PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16362, 6 November 1918, Page 9

PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

i TO THE EDITOR OT "iHS TEISS." Sir,—ls it not time to begin to conaider earnestly the best way in. which to celebrate the peace now within view/ The Anglican Bishop lately expressed doubts as to our readiness ior a fitting celebration, and the invitation to sound "sirens, ■whistles, and other instruments,' ' as an expression of our feelings on the occasion of the Turkish surrender seems to indicate that there is room for suggestions. Remembering th© hundreds of thousands of the _ world s best sons who have given their lives, the numbers whose lives remain, but who must carry the burden of broken hopes through loss of sight, or because of maimed or marred bodies, the agony of the peoples of the invaded countries, ] the world spread sorrow which war b slaughter has caused, do we . not need a deeper note on our peace day thaß the common manifestations of joy ? _If the world held a great enough genius to produce fitting words and music to express the tremendous effort and sacrifice of war, the intensity of a pcaco thereafter, and the glorious hope for the future, we might well gather, in all suitable buildings, to listen to, and draw into our boing the majesty of such words and music. In default, let us have the noblest and most appropriate music and singing at our command in the cathedrals,, churches, halls, theatres, wherever suitable. Let none think ho can't enter a church, or can go to one of a certain sect only. Let us remember only that we are men and •women, and let the mighty impulse of the occasion carry us all in the unity of a great purpose. At such a time we shall have with iis those who in the struggle passed from sight, and surely they, with the clearer vision now possessed, will approve our choice of a celebration.

Can -we not take a step higher, and unitedly, in a solemn pause in tho day, in our hearts assure these, and tho others who have suffered, that their sacrifices hare not been in vain, that in the freedom they have so dearly purchased for us, we will free ourselves henceforth from all ignoble tliings ? and together, with broad-minded uplifting addresses, rise, step by step, towards the glorious goal which is beforo every man? Surely, we owe this consecration to those through whose blood and pain and sorrow the world is about to gain so much. —Yours, etc., A SOLDIER'S WIFE.

TO THE KDITOH OF "the TRESS."

Sir, —Permit me, through tho medium of your paper, to express my thoughts, and tho thoughts of many others, relative to tho recent successes gained by our Allied Armies.

Our trams have "gone slow," and wo —1 mean the not like it at all. Influenza is bad; but the "goslow" epidermic is vastly superior in its ability to spread. Th© very public itself has caught it. Otago, Wellington, Auckland —all left us of Canterbury standing, when it was a vital question of patriotic competition. The Second Division in this lair city caused more trouble than was good for that city's reputation. But now our efforts at "going slow" absolutely eclipse all previous records. Why. tho war might i never have existed, thousands of our own dear boys might never have sacrificed al! that was dearest to them, our armies might never have nobly struggled on, through four long yearg of trial and endurance to :ia:u £.ori_ous victory in tho fifth, for all the notice Christchurch has taken of first Bulgaria s, , then Turkey's, and now Austria's surrender. Wellington went mad with the news —and there arc time 9 when it's good to go mad. Even Lyttejton showed a good measure of enthusiasm. But dear oM sleepy Christchurch —well, there certainly were a few flags fiy»nS j °J lO firm certainly did close down for the afternoon; tho Mayor certainly did announce that when peace was declared a fire-engine would go _ through Christchurch blowing its whistle to tell us tne good news, just as though peace day cainc once a fortnight. All this assuredly happened, but as far.as I can see. mighty little more. The vastness and greatness of the news we have' received, overwhelms the individual; but it could do nothing with Christchurch. Only an c-arthquak e would. When peace is dpclarou. and all of ns hope that that day is not far distant, Christchurch will turn out the afoiementioned fire-engine of course; there will, perhaps, be a speech or two made; the mid-day whistle will, perhaps, blow for aa additional five minutes, but as for. rcai, genuine, rejoicing, good, honest holidav-making, or anything at all like that,'why it would oisturb Christchurch's sleep) and of course that's unpermissibie at any time. Come. Christchurch! shake yourself. Organise a powerful body of your public I men tc do, not talk of doing! Show the true metal that you're made of. i Don't hide, your light- under a buShel.

Mako up for your eerious shortcoming# in the past by great unlimited performances in th© future. And when the arch enemy unconditionally surrenders let the wHistle of our friend the fireengine bo supplemented blast or everv 4 'instrument of nuisiclt in tins citv* Let the bells ring from every corner; let every stitch of bunting bo seen: let not a stroke of work bo dono in the city on that day, or the next, or the next, by anyone. It won t matter about speeches; what wo jnufit do is to take Christchurch, turn her insideout and shake hard fcet contribute in the good work.—lours, etc - "GO QUICK."