DISTRICT REJOICINGS;

Mataura Ensign, Issue 299, 22 June 1897, Page 2

DISTRICT REJOICINGS;

Sunday at Gore. Public demonstrations of joyfulness on the 60th anniversaiy of the Queen's Coronatiou Day were commenced at Gore on Suuday. In the afternoon the local Brass Band paraded at the Domaiu, playing a number of saored and patriotic selections very creditably. There was a very largo muster of adults and children. Shortly bofore 4 o'clock the "Old Hundredth Psalm," under the direction of Mr J. Paterson, was sung, and a prayer of thanksgiving offered by the Rev. J. G. Ellis. Appropriate addresses of an exclusively patriotic and stirring nature were given by the Rev. Mr Ellis, the Mayor of Gore (Mr J. Beattie), DrJ. Copland, aud Mr J. Ballintine. After this the National Anthem, witb band accompaniment, was suDg, and the proceedings terminated with three hearty cheers for the Q leen. At Holy Trinity Church special thanksgiving services, conducted by the vicar (tho Rev. A. R. D. Tosswill), ware held duriug the day. At 11 a.m. there was a large congregation, and special festival music was rendered by au efficient choir. At tho evening service the church was crowded. The incumbent chose as a text for his discourse the 17th verse of the 2nd chapter of the Ist epistle to St. Peter, " Fear God. . . . and honor the king." Fearing God as wo should, the preacher said, meant that wo should necessarily honor the head of the nation — be it the King, Queen, or President. In our own case God had blessed us with a noble Queen, and in honoring her we would be honoring God. We had been blessed indeed by having so beneficent a sovereign to reign over us and to guide _the destinies of the nation, and under her rule we in this colony had experienced all the blessings of peace, plenty . and prosperity. We had seen no wars, no invasions, aud no civil strivings and the reign of our wellbeloved Queen had brought nothing but good to us. In the good old days they had a toast which rau — " To rusty swords and dirty bibles." That meant a sentiment which had as its root a desire that war should be long deferred, and that the people should be diligent in the search after God's truths. So far as we colonists were concerned, swords had got rusty, but had our bibles got dirty through constant use? We all knew our duty to God, but how should we honor the king ? We had not only to honor and obey ; our parents, but all those who were in authority over us. This was God's own command, and we could honor Him only by obeying His behests. Our Queen was an example to Christians in all conditions of life and society. She had striven nobly against temptation, and her life in youth, middle age, and old age-was a pattern to all. Our greatness as a nation wa3 brought aboutby our embracing the glorious teachings of the bible; that was the secret of our .present happiness and prosperity. Appropriately enough, our Queen had ever interested herself in the spread of the good tidings to foreign parts among nations "sitting -in darkness," and although we as a nation were doing good work in strengthening the hands of the missionary institutions there remained muoh yet to be done before the Saviour's wish " that they all shall be one " was accomplished. Children would in time to come look back upon this Jubilee Day with loving reverence remembering the glorious reign of a good woman, whose influence had i brought nothing but gocd to the nation. A good woman, wife, mother and Queen ; herd

was an example worthy^of being copied, anda life fashioned updn the lines pursued by her during a long, happy, and eventful reign, could not fail to make for good and assist in promoting Christ's kingdom here on earth. Both servioes concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, and during the day special forms of prayer appropriate to the occasion were used. Inthe Congregational Church on Sunday night, Dr Copland delivered a discourse on the Record Reign, taking as his text I jf"Samuel x, 24 : '■ And all the'people shouted **■ and said, God save the king." This was the * ' first occasion, he said, which we find in history, when that expression was used, and from the appointment of Saul, the first King of Israel, which is here referred to, it was the acclamation with which succeeding kings were greeted on their accession to the throne. On the present auspicious occasion it is said and sung by many millions of Her Majesty's subjects throughout her. World-wide dominions. From the exhortation of the Apostle v Paul to Timothy, it waa plainly a religious duty to present our prayers to God on behalf of our Queen, and to render thanks ifor the many mercies vouchsafed to her subjects through the continuance of her reign during the past sixty years. As speoial grounds of gratitude he mentioned the virtuous,, upright and blameless character which she had borne from her earliest years, and which shone forth conspicuously from the lofty position which she occupied. She had ever maintained around her only suoh courtiers as befitted her