SILVER BULLET CANNONADE

Nelson Evening Mail, 1 August 1916, Page 7

SILVER BULLET CANNONADE

CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

/ AMOUNT RAISED TO DATE £25,000.

The Silver Bullet Cannoniide, organised in aid of the Nelson Sick and Wounded Soldiers and their Dependents' Fund, came to a close yesterday. The amount aimed at was £25,000 and an announcement was made during the day that so fur £23,000 has been raised. A great gala programme had been arranged for the closing day but this had to be abandoned* owing to rain, the the great disappointment of thousands oi people. There was a hig influx of visitors from all parts of the province. The closing ceremony in. connection .with the cannonade took place at the Theatre Royal, the investiture being gone through' twice, in the afternoon and again last night. Tlie curtain at the Theatre- Royal rose on a very ,pretty piece of grouping and colouring. On the stage were the princesses of the ten armies, with their ■maids of 'honour and officers of the armies. A throne had been 'prepared on which was placed a chair to be occupied ■by Britannia, the princess of the victorious army in the cannonade. RESULT OF CANNONATJ-E. FUSILIERS' VICTORY. The Secret Service Officer (Mr G. Fitz-Gerald) announced the result of the Cannonade as follows : Fusiliers (Princess, Miss G. Clark; Lieutenant-Colonel C. Milner) ... 1 Grenadiers (Princess, Mrs Robison ; Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Fan-is) ... 2 Sharpshooters .-fPrincess, .Miss Goodwin ; Lieutenant-Colonel H. Manoy) 3 Rangers (Princess, Miss Best; Lieu-tenant-Colonel L. Bradstock) 4 Royal Marines (Princess. Miss Walker; LientenantColcnel D. Hooker) 5 Lancers ("Princess, Miss Page : Lieu-tenant-Colonel J. B. Sad'd) 6 Flying Squadron (Princess. Mrs W. Downie; Lieutenant-,Colonei W. Downie) 7 Bombardiers (Princess, > Miss G. Treacher ;Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. Cresswell) T 8 Knobby Gordons (Princess, Miss N. Win; Lieutenant-Colonel G. Macmahon) 9 Guard'l (Princess, :Miss Fairey ; 'Lieutenant-Colon el 11. Low) ... "... 10 The Fusiliers' Princess was attended by. Joan Pharazyn, the young daughter of Mr C B. Pharazyn. ARMIES' CONTRIBUTIONS. The following is an- approximate statement of the amounts paid in by the various armies during the Cannonade :- £ Fusiliers (Miss Miarsden's car and •Mrs FJd"wards's Tahunanui section) 7438 Grenadiers 3151 Sharpshooters ... .. 2526 Lancers 2245 Rangers 2058 Bombardiers 1314 ißoval Marines 1148 Guards 1017 Flying Squadron (Walker's section) &10 Knobby Gordons 783 The Fusiliers' Princess was conducted to Britannia's chair by the Mistress of the Robes (Mrs Crawford) to the strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," played by the 12th. Regiment Band.

DECLARATION OF SOVEREIGNTY.

Mr A. Gould, the Commander-in-Chief, then made the following declaration of sovereignty :—iCitizens of Nelson Hark Ye ! Ye people of the Counties of Waimea, Takaka, Collingwood and Murchison—All Hail ! Know \e ! That by the right valiant efforts of the soldiery, and the brilliant generalship of their trusty commanders, victory, in the Silver Bullet Cannonade hath fallen to the army of the Fusiliers.

Ten powerful' and loyal armies have striven for victory, but by virtue of tfie triumph of her army the Princess of the Fusiliers is exalted to the high and noble rank of Britannia, the Sovereign Queen of all the armies, upon whom do wait in loyal homage all those noble princesses who vied with her, and 1 each other, for the honours bestowed on our beloved 'Britannia, before whom all her grateful subjects bow and proclaim her—Britannia.

Hail Britannia ! We appear humbly before thee and make our loyal obeisance !

