PEACE CELEBRATIONS.
The official notification of the signing of the armistice - by the G'-ermans was received at 0 o'clock, and tli'e Post. Offic-e flag. sure, symbol of the authenticity of the news, was at once hoisted. By .magic ai! everyday routine was suspended. The public had be'en on edge for several days.,, and as an indication -cr' the tenseness of feeling an incident may be mentioned. A lady v. ;-; -: >-raping out a frving p>n rignrnu'>"ly this morning, and almost before •she had finished a boy on his way to school ran breathlessly (in to see if she v.-as celebrating peace. With such a spirit in the air shop shutters rose with united celerity, ar.-d' in !iv_minutes Oam>».rn dead to a!! — u--?rc!:i|y ci.'hjbrating t'j.- vx-e-syvim. Bunting and festoon;; of fines .fhtitere: 1 out- everywhere, and by 10 o'clock there was a soberly happy crowd at the Opera House. Chief amdng these were noticeable the school children, who each carried a flag and the majority kerosene tins. In view of the ebullient, nature of tlie public's feelings, and morcove: - . ! because they were not wanted and! would not have be'en heard, there was no specchmakinjr. The 10th Regiment Baud led oft with the National Antliem, followed by -"Rule Erittania" /'"Red White and Blue' - ' etc.. and the children sang. heartily: indeed the cliiklren's sinking was the only noteworthy thing of this pnrt of the celebrations. With flushed faces and waving flags, tbey pr'esented a picture that must in the memory cf those who saw them there, and in their own minds the oc—csssicn is one that- well never fade. Ij. took some time to organise the process:-';!, which roilowrd. JrJveryoae vrai. ia some form patriotic .semblance. Dignity was tl'.r.nvn to the rand's, and t>i-' wild enthusiasm of the first '"jalse alarm"' was lacking, the procession, in point of numbers, were _ most- improssiv*c. First r-iuiio o o"i horse bac-k, one who might have b?-n a '-Taakhaav" from the btyn y--ldi- and another vestured as .John Bull.' Tii- order of tli'e procession was as follows: — Tenth Rosiincntnl Baud. North School children with waving flil'-S. . Mi:!d' :■ School children wit.i -flags ard b:md. . , ~ Car representing all flags of the AlRcd Cross Ladies in uniform. South school band. South school children. Lorries filled with smaller children waving flags. Decorated motor cars. '-M'vr-i : on Armv I'anfi. - t >. :,r'c'- 'bn> t ■M: Is looks;! use t:\.> shot- of the fansou- old wcnr.'n). The T.'.nlc. S: v: ;i <kf">r:-t?'l motor c:\rs, _ o::e i;v - ipV-h wjjc dr-'-ichig a strii'g of petrol tins i::d.. Larries crowded with ctiilcuon au-_: Tvif 1 ! t motor cars, all blazes o ; c->.oi-ed Hass. Drcorated lorry. , .Eleven motor cars, variously dacora-tC<Bo-.v- r ear covered' in willow honglif. Car baa-rina the legend • "Bill .ir. .-trafed." nrd draoed in irv. Car containing at least- one n.tkl Indian. v Lorrv drawn by buys, Waiuki High School gir.s, viui cvin^ols. ' Waitaki Hiirh School Brass .Bi-.-.d. oarrvW" t'-e Hairs of the Allies man:into' om v 'banner, and thumping kero"iJorrvcontaining old-time soldiers. . A- r. [rji ---•■■t? .'•> 4 Td'at thfi oroesssiou to-night- will be like in point of numbers. this morning's impromptu elfort was "hisrhly assuring. With matured preparation to-night's feature, embracing as it must many more novelties, some of which we are assured are -well worthv, of the occasion, will_ establish«n record in Oamaru processions. _Thcend of the war has put evervone -in a frame of mind that is difficult to analyse. Thankfulness reign* supreme, happiness is everywhere. The days of war maps are past, and the telegraph bey of the future will bring nothing but the gladdest of tidings from the front.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM19181112.2.18
Bibliographic details
Oamaru Mail, Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13608, 12 November 1918
Word Count
598PEACE CELEBRATIONS. Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13608, 12 November 1918
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