PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1919, Page 1

PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

ONERAHFS TESTIMONY

(Own Correspondent.)

The Peace social, held in the Town Hall on Friday night, was a marked success. Few, if any, residents of the township were absent on the occasion, and the quotas of guests from Whangarei and Portland, etc., swelled the numbers, till well over 250 must have been present on the floor of the hall. The interior was lavishly and tastefully decorated. Nikau and fern-fronds formed a background of emerald. Union Jacks atid New Zealand standards were displayed on the stage. Through the courtesy of their captains, the. signallockers of the "Talisman" and the "Ethel Wells" were laid under embargo and their contents commandeered, to hang in four lines of bunting across the body of the hall. It was a scene of vivid colour. Khaki and civics, with the gay dresses of the ladies mingled, neath the waving flags with quite kaleidoscopic effect. There was a nip of frost in the air arid dancing was kept up with great vim. Confections were handed round between the dances and there were lollies galore for the delighted youngsters. During an interval Mr E. N. Ormiston read the Government Proclamation of Peace festivities, and spoke a few feeling words in reverential memory of the heroic dead. Followed the King's Proclamation to his subjects and the singing of the National Anthem. A plenteous and excellent supper was handed round and afterwards the fui was renewed with added zest and gaiety. The hour of 3 a.m. had struck 'ere the revel closed. It had been a night crammed full of enjoy-, ment. Much credit is due to the Town Board for the excellence of the arrangements, and to Mrs C. J. Rowlands (the secretary), Miss Houghton, and the committee of ladies for the way in which the function was carried out. Miss Bessell presided at the piano and Messrs H. Skellern and A. Fagan made efficient M.C.'s.

Punctually at 8 a.m. on Peace Day the flag was broken out on the staff t the post office and bells were rung. As the folds of the standard unfurled on the morning breeze, thought strayed back through the four and ahalf years of hideous war. One thought of the heroic deeds done, under that flag, on many a stricken field, of the undying fame of New Zealand's gallant sons, won on the world's battlefields, and of the worth of that peace that victory has brought us. But, through the web of joy, there ran a woof of sorrow for the broken menrreturnerd r for stricken hearts, for vacant chairs, for home's whose only solace must be, henceforth, but the memory of loved ones lost. "Lest we forget."

Surely the Clerk of the Weather up aloft, has been also "peacifying.' Clear skies and gentle breezes have marked the holidays. Saturday and Sunday were especially fine. The harbour lay like a sheet of blue glass, under a turquoise sky and brilliant sun. The railway folk must have had the time of their lives. All the world, his wife and olive 'branches were off to see the festivities in Whangarei, and the trains leaving the terminus were packed full of pleasureseekers, great and small.