Peace Celebrations.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16363, 7 November 1918, Page 6

Peace Celebrations.

There is a very general feeling that Christchurch took the capitulation of Turkqy and Austria far too quietly. From other towns, north .and south, we had reports of animated rejoicings, and of impromptu arrangements that enabled the citizens to •old a united celebration of the good news.. It is not to be supposed that the people of Christchurch are less intelligent than other people, and specially cold and unemo-

tional, yet anyone wduld think so who compared this city's reception of the news of the surrender of Germany's Allies with the reception given to the news in Wellington. In these matters a community cannot express itself heartily without practice and without leadcifchip, and we are afraid that herein lies the explanation of the coolness of this city in tho presence of events that hav e sent other towns and other countries wild with joy. The nocessity for making somo arrangements for tho celebration of peace appears to have dawned at last upon the civic authorities. When peace or surrender oomes, and the bells are ringing in a hundred thousand towns and villages all over the world, with flag 3 flying, and all the people cheering, and overything forgotten but tho joy in victory and deliverance, Christchurch must join in, and its citizens wish to join in. The Mayor until yesterday appeared to have an idea that all that was necessary here was to send a fire engine shrieking through the streets. This idea has a sublimity of its own, and is likely to live on in tho , city's traditions, but although it is in a sense a pity to spoil it by making any other arrangements whatsoover, we are very glad that the Mayor has resolved that aftor all a more extensive demonstration ought to bo arranged. We trust that the meetiifz which the Mayor has arranged to discuss tho matter will bear in mind that the public will not desire to listen to several long speeches. They will wish chiefly for opportunities to cheer and to feel that they are all rejoicing heartily together. We have not referred to the graver aspect of the coming of peace, for the churches of all denominations will assuredly call their people to services of thanksgiving for the passing of a great evil from tho world. We wish only to impress upon the citizens and our public man the necessity that Christchurch shall mark the day of peace and victory in a manner that will never he forgotten.