THE CANTERBURY JUBILEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11918, 17 December 1900, Page 5

THE CANTERBURY JUBILEE.

JUBILEE SERVICES.

ADDRESS (BY THE PREMIER,

(Per United Pities Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, December 16.

Jubilee services were held in all the city and suburban churches. The Presbyterian. Sunday Schools met at St. Paul's, where addresses were given by the Revs. Dr Knvin and M'Kenzie. The Jubilee demonstration of the Methodist Sunday School Union was held at the Exhibition Hall, where the Rev. W. Morley. D.D., presided, and the Rev. C. H. Garland addressed the children. The large hall was crowded, and hundreds had to stand. There was ai full attendance at the cathedral in the morning, where Bishop Julius preached, and Bishops Wallis and Wilson were also present. The collection in aid of the cathedral completion fund amounted to £133 10s, and two other collections were taken for the same purpose, of which returns have not vet come in.

In the afternoon the Church of England Sunday Schools and choirs mustered in the. cathedral, and took up their position on the western side of the Godley statue. The7 choir members numbered 441, and some 1600 Sunday School children were present. Bishop Julius presided, and the hymn accompaniments were played by the (garrison. Band. Fully 6000 of the public were present. After a short service Bishop Wallis gave an address, in wnich he contrasted the present state of Cbristchurch with that of fifty years ago. The pioneers of Canterbury Lad, he said, come to New Zealand because they knew England would soon be too small to hold all its people. They, had brought their religion with them, and had all these years taught their children to love the old country from which they had sprung. In the recent war the New Zealanders had been fighting, not for themselves, but for their old country, and tho children present would throughout their lives have to think of that old country in which their fathers and mothers had been brought up. In fifty years' time there would be another Jubilee, at which neither himself. Bishop Julius, nor the Premier would be present, and it would then be for those who were now children to say whether the work of the first fifty years had been equally well carried on. If each boy and girl did their best, by the blessing of God, to live a true and Godly life, not only New Zealand, but the whole world, would be better for it, and God would doubtless continue to bless this country as he had blessed it up to to-day. The Bight Hon. the Premier said he was delighted to say in few words on that occasion. At first sight the role seemed a new one for him to play, but he felt it his duty to be with thorn to do honour to those great men ■who had laid the foundation of the Canterbury province. Many of these had paid the debt of nature, but their works would never dfe, and their memory would always be kept green. Close by wliere they stood was the statue of John Robert Godley, a man who was Godley by name and Godly in all his actions. Godley had done honour to New Zealand. His statue stood in Christ-church, and his name would never be forgotten as long as the colony was inhabited Then they could not forget the excellent work done by Bishop Selwyn, who did his missionary work in the South Seas as his own sailing mastei in a twenty-one ton schooner. Let them picture the landing of Bishop Harper in Lyttelton 45 years ago, and then let them look at what had been done since in the shape of tLeir noble cathedral and their many beautiful churches. As there were many Sunday School children present, he might tell them that Messrs J. R. Godley and J. K. Fitzgerald were the first Sunday School teachers in Lyttelton, and Sir John Hall and the lion. H. B. Gressou were among the first in Christchurch, thus showing that men in the highest positions used in the old day' to take up Sunday School work. There' were now 8000 children attending Sunday Schools in Canterbury, and more teachers were required. He strongly urged that more children should attend the Sunday Schools. Nations and Empires had fallen when they had forgotten God, and our nation, at present in the van of the world, might expect its greatness to continue if it took warning in time. The hours of secular education could not be interfered with, but he would ask parents to let their children attend school before or after school hours, when they could be instructed by ministers. Sunday School teaching in itself was not enough for religious education, and they should beware of that indifference which was the greatest enemy to religion. Mr Seddon eulogised the gentlemanly behaviour of the New Zealanders in South Africa., and wished all present all prosperity and happiness. On behalf of the State," he thanked the old settlers for the excellent work they had done in the cause of civilisation.

PREPARATIONS FOR TO-DAY.

The weather is fine, but unpleasant. A north-east wind, which has been blowing all week, still continues. The town is full of visitors, and the Jubilee celebrations to-morrow will be a brilliant success if the weather remains fine. A large number of volunteers have already assembled. The South Canterbury Battalion arrived by special train this morning, and several country mounted corps came in by road. TheSouthland Pipe Band arrived by express last night, and played through the principal streets, followed by an enormous crowd.

LYTTELTON, December IS,

Port Lyttelton celebrated the Jubilee of its settlement by the Canterbury Associa;tion this afternoon. The streets were decorated with flags, but to nothing like the extent which was the case on the departure of the Canterbury Rough Eiders for South Africa. A procession, composed of the various Fricndlv Societies and wharf labourers and old identities, headed by the Lyttelton Marine Band, and diversified by lorries emblematic of the several unions, marched to the Reo# "tion ground, where speeches were made by the Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr G. Laurenson. M.H.R., and Captains M'Cla-tchie and Miirciel. Children's sports and a, buby show were held during the afternoon.