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AT LYTTELTON.

The residents of Lyttelton were taken by surprise by the news of the declaration of peace. The first intimation .most of them received of it was the ringing of the firebell, which clanged out a couple of minutes after ten o'clock. Naturally the first thought of everyone was— Fire! Then, as the bell at the Government Buildings joined in, people began to realise the truth, which was confirmed by a notice, laconic, but sufficient, appearing in a, window of the Telegraph Office— "Peace declared." For a while there was no demonstration. A flag or two was hoisted, but that was all. People were determined not to be too sanguine at the last moment, and wait' ed for further confirmation of the good, news. At half-past ten o'clock this came. The Mayor (Mr James Grubb) appeared oa the balcony of the Government offices, and read to the expectant crowd gathered on Norwich Quay Sir Joseph Ward's telegram, and called for " Three cheers for the flag which has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze." The crowd responded with a lusty roar, and then someone called for three cheers for the Mayor. These, also, Avere heartily given, but. another call for cheers for the New Zealanders did not evoke much response. Perhaps the crowd did nob hear it ; perhaps they thought it savoured over much of self-congratulation. The official announcement was the signal for the pent-up enthusiasm to burst forth. Flags, singly and in streams, appeared everywhere — on ships and shore — and the air was rent with the clanging of bells, the screams of steam whistles and syrens, and the detonations of rockets. The bands, hastily mustering, added their quota to the jubilant din. The children of the given a holiday for the occasion, swelled the throng in. the streets, and gratulation was general. It was, however, of a quiet nature. There was no delirium of excitement. At noon the Mayor, with Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R.J, and a, few other citiuens, appeared at the Government Buildings' balcony and announced to the crowd that a gathering of the children would be held m the afternoon, when sports would take place in honour of fche occasion. The Mayor expressed joy at t R e d° se °* *^ c waTl &n said that he hoped' the nation would soon recoup its losses. Those nations who had been supplying arms to the Boers would doubtless ,he said, be disappointed that the war was over. He felt sure that New Zealand would ever support the Empire, and that if more men had been needed ebe would have sent them. (Cheers.) Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R., announced that a service of thanksgiving, in which all denominations would be represented, would take place in the Lyttelton Drillshed at 10 a.m. to-morrow. He remarked that it was beneath the dignity of a great nation to celebrate such an event as this by a drunken saturnalia. He pointed out how this war had consolidated the British Empire, and he expressed the belief that the Boers themselves^ who had expected to be able to drive the British out of South Africa, would, under the prosperity which they would enjoy under British rule, become loyal and good colonists, and would come to 'bless this day. He referred in feeling language to the' brave men, especially those from New Zealand, who had given up their lives for the Empire in this war, and he ended by calling for cheers for tile -.Jdiers of the Empire, for th^eir gencra-h ' the statesmen who had been behind t .. The cheers were very heartily given. Captain Marciel said that the Boers had been able to resist as they had through '■having plenty of anna and ammunition. It •bowed that New Zealand should be emu-

larly prepared for defence, which she was not. He paid a high tribute to the work done by the Navy and the merchant, service - in carrying troops. He fcpoke highly of the pluck and endurance of the Boers, and said that, as it was the custom of British footballers and ©ricketers to give cheers for the beaten team t he would ask the gathering to give three cheers for the Boers, the vanquished but brave enemy. The cheers were- given with the utmost heartiness and were followed by cheers for Captain Marciel. The special edition of the "Lyttelton Times" containing the announcement of peace reached Lyttelton by the train at 11.20 a.m., and was widely sold. ■ The shops and offices in Lyttelton were closed, work suspended on the wharves, and a general half-holiday observed.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19020602.2.22.17

Bibliographic details

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7418, 2 June 1902, Page 3

Word Count
762

AT LYTTELTON. Star (Christchurch), Issue 7418, 2 June 1902, Page 3

AT LYTTELTON. Star (Christchurch), Issue 7418, 2 June 1902, Page 3