THE REJOICINGS IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 7 June 1900, Page 27

THE REJOICINGS IN DUNEDIN.

The demons tuitions in the city over the exceeding- good news from the peat of war — news which is interpreted as practically intimating the close of the war, — were remarkable for their extent and the depth of feeling evoked. There was an absence of boisterous hilarity, but none the less was the news received with joy, and the loyalty and patriotism of the people were manifested with general enthusiasm. Once again the news that stirred the hearts of the people came in the early morning, and on a Friday morning too. The bells pealed out joyously at 6 o'clock, and soon there was a mingling of pounds, spreading in loud reverberations from the centre of the city to the extremity of its suburbs. People beat gongs, rang bells, let off fireworks, and shouted the news, which took the comprehensive, if inexact form, of "Pretoria's fallen." In all respects the earlier demonstrations were similar to those which greeted the intelligence of the relief of Mafeking. The morning paper Boon conveyed to the people all that could be known upon the subject, and the telegrams from the Acting-Premier (the Hon. J. G. Ward), and other announce"ments showed that the day was to be observed as a general holiday, and that popular demonstrations would be held.

During the morning the city was given over to unorganised, but very genuine and general, demonstration. It was at once known that there would be no school lessons, and the workers, with but few exceptions, had a full holiday a? well. The first demonstration took place in the Octagon, -where, after the large bell in the tower commenced to ring, numbers of young people assembled. By common consent they ranged themselves in front of Mr James Robin's house,' singing and cheering with great heartiness. It was the history of the previous Friday repeating itself, with plight variations ; even the weather was much the same, and what can x>eople do to show their sympathy with the welfare of the Empire but shout and sing as for centuries past their ancestors under other stars have done, ■n hen the foundations of the British power were so well and truly laid. After some cheering and singing, and not a little shouting, the bell ceased, and the mayor, from the Town Hall steps, told forth the news. At this time the crowd was, very dense, being more numerous than when the relief of Mafeking was celebrated, and quite as enthusiastic. His Worship was received with cheers, and the firbt thing; he did was to a&k the citizens to join in singing " God save the Queen." This was done with much goodwill and fervour, and Mr Chisholm then mado a short speech, alhuling to the sequence of successes to the British arms in Africa, and wound up by calling for cheers for Lord Roberts and the British army, for Major Robin and the New Zealand contingent, and for the Queen. These were heartily given, and this portion of the proceedings closed, as it had opened, with the singing of the National Anthem. Three or four times during the morning crowds collected and sang in front of Mr Robin's house, and cheered for Major Robin and our boys, and, though not in a fit state of health to do so, the major's father, in res|»ois^ to requests, made several ehorfc

speeches, one of wliich is reported elsewhere. In conversation subsequently with a representative of this journal, Mr James Robin said: "The sentiment which filled my heart when I saw them before me was ' There is no fear for Britain when she possesses such lads as these,' and I remembered that an American journal has c aid : ' England has discovered in her colonies an additional ten millions of population from which to draw an army and render secure the defence of the British Empire.' " There was one other matter in the first demonstrations here of ioy at the good news, and thai, too, can be told best in Mr Robin's own words, when he fcaid that what to him was the most proper and the most affecting incident of the morning was that a number of young ladies who had come to the Octagon joined together in singing the '" Old hundredth."

It would be tedious to attempt to narrate all that was done to mark the day a redletter one in the history of the people. Crowds of people thronged the streets. Shops were partly opened for a, little time, and principally for tho purpose of selling flags and badges. All the streets were gay with bunting, and colours and badges were so common that not to have them was to become conspicuous. Bands of music paraded the main streets, followed by hundreds of people. The pupils of the Boys' High School marched in a body, with a band, shouted a- Maori warpry, Fang patriotic songs, and generally conducted themselves in a happily demonstrative fashion. Another active contingent was formed by the pupils of the Union street School, and other school boys joined in patrolling tho streets, and in intimating that for places of business to keep open did not accord with their sense of the fitness of things. So soon, however, as it was realised that the day was to be a general holiday there was no trouble on this score.

Early in the morning an order was issued by Colonel .Webb for the volunteers to parade and take part in the afternoon's procession, and the muster showed with what goodwill the order was obeyed. The procession was very much like the former ones, being as well arranged and as effective, and the vast crowds of people lhat assembled where greatly pleased therewith, though, as previously mentioned, there was nothing in the nature of uproarious gratulation ; matters were taken quietly, soberly, but not the less thankfully, as though the singing of the Hymn of Praise in the Octagon, rather than the clanging of bells and the shouting of the crowd, was the dominant element. The sentiment was more of thankfulness than jubilation. As the great procession 'passed from the Octagonsouthwards, and the crowd closed in, the scene was truly a remarkable one, for, right away south to beyond Stafford street the great thoroughfare was a dense mass of people. One glance over this great pea of heads was sufficient to show with what rniuiimity the people of this city responded to the invitation to join in the Empire's celebration of the success that has accompanied, if not yet crowned, the efforts of, the soldiers of the Queen in Africa.

The demonstrations were continued all day and late into the night. So crowded were the streets during the evening that the tramcara from the Leith could not rim further south than Frederick street. In the evening there was a torchlight procession and a fine display of fireworks, the U.S.S. Company's Waikare domg grand pyrotechnic service on this occasion. There was also a mass meeting of citizens, at which, patriotic speeches were delivered and suitable resolutions proposed and adopted, and, under the auspices of the Council of the Churches, a religions service was held in First Church to celebrate whaj; is regarded as practically the conclusion of the war.

So few were the exceptions thai it may be said the people with one heart and voice rejoiced in the news of victory for the British arms, and if there are any who think that under no circumstances should success in arms be a matter for joy, before they condemn as foolish or heartless what they may be pleased to consider the thoughtless multitude, they would surely do well to ponder the words of, not a British "Jingo," but an American philosopher of world- wide repute. That modern Plato. Ralph Waldo Emerson, speaking from his intimate acquaintance with tho fratricidal war by which the United States of America compelled the adhesion of the Southern State? to the Confederacy, said: — "I shall always respect war hereafter. The waste of life, the dreary havoc of comfort and time, arfe over-paid by the vistas it opens of Eternal Life, Eternal Law, reconstructing and upholding society."

, The members of the Stock Exchanges held patriotic meetings in the morning, at which enthusiastic loyalty for Great Biitain was in large demand, while shares in " Little Ens>-lander " stocks were much below par; in fact, unquotable.