Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1918. Peace.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 15 November 1918, Page 2

Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1918. Peace.

i The for mo-nent when. Ger- | many would admit herself conquers d j having at last arrived, a great j a wave of joy (which is quite evidently ; shared by a large body of our enemies) j naturally passed over the world. The I feeling of tension being relaxed, a J spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm followed. All neutral countries are joyful at the downfall of the Oun, for it was plainly apparent to them that had he beeo victorious they would before lo:g be drawn into the great vortex of suffering which his armies have i created wherever he has placed his I foot. The whole world breathes more freeiy to-day through the downfall of the national hully whose tyrannical methods have been shown wherever he U„ - J_ _ 1 I- , ...

uaa uemt wito weaKer nations. At one time or another, white, yellow and black races have felt what the mailed fist means. Bloodshed, rap;ne and human misery have followed the Teuton even in his attempts at colonisation I?e claimed to spread "icuitur" but black misery followed in his wake. The Prussian leaders ruffed up with pride thought they we~e the salt of th& earth, and arrogantly imagined it was •heir higtj mission to control the world. Gei'mtny was to dictate the policy of all nations. Berlin "."as to be the centre of iransmissun from wliicb all the wirss controlling politics, commerce, etc.. were to be worked. ]: is said that Napoh-on useri to say thai God is on the pide of the heaviest battalions. Evidently the German military authorities thought the sain?. But they proved the truth of the u!d adage, " Pride gi.yth before a fall, 'and thai su::i pride and an bitbn? pre r.yt ;:f Divine origin.

In t!i« p-»st Britain lias been the champion of freedom, and at different periods of her history has had to break the piiwir of the oppressor; and onte again but for her Europe woul£ be down-trodden by sheer bru e force, and a great daal of the good accomplished by democracy would be undone, end progress greatly retarded for centuries How nobly her sons and daughters have done their duty during the last four years will be hatter realised bysucceeding generations than by our o«n. Our perspective is not large enough just yet. But we can still be proud of our race; the metal stil! rings true. In spite of national faults, freedom, liberty, justice, are the keynotes to which the British heart vibrates. No nation that clinirs to these ideals will ever become small nr ignoble. Although rejoicing we realise that great problems—the aftermath of the war—have now to be fuced. The spread of disease through the insanitary condition of battlefields, the concentration of sach large bodies of men often under unfavourable conditions, and the intermixing of nations and colours, will tf-nd. for a 'cng time to sea iter the dreaded virus and further decimate thf population of the wcrlc. Thete are still difficult international and political problems to be solved, as wnll f's *o?isi and commarciii changes to be met. iiut we can fsce the future with a i'ght heart, knowing that while the war continued things would gel, xvcria. but that now thev will gradually imurovj.

While Germany will be rna ie to pav as far as possible for the damage donn to other nations, there i.s a great debt against hum:mi y which- no gold or material wen Itn can t-ver "redeem. The countless slain, many of whom \vi-re callously mnrdereri, ihe outraged womannood, th • t-rokcH homes, the se?ttersd families, (he inass of suffering cfeiidbuoo, tho gr.?at army of the maimed, represe.nt n nu:nan tragedy [ which man cannot e'-n'mste. That I part of the account win! nave to be left for ssttieinent on the groat day when the grsat|judge of ail ' the earth sha 1 open his books and ren J cr to eve-rv man according; to lis-- \vorl<«. In spittj of all, the'future is brighter than it ha,s beaa during Use long period of doubt When the result hung in tie balance. •. ibe wrfr w-ill advance tiie cause of h'trmanity in many ways. The cloud that shadowed horizon for in any years owing to the vast preparations for war has disappeared, and no doubt it will be a century or more before any nation will force anotfasr

ternational war uponjtne world. When the awakened intelligence that daring the past four and a-balf years hm fceen devoted to the work of destruction is diverted into chaaneJa of construction fur human welfare inestimable good will result.

We decided this week to.pubiisbon frriday evening instead of Friday morning, 8u that the staff coald attend* tna peace celebrations st both Nasebl* and Ranfurly.

The sitting of me court did not tak< place od_ Tuesday owing to the peaci celebrations. It stends adjourned un til early in December^ A meeting of the Alanioigto Commit tee of the Otagc Expansion Lsagai was held at Raofurly on Friday, Btl inst., at 11 a.m. Telephone businesi and criticism of the Central Body's attitude concerning Fuketoi runs formed the principal discussions. This branch strongly favoured the cutting op of large runs, and is requesting the Central Body for a cupy of all correspondence and papers in connection with proposals concerning Puketoi runa. f hls Wll ' be available for discussion at the annual general meeting which will be held after New Year.

As a thanksgiving for victory and peace, the Holy Communion, or Eucha"VT 1 "?*:, " ?? vin S of thanks," was celeb ated ,n St George's Church, at /.dO on Thursday morning. It w*a gratifying to sue the number who availed tberospives of this m«ans of rendering tbeir praise and thanks. The programmes for the A. and P. Association's annual show are beinjr printed and will be available early next week.

Attention is draxvn io the Health epartment's advt. calling f or women with nursm? exper.'ence to go tha Auckland district to help in tha fight against the influenza epidemic. Liberal terms are offered.

At a public meeting on Thursday evening , t was decided to hold tha Boxing Day picnic as usuaL

The rainfall at Kyehurn last inonth was 67 points, which fell on six days,

the maximum fall being 25 points on the 2nd. During October last year 307 pc-ints were registered. An old resident of St Bathani, Georee A. Smiih. died at the hospital on Monday, at tbe nge of 86. He had been in New Zealand for 64 years. The funeral took place at Naseby on Wednesday. A movement to light the hospital in an up-to-date manner was considered a - fitting local memorial to commemorate peace. At th<? Naseby and Ranfurly celebrations collections were made and handsomely responded to. . DonatioDa his requested, and the names of donors will be published, commencing next week. Already about £7O is in baud or promised.

Owing to several items arriving somewhat lata they are heid over till 1 nsxt issue. . i he Kev. S. Moffatt has received the ' ollowing communication from tbe Diocesan Secretary which explains itself: —The Primate having been appealed t"> by the Health Officer, has consented on h s representation to direct that, all the churches in the Diocese be closed on Sunday, 17th November, 1918.