THE O'CONNELL CENTENARY COMMEMORATION.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2183, 7 August 1875, Page 2

THE O'CONNELL CENTENARY COMMEMORATION.

The centennial anniversary of the birth on the 6th August, 1775, of Daniel O'Connell, was celebrated yesterday at Greymouth with appropriate honors, the day being observed as a publig holiday. There was an unusually large number of visitors from the country districts, who came specially to be present at the demonstration, and these, joined by the townspeople, formed an assemblage of between four and five hundred, at the Camp Reserve, just before the procession started, and the number either of those who took part in the proceedings, or merely attended as spectators, was largely increased as the procession passed along. The procession was lu>aded by members of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, who mustered under the direction of. Captain M'Gregor and. his lieutenants. The fire-engines and apparatus, with horses harnessgd to them, were gaily de'cqrated, and in the leading engine was an allegorical representation of the music and poetry of Ireland in the person of a bard dressed in appropriate costume, and playing on the nationalharp. From auother wasdisplayed the Uniou Jack. After the firemen came the Greymou th Town Band, then the members of the Hibernian Society in full regalia, and bringing up the rear came the general public, walking in regular <

order. The route traversed by the p*o- ; cession, which was most efficiently marshalled by Messrs Clune and Sheedy, was from the Camp Reserve through Greason and Boundary streets and along Mawhera Quay as far as Tainui street, thence along Hospital and Herbert streets, returning by way of Mackay and Alexander streets and Mawhera Quay to Boundary street. Previous to the assemblage dispersing, MrD. Sheedy publicly thanked those who took part iv the procession for their attendance, specially complimenting the .members of the Brigade, the Band, and the Hibernian Society, on the orderly and fine appearance they presented. Mr Sheedy then spoke in eulogistic terms of the illustrious patriot, statesman, and orator they had assembled to honor, and j concluded his address by saying that Mr A. "R. Guinness had been deputed to represent the Centenery Celebration Committee on that occasion, arid he ; would leave the subject in his hands. Mr Guinness came forward and thanked the members of the Fire Brigade and the' Band, and all those whose presence contributed to make the demonstration such a Bucce3s. The speaker then spoke of the public life and actions of. the man whose memory they were celebrating, and held up the character of O'Connell as an example to be followed, and as one to be admired, whether in its political, professional, or social relations. Mr Guinness paid brief but warm tribute to the memory of " Ireland's foremost patriot," and concluded by calling for three cheers for the 'great tribune of the people. The call was responded to vigorously, and the first portion of the celebration terminated. In the evening a ball was held at the Volunteer Hall, and later in the night a banquet took place. Owing to the late hour at .which the proceedings in connection with the ball and banquet (which were both numerously attended) were 'finished, we are compelled to hold over a fuller report, but on the whole it may be said that the O'Connell Centenary Celebration in Greymouth was a success.