RESTORED TO CIVILISATION.

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1919, Page 3

RESTORED TO CIVILISATION.

WHANGAREI EN FETE.

THE PEACE EiiLLS RING,

'^•■,; X It was with profoundly thankful that the people of Whangarei *%stened this morning to the glad clamour of bells from the fire tower and church steeple and other noisy evidences of the joyous fact that peace had at length returned with its blessings to a war-dreary world. The wild enthusiasm displayed at the earlier announcements of victory was ! not present with th c crowd to-day, but that was only natural, as to all '.intents and purposes peace came to •us with the armistice. The spontaneous rush of joy was not -'. there, because slow preparation had tuned the people to meet the occasion calmly and without excitement. Nevertheless, crowds flocked into the town on holiday mood to join in the merry- j making f and the day promises ; • to be a memorable one in the history of Whangarei. The townspeople ihave entered heartily into the carnival spirit, and almost every shop is bedecked with bunting or greenery, while some of the larger establishments have gone in for elaborate illuminations, which do them credit. The cost in some cases must have been considerable , , and th c proprietors have shown a generous spirit which deserves appreciation. Electric light will blaze everywhere, and the seen c this evening promises to be unusually animated and attractiveFireworks will also add to the gaiety of the night, and should prove a rare treat for th c youngsters. The work of marshalling the various units of the procession commenced early, and at 10.30 o'clock a dense crowd had assembled in front ™<. of the Town Hall, from the balcony of which the Mayor (Mr J. S. Dent) . delivered the official tidings:— PROCLAMATION. GEORGE R.I. Whereas a delnite Treaty of Peace between Us and the associated Governments and the German Government was concluded at Versailles on the twenty-eighth day of June last: In conformity thereunto We have thought fit hereby to command that the same be published in due course throughout all our Dominions; and. We do declare to all our loving subjects our will and pleasure that upon the exchange of the ratification thereof the Treaty of Peace be observed inviolably as well by sea «as by land and in all places whatsoever; strictly charging and commanding all our loving subjects to to take notice hereof and to conform themselves thereunto accordingly. •Given at ou r Court at Buckingham Palace, this first day ' of July, in the year of our Lord on c thousand nine hundred and nineteen, and in the

tenth year of our reign. God Save the King! Government House, Wellington, 3rd July, 1919. LIVERPOOL, Governor-General By his Deputy, ROBERT STOUT.

"Foresight is the Weapon of the Wise," Stanus. •And in winter, what a most fortunate weapon it is. These cold, chilly days, when wet through from head to toe is more than a mere occasional occurrence, if .foresight has induced you to have on your shelf a bottle of Baxter's Lung Preserver, you are proof against the "bogeys 01 winter." . A cold can't penetrate the system protected by "Baxter's." It is grand, unequalled, paramount, as a remedy. Order it to-day. 2/0 buys big bobjfcle at Chemist or Store.

WIDESPREAD CELEBRATIONS —IH .

[SPEECHES, PROCESSIONS, SPORTS.

BIG CROWD ASSEMBLES.

The dreadful drama ends, And, with the curtain-fall upon the final act, The Peace . Bells ring! But, what can make amends For untold sacrifices made 'ere this new pact Could respite bring? Through fai r and fertile lands, Where smiling homesteads once in God's sight nestled close, Despoilers strode! And, at their fiendish hands, Free people suffered wrongs unspeakable and gross, And red blood flowed! 'Neath devastated soil Now lie, in their last sleep, vast legions who were slain Without excuse! Shall not our souls recoil At thought of those whose greed, whose lust for power and gain Let murder loose? The ocean-bed is strewn, (With helpless babes and mothers, doomed by cowards to drown At dead of night. Has Peace not come too soon, Since these assassins still, in unrepentance, frown On all that's right? Can we extend the hand Of brotherhood and love to men whose foul misdeeds Bereft us so? Can we o'erlook the brand Of Cain, stamped on the 'brows ox bestial alien breeds * Who wrought such woe? Oh, Lord! Incline the hearts Of these our enemies towards a righteous view For evermore! Teach us to play our parts, That, in the end, we may make Peace both just and .true, And banish war!

JOHN YOULIN BIRCH, Auckland, July 19

A MOMENTOUS OCCASION

Addressing the gathering, his Worsnip said: — occasion on which we me gathered together to-day is probably the most momentous in the world's history, marking as it does the end of a war compaxed with which / all previous wars seem matters of lictle consequence. While w e are extremely glad that the war has ended in victory for Britain and her Allies, the feeiing which is uppermost in the minds of all thinking men and women is one of devout thankfulness that the trying time is ovti , . The four years of war have been years of sadness to many horn es, and our joy at celebrating peace and victory must be tempered with pity and sympathy for those who hav e falien and those bereaved. To my mind, the most remarkable and pleasing feature of the war, is the expression of loyalty and devotion of Britain's colonies to the Motherland, demonstrated by the manner in which hundreds of thousands of brave men, from far distant lands, rose at the call, to stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of the Empire, of which they formed so small a part. In conclusion, I wish to say that it is my sincerest hope that the men who fought so nobly for their country and have been spared to return to their homes will settle down into

useful citizens, and display in their future life a citizenship comparable with their conduct on the field of battle."