May it please your Gracious Majesty, your loyal subjects have decreed that you shall reign over us, and I as your ■most humble servant, representing your faithful liege and loyal subjects, do place upon your Royal head this helmet and 1 into your gracious hands this sceptre as the outward and visible signs of your Sovereignty. May your reign be as glorious as the triumph of your army in battle. It will rejoice your Majesty to know that your victory hath been the means of assisting mightilv towards the raising of a fund of £25.000 for the relief of our sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents. Your Majesty, hath already won the love and admiration of all the people within your "borders, bv submitting yourself to the ordeal of publicity in a just andt noble cause. The other Princesses also whose armies competed with your Majesty's army in friendly rivalry have shown a worthy example of self-sacrifice such as will for ever redound to their credit and honour, and your Majesty has been pleased to honour them in that they wait on your gracious person. 'We, your loylal subjects, join with you in prayer to the God of Battles that He may speedily grant to our gal lant defenders a glorious victory to the end that the great Empire to which we ( belong may enjoy that peace which vindicated justice and honour alone can ' give. Britannia, all Hail ! We greet thee, (Britannia. Britannia having been invested with the helmet and trident, the 12th Regiment Band played "Pule Britannia." The colours were then presented by Mr H. Everett (Minister of War). Each Princess was then presented to ;Britannia by the 'Mistress of the Robes, the Nelson Concert Orchestra playing the Coronation March. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr D. R. Edwards, the' Finance Minister, made the following announcement: Miay it please your gracious Majesty to receive front -me, jour Minister of Finance and humble servant, the result of the financial campaign with which I have been entrusted. It had been the hope and endeavour of your Ministers to have. i-aised by this cannonade the full sum of £25,000 required by your Majesty. Many handsome donations have been received, and the liberality and patriotism of many of your subjects hath been proved, but further effort is required! on the part of your Ministers to raise the sum your Majesty, has set your heart on. to do justice to your Majesty and to the dominion over which vo.u hold sway. .To this end your Ministers pledge themselves not to rest content tintil your Majesty's wishes and hopes are realised ; and, while the cannonade is at an end, your Ministers will continue with all due diligence to strive to reach the goal aimed at. by your Majesty. I shall now at your Royal pleasure call lupon 1 our trusty and well beloved Edward- John Allen to place at your disposal for the use of bur brave' defenders and their dependents, the sum of £23.000, -which the combined armie? have raised.

Mi- Allen presented a casket to Her Majestyi.

PROCLAMATION

Mr H. Everett, Minister of War. made the" following proclamation: 0 Yez! 0 Yez! O Yez ! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! All ve loyal citizens drav <near. Hearke»! The Silver Bullet Cannonade is ended. Inspired by the sphM of patriotic duty, and evoked by an attractive scheme of friendly rivalry, thi.--citv and the countryside adjacent thereto "hath subscribed the sum of £23,000 tpwards the sum of £25,000 called for a'nd required "by Her Gracious Majesty Britannia as a free-will duty offerinc to our brav-e and patriotic soldiers from the people whom they are defending wit htheir life's blood. The raising of this sum is an achievement of those who have subscribed' thereto mar: be justly proud, and. those who have not lightly ashamed. Eyerv person who > v work or gift has contributed in ~ah measure to this" result is jus't'.v entitled to the name of patriot; and those who. having the ahility, have not, or will not, are justly entitled to the contempt of all honourable men. Peradventure i< may be that some of those have not yet given have not fullv realised their duty, and opportunity will still be given to all to purge their consciences of 'tlie stain : .that will otherwise lie for ever or them of being accounted unworthy rf the traditions of a great and honourable nation, which drew the -sword iv the cause of liberty and justice, and shall not sheathe it' until the power of the tyrant and arch-fiend be for eve; broken. Let no man he accounted unworthy of the race that bred him. ii mav be that in this battle some offence hath been given. If so, let it.be forgiven and forgotten -. and let us remember only the cause and the justice of the cause—the cause of the maimed, the cause of the widow, and the cause of the fatherless, who were made such thai we nxight remain a free, just and honourable nation. And let .all mean me" be for ever accounted unworthy to be. called Britons. By command of Br! tannia. I shall now deliver to you Hei Majesty's gracious acknowledgment antthanks. BRITANNIA'S REPLY. The Minister of War delivered Bri tanu:a's reply as follows : Greeting. It hath pleased Her Civ*cious Majesty to command, depute, and appoint me, as her Minister of War. to deliver, declare, and proclaim to ail her dutiful subjects here assembled her gracious thanks for their hearty expressions and signs of loyalty and goodw;!) in the diligence and labour bestowed ir her service in and about and concerning the scheme which Her Most GraciouV Majesty has had at heart-in the. interest and welfare of such of Her Majesty'? subjects as have flocked to her colours' t: | defend her honour, her person, and hei l realm. v v Now, therefore, know ye, ye citizens of Nelson and- ye inhabitants of the

