25,000 People in Victory March in Christchurch

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 4

25,000 People in Victory March in Christchurch

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHRCH, May 10. Men and women, boy* and girls, soldiers, sailors and airmen, elderly people and infants in arms on their shoulders and in prams, formally dressed citizens and citizens in the most bizarre attire, sober citizens and citizens in “an advanced state of celebration” marched through the streets of Christchurch in their thousands this afternoon in a “Victory March” which proved an extraordinary expression of jubilation at the Allied triumph in Europe. Marching eight abreast the great column of fiag-waving, banner-carrying, singing and shouting people took more than an hour to file into Colombo Street on the last lap of the march, and by that time Cathedral Square was so congested that large detachments of the marchers had to be diverted into Cashel and Hereford Streets. The total number can only be guessed at, but it is probable that the marchers were at least 25,000 strong and there must ha\ e been many more spectators lining the route. Many of the latter were drawn into the procession as it passed by. The huge assemblage which crowded Cathedral Square and the streets nearby was addressed by the Mayor (Mr. E. H. Andrews), Archbishop West-Wat-son, the Minister of Wupply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and other prominent public figures. All joined in community singing and the Army fired a salute of 2J guns in Hagley Park, this being watched by a large crowd. In general the whole day was marked by the highest enthusiasm und the crowd assembled in or near Cathedral Square was probably the greatest in the history of Christchurch. The celebrations continued to-night with a large crowd still in the Square. QUIET DAY IN AUCKLAND (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Iu contrast with the previous day’s wild revelry the holiday to-day was passed in Auckland almost as quietly as a .Sunday brought into action at short notice the previous evening. Street cleaners toiled throughout the night shovelling up broken glass and collecting empty bottles and their task did not near completion until the dismal grey dawn began to break over the city. Tn view of the heavy rain most Aucklanders stayed at home to-day and there was little sigu of special rejoicing. WELLINGTON’S CELEBRATIONS END MODESTLY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 10. Hpread over three days, one unofficial, tho peace celebrations ended modestly in Wellington to-night. In terms of a current popular expression the great majority of the celebrants had had it by to-day. With the bulk of the city business premises still closed the crowds roamed about but there Avas a marked falling off in the spontaneity of the enthusiasm. Wellington’s citizens Ayere generally speaking to be complimented on the way they met the occasion, said the Mayor (Mr. Will Appleton). It Avas a good victory show, joy being tempered Avith commendable restraint.