The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1887.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3964, 22 June 1887, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1887.

The celebration of the Queen's Jnbilee is well nigh over, but wo are unwilling to let it pass away without a word or two of comment on what our townspeople have done on the occasion, and the motives which, prompted them thereto. The principle feature has been the procession, and we may say at once that, considering the size of the town, no more remarkable demonstration ever came under our notice either m the colonies or m the Old Country. Despite most miserable weather, and roads ia a filthy condition after days and days of wet, the various bodies who had signified their intention of taking part m the proceedings mustered m strong force, and with such a profusion of decorations and accessories as showed clearly the warm interest which Lad bsen stirred up m their minds, and their determination to do full honour to the day. The same readiness was displayed by tbe public bodies, the official persons, and indeed by all who Lad been assigned a place m the procession. There were very few vacant seat 3 m tbe vebicles and no gaps m tLe ranks ; and we have no doubt that tboee who were absent could Lave given more weigLty reasons for being away tban an overcast sky or muddy roads. The arrangements Lad been made on so extensive a scale, tLe line was so long, and tLe component parts so numerous, that we confess to having entertained some misgivings lest a hitch, more or less serious, should occur to mar the success of tLe undertaking. We were very agreeably disappointed. The committee Lad made its arrangements and completed its combinations so skilfully tbat, from first to last everytLing went forward witL tLe utmost smoothness. Every man knew Lis place, and eacL vehicle turned into tLe line exactly at tLe appointed time and spot. Tbe whole affair was admirably managed, and very great praise is due to tLe committee, and especially to tLose gentlemen on wLom fell tLe duty of actual supervision and direction. No one ia more deserving of credit, and certainly no one worked Larder to secure success, tLan Mr Halkett-Dawson, wLo completed Lis good service by officiating as marsLal yesterday. He must Lave been greatly gratified wben Le saw that so satisfactory a result Lad been acLieved. The procession was quite as long as Lad been anticipated, but full particulars regarding tbo details will be found m our otLer columns, and so we need not furtLer refer to tLem m tLis place. The number of spectators was enormous, indeed the side-walks along the greater part of the line of marcL wero densely tLronged, and crowds must Lave come m from all tLe snrrounding districts. The only dispiriting feature m the affair was tLe weatLer, and it, bad as it unquestionably was, did not prove sufficient to damp tLe ardour either o£ processionists or spectators. TLere Las assuredly been no more satisfactory celebration of tLe Jubilee m New Zealand, and tLe people are to be heartily congratulated on tLe harmonious manner m which all worked together for tLe attainment of tLe object m view. TLe demonstration ougLt not to be regardod ;ia n. meio empty pageant — n something to amuse grown-up cLildren and help to pasß away the dragging hours of a winter holiday. It was not so intended, and, unless the occasion had been recognised as a great one, the committee might have striven its hardest, but would have failed to elicit a response from the people. A fifty years' term of such a reign as Queen Victoria's was worthy of the magnificent Jubilee demonstration which is being made all over the British dominions, and m which the people of Timaru have so heartily joined. An Imperial race may well rejoice that a sovereign of such conspicuous virtues has for so long a time sat on the throne. TLe Queen Las played her part with distinguished ability and faithfulness m the great drama of the nineteenth century, and has exercised a potent influence for good over her people m all ranks of life. It is m fact hard to overrate the value of the great example of devotion to duty which Her Majesty has set. We ask those, if any there be, who would make light of the service thus rendered to her country and to the world, to picture to themselves a fifty years' reigu of a different character — a Queen without principle, a selfish sensual woman, intent only on her own ease and pleasure, yet wise enough m her day and generation to confine her acts strictly within constitutional limits. We can imagine the character of the Court which would have grown up m the shadow of the throne, and we can also imagine how the morals and manners of that Court would have permeated and corrupted society. But we need not trust to imagination, for history has told the story so plainly that he who runs may read. Apart, however, from the personal character of the Queen and the good which has flowed therefrom, tLere is another consideration which may well tempt her subjects to rejoice at the completion of the Jubilee term of Her Majesty's reign. The fifty years have been fifty years of such progress as the world has never before seen pressed into so short a time. Not only has the Constitution proved elastic enough to admit of a peaceful revolution which has given the masses real representation m the Great Conncil of the country, but the whole course of legislation has been distinctly and progressively enlightened. Earnest and partly successful attempts Lave been made to grapple witb a multitude of great social problems which the statesmen of fifty years ago scarcely troubled themselves to consider, and which some of them appeared nofc to recognise as existing. Education has been spread abroad, and the people have been lifted many degrees m the scale of civilisation. Life is surrounded by facilities and comforts which were scarcely dreamt of when the Queen ascended the thi-one. Railways, -telegraphs, and ocean steamers to the remotest places on the earth, are regarded as ordinary conveniences. In a thousand different useful directions science has advanced with giant strides, and no race has profited more than the British race has by the great changes which have been inaugurated. The peaceful stability of the Government of the British Empire has given the people an enormous advantage m the keen competition of these latter days, and the fact is felt and acknowledged. Tho Queen's Jubilee brings these things strongly to remembrance, and they give a new force and meaning to the celebration.