THE VOICE OP THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2221, 6 August 1914, Page 7

THE VOICE OP THE PEOPLE

GREAT WAVE OF PATRIOTIC ARDOUR NEW ZEALAND AND THE EMPIRE STREET DEMONSTRATIONS IN . - ' WELLINGTON The youths of Wellington gave free rein to their patriotic ardour lost night, and indulged . in countless demonstrations ranging from a, real genuine patriotic dis-, play to hilarious rowdyism. The' demon-' b(.ration proper . was .an, orderly one of. ' several thousands of people, jtvho formed themselves , into a procession, arid, headed by the Tramways Band, paraded the main streete ,to. tho Drill.;. Hall in Buckle Street. It was generally' liriderstood that the mobilisation., of tho forces would take place in Post Office Square, so that the hour of seven, had . not sounded.'. before soma score or more small boys .were on the scene.. By . 7.15 the gathering had grown into a small horjle of noisy juveniles... A few more enterprising of the youngsters hied aivay to the taxi stand' in the vicinity' and appropriated kerosene tins. Othors followed .'.their example, «o that shortly the boyish shouts wore hardly audible in the dm of beaten .tins. A youth taller than the rest then, took up tho ■ office of leader. "Let's 'are 'God Save the King" before ,wo starts, boys," he oried,' and-in - answer .fhe National,..' Anthem .was taken up; in. Ayavering boyish tones. V: Then a diminutive' specimen of the Union Jack was waved, and the noisy troup of juvenile patriots with much-beat-ing, of noisy emptiness started on their way.- From 'the distance sounded the far more stirring strains of & r«il band; the ;boyish' crowd baited.' "The bdrid!"'shouted one, arid as if by magic tins, sticks,and flags'were'dropped, and there was a ' wild indiscriminate . rush.- for the music.-. : ' In Post Office Square." . The'ifor'cs9 joined, Post Office Square was made for, and ibhe crowd halted. A' young inan named-Mr..Learv was hoisted on the shOulders nf his fellows, and delivered • an opening 'address. : They, (thoso assembled) had. been accused of jingoism, said Mr. Leary. ' They wore not' ijngoist», however, but-wished to show their Royalty to King and conritry. "WhdtiWe pro- : pose to do lads," pontinued ,the speaker, "is to go-np'to the Drill' Hall and show- 1 the, Territorials there that jve are' with them." .;,The speaker then calleil foir-tliree cheers for the King, and they were given hilariously. The band' struck' up "God, Save tlie ;I£ing,":'ahd -later, in response to- repeated cries,.. Britannia." Then someone called . for "The Marseillaise," tbe cry was taken up, and shortly the-'mspiritingjnarch. was played, while every bead in tho Square was bared. • • ■' • ... , MarclrjtOdfluckle. Street.,, Then its; .way through ;the'j'cify.' It-was a'great , march,' and' at' yard the crowd grew and' grew (ill close on several thousands of- people ''were "following the le,id : of ,the band," cheering, singing; and showing their overflowing, patriotism in every possible mariner; The Drill Hall iyas reached) : and the'drilling o'f the Territorials was threatened to be, put an end to. - Mrj Leary again came on - the scene; .however;'and on a living platformlcomposed of the shoulders of his fellows he called for "God-Save the Iving," while the Territorials lined rip. and presented arms; at the Royal salute. This was carried out impressively, "Now,' 1 . continued the leader, "ouf boys here jyish to go on with their drill,'so let us have three cheers for the Empire and you can then peaceably disperse, 'for it tfould flof • do;in "tliese' times, to have' ' any troublesome, ' behaviour." ' The eheera were given vociferr ously. ' The crowd, however, 1 in the main ;was out for a, bit of .ftin, and Mrming up irtegalarly maroh'ed to ■ Willia. : Street. There" it swirled and eddied, all tho timer cheering and singing. Harmless foolery followed, but , gradually the crowd igrew smaller and , smaller in volume,-became detached, and at length faded. - : V ; Het We Forgets!" .. v At-'-the conclusion of, his dramatic vecital of John Masefield's pem, "The Everlasting Mercy," at the Town Hall Concert. Chamber last evening, Mr. Alexander HVatson . said, that in,,view of the , tense eituatiori ,which had been brought about'by tho present international/crisis' he would recite Kipling's inspiring lines, "The Recessional." He would ask tho audience -to; receive the recital . in the' spirit of a reverent supplication and not an elocutionary effort, and in. that spirit ho askW the audience to;stand. Therequest was. at once complied with, /and in an impressive silence Mr, Watson re-' cited the well-known battle', prayer with. great sincerity- andi'impressivei\4ss. . Mr. "Watson then ' led' in the .singing/ of a verse of the. National Anthem,- nnd after that asked, the standing audience (not in any jingo snirit) to give three hearty cheers .for- King and ;, country, which were given most lustily). . ' IN OTHER CENTRES. / .//v - 'LOYAL DEMONSTRATIONS. ■; . v (By Telegraph—Press Association.), ■ - - - B|enhoir»i, Arigust fl.' • The declaration of war aroused a'fever here., riflgs were flown," and largd crowds': cheered and sang'patriotic songs.- The,6and,.paraded.in the Squarein- the. evening, playing patriotic, airs. . Pahiatua, August 5. Referring to the. war,'Herr Carl Sauer. (of Wellington), musical adjudicator in • the local competitions, stated in dri- inter-view,,to-day thut. he, : had lived for twelve years' in various. British countries, being a naturalised British subject. , He felt that'all Germans who have lived under the-British flag'-and enjoyed the privileges in English territory in Australia and. New Zealand, would fight side by side with their fellow men to protect the honour and uphold the maintenance of these - two nonntries; which he said were the two most prociotls,gcins in the Crown's Dominions of the Empire. Christchurch, August 5. There were! furthe patriotic lemonstrations in tho city to-night. Large numbers of Territorials and others are enrolling for servico in the expeditionary force. . . The Moderator of the 'General Assembly of the' Presbyterian Church is asking; at the instance of the International Peace, Committee of the Assembly, that pfaycrs for peace should bo made in all the churches mi Sunday next. . ' ' ' Dunedin, August 5. During the progress of the City Council meeting to-night, a crowd of over a thousand congregated outside the-' City Hall and, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band,; Sang' tho' National Anthem, "Rule Britannia." and the 'Marseillaise. A portion/ mounted the stairs and interrupted the meeting, and requested the Mayor-'to address the gathering,. Tho request was acceded to, and the meeting adjourned, for ten minutes. It was a sceio ofi'gfeat enthusiasm. (By Tclettraph.—Rpeciol Correspondent.) Masterton, August 5. -"A.* great "patriotic ,demonstration took pkcoiin Masterton to-night. Crowds paraded- -the sireets* singing the, National Anthemi "Rule Britannia;" arid cheering. A brass band and pipo band also played patriotic airs. Intense excitement prevails, and many young moo are eager to enlist for cervice. ~ At a largely-attended meeting of the Masterton Farmers' Union this afternoon;' the following resolution was unanimously carried:—"That' this meeting of

