PEOPLE GIVE THANKS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 6

PEOPLE GIVE THANKS

BENEFITS OF NATIONHOOD FIRST 100 YEARS IN DOMINION j BIG THANKSGIVING SERVICE In a simple but impressive united ; church service at Memorial Park yesterday afternoon. 2000 Hamilton residents gave thanks for the benefits enjoyed during the first 100 years of British settlement in the Dominion. The site chosen for the service was ; particularly fitting, for it was there that the Fourth Waikatos, pioneer founders of the modem city of Ham- j ilton, first landed. Descendants of j members of the regiment were on the official platform. The singing was led by the Nga- j ruawahia Pa Choir, under the Rev. j Marteni Keepa, Methodist Minister, and the Salvation Army Band was in attendance. Pastor J. Salisbury presided in the absence of the Rev. H. G. ! Gilbert. On the official platform were the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. j Caro, members of the Hamilton | Borough Council and representatives 1 of the churches. At the beginning of | the service, the Mayor read apolo- j gies from the Rev. Gilbert and from j Princess Te Puea Herangi. Princess | Te Puea stated that she felt great pleasure that the Ngaruawahia Maori choir should be taking part in the service. She was represented by Tahuna Herangi, her father. The Mayor said it was fitting that the Service of Thanksgiving should be held on the spot where the bulk of the early settlers, the Fourth Waikato Regiment, arrived aboard the gunboat H.M.S. Rangiriri, the remains of which lay close to the rivei bank a little fartner downstream. Two addresses were given, one b> I the Rev. R. B. Tinsley, and one by the Dean of Hamilton, the Very Rev. T. P Wealherhog. Tribute to Settlers “We are gathered to pay tribute to both Maori and Pakeha races for their work during the past 100 years, and to thank God for the benefits we have received,” said Mr Tinsley. “It is fitting that we are gathered at this historic spot, which serves as a reminder both to the work of the pioneers and the sacrifices made by the men who laid down their lives in the last war. The pioneers in 100 years have transformed this land into what it is today. The progress of New Zealand is a fitting memorial to them.” Dean Weatherhog, who stressed the responsibilities which lay ahead of the people, said it was with gratitude to the past that they stood there at ihe present to look forward to the future. The future lay in the people’s hands. It had been mentioned, he said, that New Zealand, unlike other countries, had no tradition. If tradi- ; tion were to copy the customs of the | past, it would merely clog the future. But if tradition meant tho upholding and maintaining of the principles oI those who laboured in the past, it was something of inestimable value. It was the duty of the people of today to build up a new world out of the present chaos Prayer of Thanksgiving In a prayer of thanksgiving, Major Bartlett, of the Salvation Army, gave thanks for the bountiful gifts received during the past century and prayed that the people of New Zea--1 land would prove worthy of the bene- : fits enjoyed today. A prayer of con- | fession and dedication was offered by the Rev. C. L. French, and Dean Weatherhog pronounced the benediction. The Rev. Te Tuhi read Psalm 146, and a passage from Luke XII was read by the Rev. G. C. Reay. A particularly impressive part of the service was the singing of the Maori choir, which gave effective ! renderings of two Maori hymns. The : choir also led the singing of “All 1 People that on Earth Do Dwell,” and : Luther’s stately hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God.” The service concluded with the singing of the Nation- • al Anthem. MAORI AND PAKEHA HONOURABLE CO-OPERATION INSPIRING UNWRITTEN PACT “ I hope and pray that the Centennial celebrations will not only pay a debt of honour to the Treaty of Waitangi and the great past, but that they will also inspire a greater unwritten pact for a full and honourable co-operation of Maori and pakeha,” stated Princess Te Puea Herangi in a letter read at the thanksgiving service held in Memorial Park, Hamilton, yesterday. Princess Te Puea expressed regret that she was detained in Auckland and was unable to accept an invitation to be present at the service. Her 1 spirit would be with them and would i join in the praise to God for the blessings of the century. She appreciated the opportunity for representation by the Ngaruawahia Maori Pa Choir, for she was always delighted to co-operate with the European fellow citizens in such func- ! tions, and whenever and wherever she could do so without sacrificing | the dignity of her race.