unblemished character, and her example diffused its influence over all ranks and classus of her subjects to an extent whioh can be oniy feebly estimated. We may, however, form.some opinion of the influence of the personal character of ihe Sovereigu if we call to remembrance the state of morals which prevailed among all classes when, as has boon shown in British History, some sovereigns have" sot God's laws at nought and indulged in immorality aud vice. Queen Victoria's example has done muck towards fostering that high-toned "-.morality which pervades the British nation in contrast with' many others. She has been also specially distinguished by the kindly interest she has taken in her subjects. Wherever suffering, famine, or disaster of any kind have overtaken thorn she has manifested her sympathy and bestowed her help. Her nobles and subjects of all ranks have followed this example, and probably the period of her reign has been no less brilliantly distinguished by the widespread exercise of philanthropy, and the establishment and liberal support of institutions that minister to the wants of the siok, and the poor, and the distressed of every kind, than by the wonderous triumphs achieved in literatnro and science, in arts, and in- ' - dustry and enterprise. Further, in the exercise of her functions as Queen, she has has been distinguished by the wisdom of her dealings with the responsible advisers who form hor government. She has no doubt been surrounded with the ablest and .". wisest men as her councillors, but in all their important dealings with other nations she has always beeu consulted, and her advice and interest has always been directed by a regard for the honor and interest of her Empire, and so far as was consistent with tbis by tho desire to maintain peace. During her whole reign there havo only been two great wars which taxed the resources of the Empire and 'entailed great sacrifice upon it — the war with Russia in 1854 and"~the Indian Mutiny in 1857. During her reign no invading army has e-»er set foot in Britain, or in any of her colonies inhabited by British people. Over and above the blessings which have flowed from the influence of Her Majesty's personal character and conduct, Bhe has formed the connecting link which has bound together in one the widely scattered colonies and dependencies ' throughout the world which own the British sway. -The feeling of loyalty to. her throne and person that beats "in the hearts of the hundreds of millions of her subjects has given unity and strength to tha ' Empire, and forms the true source of its unparalleled, greatness and the pledge of its continued power. In ancient times to be a Roman citizen was esteemed' a privilege of the highest value throughout the wide dominions of Rame, but that could not be compared with the far greater privilege of being a British subject. The shield of Britain's protection is cast around him in whatever part of the globe he may wander. • Thirty years ago, when some British subjects were unjustly held as prisoners by the king* of Abysinnia, nhom he refused to . release, a powerful force was sent by Britain : to that country, at a cost of several millions sterling, to secure their deliverance. Besides the protection we enjoy as British subjects, tho privilege of freedom — personal, political and religious — is the highest we could de-. sire, aud is. greatly superior to that eDJoyed by oitizens of any other nation. Our forefather's fought and suffered to secure this for us, and it is our boUnden duty to preserve tbis freedom and hand it down unimpaired, to the generations that are to follow us. The greatness of Britain's wealth and commerce and the strength of her army and navy are not sufficient of themselves to sejoure the - continuance of her power and prosperity. Righteousness ex-ilteth a nation, but sin ia a reproach to any people. Many nations that have passed away attained to worldwide dominion. In ancient history we read of the empires of Babylon, and Persia, and Greece and Rome, which in turn fell from their exalted pre-eminence. In them there was uo feeling of loyalty such as prevails among the British subjects, and the wealth which they attained to was used by them to minister to their own corruption, a»d so brought about their own destruction. In modern times the empires which in their days attained to something like world-wide ' power, namely, those of Charlemagne and - Charles and Napoleon I, were held together by mere military strength, and passed away on the death of their founders. If we desire the continuance of Britain's power and prosperity, let us fear God and keep his csmmandments. Let the spirit of loyalty to our Queen and our Empire, which is so wondrously manifested throughout her world-wide Empire on tbis unparalleled occasion be constantly cherished. Let us teach our children tbe . true source 'of . Britain's greatness, and we may confidently hope that, through many centuries to come, her glory will continue to increase and yield abundant blessings to