CHRIST. CHURCH CAUGHT NAPING

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 45

CHRIST. CHURCH CAUGHT NAPING

(Fbou Our Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, June 2.

Peaoe caught Christchurch unawares. No one was expecting it this morning, when •just as the public clocks finished striking the hour of 10 a succession of bell tolls was heard -floating from the direction of St. Albans, as if half a dozen clocks Ind united in- proclaiming another hour. For s-ome ■time people in the city specula teil ao to tlie cause and the reasca for thii strange performance. Then the St. Alhans firebell ■was identified, and when the bell at St. Michael's added its linging the people awoke to the position, and realised in«tmeti\elv that at last peace had been proclaimed. The modest duet was the prelude to a ■perfect babel of noise of every description. Towers that had belU rang their bell-., buildings that had fiagstaffs hauled up their flag?, •workshops and factories that had steam whistles made thp most of the steam power, ■while al.ove all th" uoiae and din could be heard tlie more dignified cadence of the «'athedral chimes, and the more joyous shouts of hundreds of school children released for the moment to hear the tidings. ' 'o work on such an occasion appeared a.

■ -ri'.ege, and tho.se employed in shops and ' "_f-3s displiyed no zeal whatever to offend

• this respect. The city pavement-! weiv < -Tvded with knots of eager ji»ul exciied

; <ii proprietors, assistants, and many a - i. .'.<;-be purchaser returned home with the «i< l-iiaint "Could not be served." As if 1 v :nagic, the streets blossomed out in a - "rfoct forest of flags. The window.-* of

« shops were speedily decked out with » c national colours (red. white, and blue), i '1 hundreds of cycles were to be seen the : c! TS of which bore the Union Jack and i"-c flag of New Zealand. Very soon the 1 .I'riotic badge began to appear on the l-"vasts of the ladies and iv the buttonholes r Tthe male pedestrians. The sidewalks wore rovrded with people, and the streets were r-uito as full a3 on Mafeking Day and on ladysmith Day. Tho E Battery of Artillery, under Lieutenant Treleaven, mustered at the drillshed strongly, and proceeded to Market square, where the salute was fired. At this time the uproar was something deafening. Above the roar of the guns wa» to' be heard the sharp, insistent clang of the fireballs, seconded by the hoarse blowing of the whistles of the railway engines, "livery flagstaff in the city had bunting dis1 laved, and the scene was one of th» ; matest animation and excitement. The '•'lildren of the various State schools having K zd the news communicated to them, were < isrnissed for the day, giving eheero for the 'Ting. Such scenes continued during the < ■'y without intermission. The hours were r Iven up to jubilation. In the afternoon .hanksgiving services were held in the churches. A mass meeting in the square uassed patriotic resolutions, and the publio formed itself into innumerable processions. Speaking at the mass meeting, Mr H. F. Wigram, the Mayor, said they in Christ:hurch were not alone iv celebrating the }<reat occasion : the same guns were being ■fired in India, in Canada, and all over the Empires It had been a long aiul weary wait. The time had not been lost It had been Fpent in solidifying the Empire. The colonies had borne their proper .shrre in the ■work, aud iv that day of rejoicing they ought not to forget their sons who had ■fallen. He hoped that the men who had been fiehting them would now become fellow-citizens of the Empire. To-night -there have been further celebrations. JUBILATIONS IN OTHER CENTRES.

GISBORNE-— The good news was received with delight. The firebell liar been ringing ever since. Bands are parading the town, and there is general merriment. Busine-,3 has been suspended till Wednesday. NAPIER. — The new-, was leccived here with a wild outburst of jubilation. Work T\as entirely <.u<=per>dcd for the time being, and the inhabitants "?ave themselves up to whole-hearted rejoicing. In the evening th*C£ ttflft ft jgi-nKiight joxQcesaimi. juewiukft

display, and a huge bonfire was lit on the beach, and was visible for several miles. Many of the private residences of the citizens were illuminated, and the whole town was given up to rejoicing. During the excitement this morning a young man named Scorgie, an employee at the Railway Workshops, who was firing detonators, was struck in the left thigh by a fragment of a ease, which penetrated some distance. He wa3 removed to the hospital for the purpose of having the piece extracted under chloroform; the injury, however, i-> not likely to be serious.

STRATFORD. — New* of peace was received here with wild enthusiasm; flags flying, bells ringing, business places closing. Municipal Council aud citizens arranging for evening celebrations. WANGANUI.— The news of peace was received here with great enthusiasm. Bells were rung, whistles rounded, and general rejoicing took place. In the evening there «vas a procession, etc. Speeches were delivered by the Mayor and the member for the district. The crowd in the streets was a record for Wanganui.