PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION AT UPPER MOUTERE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14893, 16 October 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION AT UPPER MOUTERE.

When news of the recent Allied victor ba reached Upper Mourere steps were innuedi&tely taken to suitably celebrate the occasion. At 10 o'clock' tlio school bell and the church bells were rung, and an enthusiastic- group of loyal citizens gathered at the school to listen to patriotic addresses. Mr C. Thomas, acting-chairman of the School Committee, apologised for tho unavoidable absence of the chairman and .secretary. Mr Thomas briefly explained the. reason for the gathering, expressing the opinion that if the good news could have been more widely circulated the meeting would havo been a v-ery large on*. He read Sir James Alien's message to the people of the Dominion, and then called upon the headmaster of the school to address the children Mr White briefly outlined the progress <>f the war, stressing the fact that Great Imtnm was fighting primarily for the freedom of weaker countries. The fall of Bulgaria was a glad event for the downtrodden Serbs, most of whose land would be speedily restored to them as the outcome of this victory. With the severance of Bulgaria from the Central 1 owers wo might confidently look for tli-o early restoration of Montenegro, Komnania, and Albania. Turkey must soon throw down her arms; the Dardanelles would bo opened automatically.! jind tho immediate results would be so; i a (-reaching fiiat the duration of tho! wixr must be appreciably shortened. ! 3 ■•■istor Appelt followed with a stirrino-' address. He said that little remanied to add to what Mr. White had said. Wiien they lifted their eyes to the flagpole around which they were standing Llioy saw there a flag which a few years igo. might, have evoked admiration and respect and love in the hearts of less :han 2,000,000 people in a few islands uckion away m one corner of the earth md. separated by thousands of miles n- ocean from nations which counted iv world. To-day whi.;h of the civilscd nations did not knew the flag of S rmv Zealand? Who among them hau •ofc.heard with admiration of tho daring! h^da done under its folds by gallant <vh\ v.ho had left the shores^of these isles at the call of King and '.nmire to fight side by side with the Aidiers/of the Mother Country to de-; ide one of the most momentous ques-i ior.s the world ivas ever faced with?-',

Indeed, they were proud of tliose who had established for New Zealand a name of honour, and had helped well towards making possible the event they we're that day celebrating. They "were proud of the flag' which floated over them since they knew it had inspired their soldiers to do great deeds. Much thoug hthey admired their gallant soldiers Frcatly though'they might praise them for thoii successes, yea, and failures, lot them never forget that here in Now Zealand daily thousands of prayers wei c offered up for them to God, who guided and directed the fortunes of the world. To Him let them give honour and praise, 11 nd future blessing. If the victorious peace they were all hoping and praying for would not see their nation drawn nearer to God, if their people were swept away with the blood of those who had thrown God's religion overboard, then faiv better for us that wo had been defeated. "May God grant," said the speaker, m conclusion, "that in sincere thanksgiving to Him we may celebrate this victory, and with due reverence of Him we may successfully carry on and end the struggle. May our nation not only have won a name for valour, but may honour, justice, and piety reign wherever the flag floats." Mr P. McCaffrey endorsed the remarks of previous speakers and trusted mat we should soon be-celebrating other great victories, and ere long the proclamation of peace itself. He called upon young and old to join in the sinking of the National Anthem. . I,ol*l f^l. children were granted a halt-holiday in honour of the occasion and ah business places were closed

Pn? t Z? 68*' .? hamnan of the Waimea County Council, stated at yesterday's meeting that on receipt of the news of the surrender of Bulgaria he had telegraphed the Acting-Prime Minister as follows:—''That the Waimea County Council desires to join in congratulations on the good news of the submission of Bulgaria brought about by the splendid achievement of the Allied armies." The chairman's action waß endorsed on the motion of Cr \lacmahon and Cr. Druznmond. ' ~