the world at large. At the Presbyterian Church during the morning service tho Rev. J. A. Asher preached from Isaiah xiv, 5 : " I girded'thee, though thou hasi not known me." The rev. gentleman spoke of the Queen's early preparation for her exalted office and of the results of that preparation, which had been so abundantly manifest for freedom andliberty during the past 60 years. -■ He referred to the upright oharacter of publio men during that period, a result no doubt in a measure due to the character of the ruler. __ In the evening Mr Asher's theme was " The Mission of Eng- * land." ..He laid special stress upon the influ- • ence for good whioh could be exerted by tho English nation, aud said if we only realised our privileges and obligations, the Empire had its most glorious day of history lying before it in the future. Were we truo to our national traditions, and true tothe God of our forefathers, we should pass from strength to strength to be a blessing to mankind. Appropriate psalms and hymns were sung, and, at the close of both services, the National Anthem was rendered, the' tinging being remarkably hearty and congregational. At the Waikaka Valley Church, the Rev. G. Miller preached from Psalm cxlvii, 12 : " Praise the Lord, 0 Jerusalem ; praise thy God, 0 Zion." The sermon was retrospective of the events of the Queen's reiga, and the vast improvements in social and political econony under her rule. The Rex. J. G. Ellis, atthe Gore Wesleyan Church, preached in the morning from Pitoverbs xxxi, 30 : " A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised," and delivered an eloquent and appropriate discourse, having reference to the current festivities. In the evening, the rev. gentleman took for hig text Psalms xc, 1 : "Oh Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in- all generations." The sermon dealt with the rise and striking advancement of the Empire, and urged that to continue in -greatness, dependence upon God was, above all, essential. Mr Ellis referred to our duty as members of the British nation to mankind in general giving, it that that duty to the people of our own generation was to lighten, if possible, 'the burdens they were groaning under,' and our duty to the future was to do to-day the work th&t lay to our hands and stamp the Christian principles of righteousness, brotherhood, and self-sacrifice upon the life of the nation. Tree Planting at Gore. There was a large gathering of the public at the river reserve between the two bridges at 10 o'clock this morning for the purpose of planting trees on a. plot of land prepared and laid out by Mr Porks, under the supervision of Dr Copland and other members of the Gore Borough Council. -In addition to tha

representative gathering of townspeople, there was a large muster of ohildren from both local sohools. The various church * ohoirs were' also present, and under Mr Paterson rendered valuable aid in the musical portion of the proceedings. The programme commenced by the singing of tho ' Old, Hundredth Psalm, after which loyal and patriotic speeches were given by the Revs. Asher, Tosswill and Ellis, the Mayor (Mr J. Beattie) and Counciltors Copland and Ballintine. . During the proceedings, Councilor Ballintine presented Mr G.Brett (Town " jClerk) with a valuable flowering plant, in token of his being the most popular man in Gore. The speeches over, the National Anthem was 3ung, and tree planting commenced. A large number of shrubs and trees of all kinds were set in their native or adopted soil in a most workmanlike fashion, a feature of this part of the proceedings being the transplanting by the Mayor of the Jubilee oak originally planted in the East Gore Domain in 1887. A feu dejoie by the volunteers, and three cheers for the Queen, closed the proceed- ' ings. To-night's Programme at Gore, j Arrangements for this evening's festivities are in a very forward state. Main street at different points has been very tastefully adorned with evergreens by Mr T. Webb, . who has also hung strings of flags from side ' to side of the thoroughfare. The prbces- i sion will start from the firebell tower at 7 o'olock, the following being the order on the line of march : — Oore Brass Band. Tho Mayor, Councillors, and ox-Councillors - The "Bite-Brigade, Tha Masons. ~ ~ — — - The Oddfellows. ""~- - The Druids. . The' goneral public. After the principal thoroughfares have been traversed, a halt will be made opposite the Tewn Hall, where the fireworks display will be made. Thereafter the grand patriotio concert, promoted by the Gore Fire Brigade, will claim tbe attention of Her Majesty's leal subjects in Gore. The bonfire on the Hokonni peak will be ■ lighted about 7 o'clock. For the purpose some eight or nine cords of totara firewood have been provided, and this, together with an unlimited supply of scrub, a case of kerosene and other inflammable material, should, make a blaze worthy of the greatevent. The bonfire arrangements, we might add, are'in the hands of Mr George Biggar, of Croydon, and he being