fanners, representative of the Wairarapa; district, desire to convey to the Government their loyalty, to tho Empire and their determination'-.to do all in their power to assist - the. Government in the present serious crisis." INSURANCE COMPANY'S PAT- • RIOTISM. ; > LEAVE OP ABSENCE ON FULL PAY FOE EMPLOYEES. <, (By Telegraph—Press. Association.) I Christchurchi August 5. Tho directora of the Liverpool, London, and, Glob<y Insurance Company have notified their branches throughout the world . that any of their employees who may bo called out, for military or naval service will bo granted full leave of absence oi; full ■ pay, and that their positions will bo kept open for them. . . • ■ 1 GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN CONSULS NO OFFICIAL ADVICE OF A STATE ofjvab. • (By Association.) Auckland, Ausrust 5. Official information that war-haß been declared between England and Germany has not yet reached; the Imperial German Consul for New Zealand, Mr. Carl Secgner. He stated lns.t.evening that as soon as he received the expected telegram he would vacate, the Consulate and become a, ' private citizen and a British subject. Discussing his, position, Mr.. Seegner said ho had not received any ■ advice ; from official sources .during the! past ten days, but he expeoted any time to be informed by cable that Germany is at war with England. His duty would then be to hand over the Consulate, >yith all the .official documents, to the' Consular representative of some other Power, probably the Acting- : Consul for the United States (Sir. L. A. 'Baehelder),; and the latter -would .then undertake to protect the interests of German- subjects ill New- Zealand. "Most the Germans living in New Zealand are naturalised British subjects," Mr. Seegner, explained. "Personally I was naturalised; 35 years ago,.and upoji vacating my office ! I shall, of course, -assume my. British , citizenship. I shall remain here anil give j my assistance in a friendly way cin smoothing any difficulties . that ■ may arise." ' The position of the Consul-'for the A ustro-Hungarian Empire (Mr. Eugene Langguth) hns not yet been defined. "There is no indication yet that .England is at war with Austria," Mr. Langeuth re-, marked last evening. "Perhaps her'declaration will automatically have this result, but 50 far I have not had any instructions to . closo the Consulate. In fact, 1 have not.had,any telegrams from Vienna'since Sunday, and until I do receive offioial- advice I shall continue to act as Consul." Mr. .Langguth added that if he is informed that state of war exists between England and Austria ; he will hand aver his papers to tho American Consul. As he is ( a subject of Austria, Mr. Langguth will not, according to official etiquette, be able to remain in British territory. .He intoridsr however, to apply to the authorities'for permission •to remain in order.that he ,may attend to his private afrairsr