensed premises of the Criterion Hotel duhingvthe hours in which the premises were required to be closed. The Magistrate accepted the excuse of two of the defendants, who stated that they went there by arrangement with a boarder made two days previously. In regard to the third defendant the Magistrate considered his excuse too thin and fined .him 20s, with costs 7s. A New York cable states that deeply pathetic scenes were witnessed at a murder trial at New Orleans, when ‘ a factory girl named Helene Jarry was tried for attempting to murder her mother, who is dumb and cannot write. The mother came to the court and by means of signs pleaded for her daughter’s pardon. The girl burst into tears and fell on her knees. The jury were bo impressed by the mother’s anguish that they returned a verdict of not guilty. The spectators protested, and hooted Hglene as she left the court. . As a result of police investigations into a report that cement had been' rhissed by a contractor at, Castleclifl, two men, Francis Crean and Thomas Henderson, were dealt with on Friday ' afternoon by Mr W. Wilson, S.M., the* former being sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment and the latter being fined £o. The cement was missed from a shed owned by a contractor for whom Crean had been working, and investigations showed that it had been wheeled away on a truck, and by following the wheel marks the police discovered and obtained sufficient evidence to bring the case l-efore the Court. Two men had an unwelcome surprise last evening at Castlecliff. One, a cyclist, was battling along slowly towards town against a strong southerly, when a pedestrian standing on the roadway put out his foot and knocked the cyclist over, at the same time bringing to bear a right-hander on the face of the rider, who fell in the mud. Quicker than it takes to relate, the latter was upon his feet and retaliated on his opwith a smart upper cut Under WSB jaw, which doubled him up on the roadway. When the cyclist resumed his journey, the pedestrian had not picked himself up. Tho strong south-westerly gale which rage! here since Saturday afternoon has greatly intf-rterred with shipping operations. The bar was unworkable Jeriorday and again to-day, and at midDay r our vessels, the' Regnlus, Waimea, fctoriu and Arapawa, were outside waiting io come in. There was too much sea then to make the crossing so the vessels were ordered to stand off until this evening. At mid-day the gale showed signs of blowing itself out and as the sea was decreasing there was. every probability of the bar being work- ■ able this evening. It is most unusual to experience such a series of southerly and south-westerly winds as has been Wanganui’s lot during the present season. A sensational escape from a fatality cccuricd in Little Wanganui River, South Westland, on Wednesday. Mr Malco’m Houston, a well-known auc- • tioneer, his wife and' a passenger, in a motor car, were being towed across the river, which was somewhat flooded. The deep at the ford and swept, door into the car. The and the car floated over and down the rough bed. managed to carry his wife ■ partly to shore and then attempted to save the car, which overturned several times, the passenger being caught and fl under the water. Luckily the car in turned over, releasing him from position miraculously. It took five rs to get the car to the bank, in a very badly damaged condition. The contents of the car were lost. Attention was recently drawji in these -. columns to,.’acts of vandalism perpetrated in Virginia Lake reserve, and it was hoped that the warning then conveyed would prevent a jepetition of such conduct. However, yesterday afternoon two young men (who were in the company of two lady friends) were seen by another visitor to the reserve to he busy uprooting some trees near the band rotunda and cutting branches off others with pocket-knives. When they realised that they had been observed in their destructive work they desisted. It was unfortunate that the police were too busy ip another part of the town t) reach the scene in time, to secure tho names of the guilty ones, as it is fcigh time an example was made of those Who thus deliberately damage these trees. In these days when cancellations of orders are unpleasantly numerous, it is pleasing to he able to record an instance of British business integrity which has created a very favourable impression (says the London Times Trade Supplement of . August 21). Owing to the war several British manufacturing firms which had, previous to the outbreak, entered into undertakings to supply machinery and goods to Australian houses were unable to carry out their engagements. It was understood by the Australian firms that Die contracts would never be fulfilled. In view of the fact that the British firms were relieved from any legal obligations "by the various Acts and regulations passed during the war. The Australian houses have, however, recently received an intimation that the Whole of the orders would be completed and the goods forwarded on the terms, fixed in the pre-war contracts. This is good business and good propaganda, ’ and it_is understood that a list of the British firms concerned is to be made public in Australia. The ‘incident recalls the behaviour of British insurance companies in connection with the San Francisco earthquake claims, when the .fact that they accepted liability, while (others did not do so, greatly enhanced I'their reputation throughout the world.