Counties of Waimea, Takaka, Collingwood, and Murchison and all boroughs, towns, villages, hamlets, and fruit farms therein, and all dependencies of, ad joining or pertaining thereto, that by the valour of our army, for whose loyal and devoted services we shall be for ever grateful, we have been appointed, elected, and ordained "Britannia," and in, token whereof my trusty- and weilheloved Alfred Gould hath placed this helmet upon our head and this- trident in our royal hand. that justice may prevail within our kingdom and that all our judgments bo tempered with mercv.

Wherefore it -hath pleased us to send our royal greeting- to great and small in all the borders of our land, fom sea to sea, and to the uttermost parts of th-j earth under our Sovereign's sway; to the officers and members of our glorious army ; to the officers and members of all armies within our borders—our who,- though equally valiant, were less fortunate iro the glorious and ever memorable struggle for Hill £25.000; to the' tireless toilers ini Paddy's Market, an-d through the highways and byways and country, roads in the pursirit and manufacture of munitions of war, and th-» enrolling\of soldiers in our royal army service; to the countless hundreds, nay. thousands, -who, in all parts of our dominion, submitted willingly to be fleeced and who gave and bought (and were sold) with open hands and generous hearts: to the executive and all committees, organisations, and individuals who by word or, deed aided, abetted, assisted, and for us our desired end.

Now, all ye peoples, hear ye further our royal command ! Inasmuch as our royal pleasure, desire, and demand hath not been secured, accomplished., and obtained, we, by this our royal command, impose, empower, and lay upon all and singular our loyal and generous subjects our desire, wish, and will that ye do continue with diligence and goodwill vour labours in this great and glorious patriotic cause, to the end that, though the battle is ended, the fund, which it ''s our royal pleasure to raise within our domain, may continue to increase and p-rovJ until it shall do honour to our worthy and wealthv subjects within the prosperous territories over which it is our proud privilege to reign. Let there cease to be within our boundaries any man shamed by his parsimony. Let each man feel that he hath done justice to himself. Let each man know that he hath done his duty. Then indeed, and then only, shall we, -ind our loyal subjects, be honourablyknown throughout the length and breadth of this Dominion as a people who have reached the standard of the nation l —"Duty and Sacrifice." Let these words be engraven on the hearts of our loyal people, that our royal pleasure may be accomplished, and we may hold up our head amongst the honourable of the earth. It rejoices our heart to kno v that we have within our borders such loyal, patriotic, and dutiful subjects ;.s the executive committee, who have given of their time to the sacrifice of their "business in the cause of justice and humanity. And in all reverence we pray that the God of all justice reward them. In his hands we" leave them for their reward. We tender to them our special gratitude. v •

To those faithful workers in our cause, whose name is legion, we tender our thanks. They have given freely and worked ungrudgingly in a- noble cause—the cause of our gallant defenders, the cause of the widow s and . the fatherless. Let this knowledge be their best reward. Let it be a memorial to them before the King of Kings, before Whom we, and all our loyal subjects, bow in reverent homage-while we unite in the prayer.

A presentation of a gold hrooch, in the shape of a bullet, was made to Britannia on behall of the Silver Bullet Executive. .

The ceremony closed with the National Anthem. - ■'".''■

THE PROCESSION.

The weather having cleared, a procession was organised by Major Stiles, starting from the Theatre Royal and, returning thereto.

Over 30 decorated motor cars took oart, each army's colours being represented, and some of the cars "being most effectively draped. The Armies' cars contained the Princesses and their maids. One car contained a - number of "Anzacs." .. .

Italy was represented by. two -cars—one decorated with the national colours and the other •representing' a gondola.

Wakefield's "H.M.S. New Zealand" was a prominent feature in the procession. A very complete representation of the battleship was mounted on a motor lorry. During the day the battleship carried passengers about the streets.

