LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 69, 2 January 1941, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Jan. 2, 1891).' The Salvation Army—lt is only a year since New’ Zealand had a Salvation Army of its own. Until 1889 it was merely a branch of the Australian force. Now it- is governed by Cblonel Taylor, whose headquarters are in Christchurch, and he is responsible only to General Booth, The forces are divided into six divisions, which/ncludes the whole country, and each division lias its corps," outposts, and officers. The chief officer of each division controls the working of the corps and the outposts according to army regulations, and acts as auditor of the vouchers which represent the moneys expended and the moneys received. We notice,- as showing the wonderful progress of the Army throughout the world, that General Booth has just commissioned the ton thousandth officer. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” Jan. 2, 1916). Exit and Entrance—The passing of the old year and the ushering in of the new was carried out under pleasant conditions in Ashburton last night. The celebrations in Ashburton were even quieter and certainly Iqss extensive than they have been in years past. The night was dark, but very calm and peaceful, and the crowd parading the streets in the -early evening and up till 9 and 10 o’clock was no larger than is usual on an ordinary Saturday night. Crackers, etc., w r ere conspicuous by their absence, and the public had no cause for uneasiness. After the 11 ,p.m. the lively spirits who remained at the street corners in the centre of the town became slightly more noisy, and “cannons” and “bombs” w’ere exploded “occasionally. At the fateful hour locomotive sirens shrieked, motor-horns tooted, the western firebell was rung, and there came a mild cannonading and a little cheering from the small groups in tow'n. And so 1915 died away and 1916 came to its own. The usual w’atch night, services wore held at St. Stephen’s Church and at the Salvation Army Barracks. ,