PEACE CELEBRATIONS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2416, 28 June 1900, Page 31

PEACE CELEBRATIONS,

A meeting was held at Mosgiel on Monday evening to discuss the arrangements of a programme for the celebration of Peace Day. After some discussion the following programme was adopted:— (l) A religious service to be held in the morning (in the Presbyterian Church or some other place to be decided upon) ; the Borough Council and the volunteers to be invited to officially attend, and the Revs. M'Kerrowr Paulin. Hall, and Borehani to be appointed a committee to make tLe necessary arrangements. (2) A demonstration in the afternoon in the special interest of the young people; suca demonstration to consist, among otner things, of a procession of the children of the various tchools, the "band, volunteers, friendly societies, traders' association, woollen rfaotory, and other such institutions, the plaining of a tree by the youngest child in each school; and, if practicable, athletic sports or some other suitable entertainment for the children. (3) A torchlight precession and public demonstration in the evening on lines to be determined by a committee to be appointed. " (4) The various committees to jointly constitute one General Committee to meet, after" all detailed arrangements have been made, and consult as to final preparations. The Rev. 'Mr M'Kerrow thought that Mosgiel might join with Bunedin in assisting the meeting to be held in the evening by the Dunedin Church Council. That Was after the Mosgiel people hah held their own demonstration during the day, but most of those present ware opposed to taking any part whatever in the Dunedin demonstration, and some suggested petitioning the Minister of Railways, as other country places were doing, to give the, railway hands a holiday on Peace Day. This would prevent people travelling by rail from their own towns on that day. A meeting of the residents of Green Island was held on Tuesday evening in St. 'Mark's Hall, Green Island, to consider how best to celebrate locally the declaration of peace. Dr Will occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance. The following resolutions were carried unanimously: — (1) "That the people of Green Island, Bumside, and Abbotsford hereby resolve to celebrate the proclamation of peace and the success of her Majesty's arms in South Africa as a community, the function to take place on the Saturday immediately preceding the Government holiday or the Saturday immediately after." (2) " That jj procession of adults and school children, local bodies in regalia, factories, and athletic clubs, assemble at the school at 2 p.m., march to Burnside, back along Main road to centre of the town, then patriotic addresses and singing National Anthem." (3) ''In the evening display of fireworks at 7.30 iii the school grounds, the burning of large bonfires, householders to be asked to illuminate their houses." (4) " The committee to carry out details to consist of the mayor, the chairmen of the school committee and of friendly societies, managers of factories, captains of athletic clubs, and head master of school; also, that a shilling subscription to defray 6xpense3 be made throughout tho_distriot." The JPort Chalmers committee met in the Mayor's *-oom on Thursday night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr D. A. de Maus) occupied the chair. The programme for Peace Celebration Day at the Port, as submitted by his Worship and adopted by the meeting is as f ollows : — The square is to be elaborately decorated. Here, in the morning, with the help of the volunteers, the school children (including Sawyers' Bay and West Harbour Schools), who will be dressed to represent the nationalities_ of the Empire, a great reception of all nations will be held, patriotic songs will be sung, and an allegorical picture of the entry of the British troops into the Transvaal wiil be presented. An adjournment will then be made to the Garrison Hall, where the massed choirs and the Musical Society will render a short patriotic service of song. At 2 o'clock there will be a procession, in which the bands, the volunteers, local- trades, friendly societies, Masonic bodies in regalia, school children with flags, etc,, etc., will be asked to find a place. The route will be along George Ftreet to Cufrie street, down Grey street and back by George street to the recreation ground. lAt the ground there will be a circus entertainment on a large scale, at which the public ■will be entertained with feats of bareback riding, hurdle-jumping, Carnival of Venice, sports, and other attractive items. Then will follow the building of the bonfire/ which is to 'be a record one.

In the evening at 6.30 an open-air limelight entertainment will be given from the Dock Trust offices, when only pictures of interest dn relation to the war will be shown. Then a anonster torchlight procession, the school children all carrying Chinese lanterns, will be dlluminated by coloured fires as it winds round .the town. At the recreation ground there will ibe the representation of the relief of MafeJ Jdng, and a night attack on a Boer kopje. 'The bonfire and fireworks will then be lib. (The band will play patriotic airs. At large (refreshment tents tea and light refreshments ,will be dispensed. His Worship expects every man, woman, and tehild in the district to take a lively interest •in the procedings, po that the Port may sustain the great reputation it won on Embarfeation Dp,y for patriotic whoie-souledness.

Townspeople will be requested to illuminate their promises until midnight.