A motor car fitted with "wireless" came from the Commercial Garage. A number of humorous placards and. a humorous-looking set of operators, created a great deal of fun. The display made by • Messrs McK-iy and Sou, Ltd., was much appreciated by the children, it taking the form* of a gay haymaking party. returning from Die fieldi on a load of hay. A farm waggon loaded with hay and decorated with.sheaves and flags was lent and driven 'by Mr W. Green, 'of Stoke, who' was attired in .the regulation .farmer's smock. The ladies of the party were. dressed in old English costumes, "Pansier style," with pretty rush hats, triiri--ned .with wheat and wild flowers. These ladies carried hay rakes and wands and distributed souvenir handkerchiefs eii route to the children, who, -peedless to say, were there in (plenty. Mr G. F. Hingston had a very c'reditlb'le grocery display. Messrs Wood and Sons Ltd. also had l display of groceries. A party of M:urchisoni boys in Maori costume took part in the procession, and were a great attraction for the children. The music was supplied oy the 12t!i Regiment and National Reserve Bands. IN THE EVENING. The Executive had secured the Theatre Royal, Empire Theatre,' and School of Music, and entertainments were given at each place. The investiture ceremony was repeated at the Theatre Royal (making the occasion the programme was gone through. There was again a large attendance. Pictures were shown during the first half of the evening. A stirring patriotic speech was delivered by Mr H. Everett. Mr Lints, at the close of the programme, referred to the work of the Silver Bullet. Executive, and said he inured to thank especially two members thereof who had put in so much time en behalf of the Cannonade. He asked the audience to give Mr Walter' Snodgrar.s and Mr J. S. Evans three' cheers. The request was enthusiastically responded to. It may be mentioned that the declaration of sovereignty, proclamation, Britannia's, reply, etc., were prepared by Mr Evans. A epecia] programme of pictures was screened at the Empire Theatre, which was fllkd to overflowing. CON-CERT AT SCHOOL OF MUSIC. 'The concert at the School of Music was an unqualified success, the large vudience being particularly appreciative of the programme provided. The overture on the Cawthron Organ, "War March

of the Priests," was played in a masterly manner and was enthusiastically, encored. In response, Mr Nay lor played "Pilgrims' .Song of Hope" with great deliracy and' artistry. Later in the evening Mr Nay lor played. "Hymn of Nuns," and by special request repeated "Pilsrrima' Song- of Hope." Mr Salkeld scored a success in his song ""Neath the Rolling Tide." and as an encore gave "The Deathless Army." This singer's fine voice was heard to great advantage in Ins next song, "Will o' the Wisp," for which he was again deservedly encored. Mrs Allan Eeinioll, from Murchison. delighted the audience with her rendering of "'Lilacs," and' for an insistent recall sang "Bowl of Roses." In the second part, 'Mis Eennell sang Arditti's "Dream of 'Home," and. was again recalled. Mrs Rennell is the possessed' of a well-trained soprano voice of -'good quality and range which, she iised to best advantage. Mr A. G. Thompson., a favourite with Nelson audiences, sang "Kins; Charles" and "Simon the Cellarer" in his usual finished manner. ißo'th songs were encored. Mr Geo. "Bush, needless to say, had a good: reception and; was recalled for both his items. "Alphonse" was especially appreciated. Miss Teresa McEnroe, of Wellington, made her first appearance before a Nelson audience, and made a .most favourable impressiqn. She has a soprano voice of beautiful quality and 1 flexibility, and is besides endowed with the artistic temperament so necessary to the proper appreciation of the composer's meaning. Miss McEnroe sang "Valuations from Carnival de- Venice" (Benedict) most artistically, and- in i-e----spoiise favoured the audience with a fine •rendering of "Believe me if all those Endeaaino- Young Charms." Perhaps Miss McEnroe's most appreciated item was 'Claribel's "Come Back to Erin." As an encore she cave '"Wake Up." Miss Hanky sang "Roses" in a very pleasing ■imu'ner, and for a recall "Look Down, Dear Eyes." As aecompaniste, Miss Kathleen Fairhall .is to be highly complimented on the artistic way in which she oari ried out her heavy -evening's work. To ; Mrs .Rennell and' Miss McEnroe the thanks of the audience are due, for their i journeving to Nelson to delight th'Jm with their songs, amd it is hoped it will ! not be the last occasion on which they | will appear on a Nelson concert platform.