DR MARTIN'S LECTURE.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 24 September 1915, Page 2

DR MARTIN'S LECTURE.

The Ghastliness of WarThe residents of Woodville and surrounding districts are under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr W. A. Lyon for being instrumental in inducing Dr A. A. Martin, of Palmerston, to come over and tell us what he saw while with the British troops in Prance and Flanders during the first eight months of the war. The lecture took place on Wednesday evening in the Alexandra Hall, which was packed. Visitors were present from Pahiatua, Kohinni, Kumeroa, and other outlying districts. As a result, the committee will be able to hand over between £SO and £6O to the Wounded Soldiers’ fund. The Doctor spoke for two hours, and had he gone on for another two those present would not have wearied. With the aid of maps and photos, which were thrown on a screen by Mr T. Coombs, the Doctor was able to make himself , clearly understood. Daring his | remarks, he explained several mat- I ters which we were led to believe * were terrible bangles on the part I of the Army and Navy. There were on view German hats belonging to various regiments, Ger- , man and French bayonets, a Ghurka ( knife, shells, dart used by aviators, . a sample of the rations which ere served out to Tommy, trench peri-' scope, and other trophies.

At the conclusion of the lecture, on the motion of Mr H. Burnett, the Doctor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and three cheers. The Doctor was then entertained at supper by the Patriotic Committee and a number of residents. The spread was in the Masonic Hotel, and was served up by Mr and Mrs Anderson in their well-known style. The Mayor (Mr H. P. Horne) occupied the chair, and on his right was the guest of the evening, and on his left Mr D. Hughes (chairman of the County Council). After the dishes had been removed, the Mayor, in a neat speech, sincerely thanked Dr Martin for his interesting lecture, and told him in effect that his story was one of the greatest treats they had had in Woodville for a long time. He wished him success and continued good health. The Doctor’s health was then drunk to the accompaniment of “ For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Dr Martin returned his thanks, said goodbye, and left for home in his motor-car, he receiving another three cheers as the car started on its journey.