Christchurch’s tribute to fallen

Christchurch, November 11: The Bridge of Remembrance over the Avon, at Cashel street, Christchurch, was dedicated this morning by Archbishop Julius in memory of Canterbury’s sacrifices in the Great War, after which Viscount Jellicoe officially declared it open in the presence of a crowd. There was a simple but impressive service, including two minutes’ silence. "Ceremonies such as these," said Viscount Jellicoe in opening the Bridge of Remembrance, "have been all too familiar to me during the four years that I have spent in this dominion.

This ceremony will live long in my memory, first of all because it is the last occasion on which, as his Majesty’s representative in New Zealand, I am honoured by being asked to do honour to New Zealand’s soldiers, and secondly because of the immense assemblage which I see before me in this historic city of Christchurch, an assemblage such as I have never seen before on such occasions during my four years in the dominion. A day like this, whilst it brings back many painful and sad memories to all hearts, does, at the same time, bring to those hearts a feeling of great pride in the achievements which New Zealand’s Expeditionary Force carried out during the Great War. I deeply regret the absence through illness of the Prime Minister of the dominion, — not only because of the high office which he holds in New Zealand, but also because he is the only Prime Minister who, aided by his colleagues in the National Government, shouldered the responsibility during the war and still remains in office. — ("Hear, hear.") All the war memorials that are erected have as their object a reminder to the people of what they signify, but of all the war memorials which I have seen, I think this Bridge of Remembrance is especially designed to bring back to the hearts of those now living, and to stimulate in the hearts of those yet to come, memories, sacred memories, connected with the Great War, memories of those thousands who, inspired by loyalty, a determination to protect the weak, a determination to uphold the sacredness of treaties, to protect their homes, and to save the name and honour of the Empire, trod the bridge which this one replaces during the years of the Great War."

 

Missionary meetings of more than ordinary interest are being addressed in Dunedin just now by Mrs C.T. Studd, of the Heart of Africa Mission. Mrs Studd is the secretary of the mission which her husband founded over 10 years ago, and is at present touring the world in the interests of the remarkable work which that organisation is carrying on. Her illustrated lantern lecture delivered in Burns Hall last night drew an audience that completely filled the ground floor and overflowed into the gallery. Mrs Studd, who is a very fluent and forceful speaker, began with a strong appeal for a greater faith in God, and quoted examples of miracles that had been wrought through the simple faith of heathen converts. During the past 10 years the mission staff had increased to over 70, and in their field there are now 10,000 baptised African converts. Many pictures were thrown on the screen illustrating life and conditions in the Belgian Congo. Mohammedanism was progressing at an alarming rate, and it was a great race between Mahommedanism and Christianity to reach the pagans first. She told many stories of extraordinary deliverances experienced by Mr Studd and other members of the mission from snakes and wild beasts and from treacherous cannibal natives. Mrs Studd spoke of the prevalence of polygamy and the vile and vicious degradation of many of the chiefs and of their people. Where the Belgian officials were not, cannibalism was still practised. Thousands of people were killed every year in Africa through the black art of witchcraft. The speaker held the closest attention of the audience throughout, and her story evidently made a deep impression. — ODT, 12.11.1924