one of the most capable men in the district where this sort thing is concerned, tho affair should be a brilliant success. Mataura.. The celebrations at Mataura set dowu for to-day are not of a very elaborate description, but should for all that be sufficient to show that the thriving Borough is thoroughly loyal and duly joyous at this particular seasour Several bonfires are to be lighted iv ' the township, the twolargcst of which are to be situated respectively on the recreation reserve and on Mr Culling's hill. These will be ignited at 8 p.m. All the school children as well as adult residents are invited to attend at the recreation reserve, when, in addition to a display of fireworks, games and kindred diversions will be in progress for all skittishly inclined. The Mayor (Mr ' Culling) purposes letting off a quantity of fireworks from the hill near his residence. Pine Bush. Tree planting and the singing of the National Anthem, as well as other patriotic choruses by the school children, will occupy most of the afternoon at Pine Bush. _< Wyndham. Jubilee celebrations were held at Wyndham yesterday, and it may be saiely said that never in the history of the tpwnship has any public function passed off more successfully and with greater enthusiasm than the demonstrations of public joy made yesterday. At 10.30 the. component parts of the procession were marshalled, and a little later a unique cortege made up as follows moved ofl toward the new Athenmum building : — Chief marshal (Mr J. McLauchlan), brass band, Mrs Creron (the eldest resident in tbe colony, her age being 105 years), Union Jack, Wyndham, Tuturau and other school children, Demonstration Committee, Foresters, Good Templars, Oddfellows, and marshals . (D. Stewart, J. Millar, and Williamson). As was expected, the sight presented was a most imposing one. The band (of 10 performers) under Mr J. Christie (Gore) had only been in - training for some nine or ten days, and . , played splendidly. Mrs Creron was in a ■^buggy drawn by a pair of creams from Richardson's. stables, while the Demonstration Committee was ensconsed in MrCurrie's four-in-hand. Arrived at the new Athenseum building, the procession came to a halt, and Mr Jas. Milne (president of the Athenreum Committee) in a felicitous speech declared the institution open, but not before he had been presented with_a silver key by the contractor (Mr T. Finl' ~*n). The National Anthem was sung w* great heartiness by all, and after phot' ..aphs of the assemblage had been secured, a move was made to the recreation ground, where a roast bullock and other appetising morsels awaited the onslaughts of the multitude. Thanks to the diligence of chefs J. Walker, Smart, McCallum, and A. Lumsden, who had sat up all the previous night preparing the feast, the bullock (a magnificent polled Angus from the Edendale estate) was done to a turn. Boiled potatoes were supplied in abundance and tea in oceans, and all the holidaymakers wer<*; requested to bring were plates and mugs, and good appetites. Fully 1200 people were on the ground, and nearly everybody sampled the very excellent roast beef. Mrs Creron was present throughout the proceedings, taking a lively interest in all that was passing, and conversing freely with all who came within speaking distance. From noon until 4.30 the time was given up to feasting and general jollification . Games and races were got off, and a football match played, and through the agency of these means all were enabled to enjoy themselves most thoroughly. The bonfire was a huge success. Over 70 loads of wood, scrub, etc., were gathered together, and at 5.30 the pile made a magnificent blaze, whioh lasted well into the night. The pyrotechnic display went " with * a bang " from start to finish, and afforded a magnificent spectacular treat to young and old alike. The concert at night in aid of the Atbenfflum funds drew one of the largest audiences known in Wyndham. Indeed, neither sitting nor standing room could be found in thp hall for intending patrons, and the result r was that over 100 persons were unable to | gain admittance. The programme was enr thusiastically reoeived — particularly the patriotic items — and nearly every performer was recalled. The ball held subsequently was also a great success, the number attending being rather large for the dancing accommodation available. However, the day passed- over splendidly. The weather was beautiful, and although the ground was a trifle sloppy underfoot, a large supply of truly British pitriotism defied all drawbacks and assisted to make the day the most memorable occasion yet known to Wyndham. For the brilliant success of tbe demonstrations, the committee, which comprised Mesers Jas. McLauchlan, Marsh, Walker, Golding, Cushnie, T. Finlayson, A." Lumsden, James Milne, Macpherson, Cuthbert, Waters, Drummond, Cunningham, Brash, Smart, J. A. Dodd, Millar, John Lumsden, R. Carson, A. Jones, R. Paull, Bremner, Greer, and T. Stewart, as well as many other local and district residents, are to be thanked.