THE GREAT PEACE DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1919, Page 2

THE GREAT PEACE DAY.

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS. - ■ — “Peace rules tile Day, where Reason rules the mind.” “The victory of endurance born”, is being celebrated to-day in royal style. All the Dominion is aflame, and Hokitika takes a worthy place in the celebrations. Th town has excelled itself on the matter of decorations. Revell Street never before took so appropriate a setting. 'The excellent display at the time of the Jubilee celebrations has been far excelled. The whole street is a veritable fern grove in appearance with splashes of colour as the flags of the float here and there. Three magnificent arches span the street and add to the general effect. The ]>eace arch erected near the Town Hall is a very fine one. The Naval arch, higher up the street, is distinctly effective, while the third arch commemorating. “Peace with Honor”, is also verv fine. Last night when the arches were illuminated, the effect was very striking, and crowds of people admired the effective display. The business people have risen to the occasion. Many of the buildings are very prettily decorated, 'flic premises with balconies lend themselves to tlic occasion, and last night when the j coloured lanterns and gas .effects were ] lit, the spectacle was quite a glimpse of a bush fairyland. Many of the pub- j lie buildings are gaily decorated with j flags and greenery. Lines of flags span j the streets, and add to the brightness j of the picture. Private residences are j not neglected and many fine displays are to be seen. In some of the outside streets there are some effective displays 1 and altogether the citizens have risen , to the occasion, and made a very worthy ; display for the enjoyment of all. ! During last evening a large number of transparencies were lit for a trial run. These predominate chiefly on the ' Government buildings, including the County Office, where there is a large representation of the popular theme, i “What we have, We hold.” To-night’s . illuminations should be the best display i yet seen in the old town. ~ ! The early trains this morning and the motors and other country serryces, brought in.a large number of visitors, I so that from an early hour the streets wore a rather unwonted appearance. Tlie day broke fine with a promise of a fine, though perhaps not a bright day. The wind was a light easterly which • fanned the flags gently. The Town Clock rather anticipated Old Sol at 9 a.m, but no sooner did the hour strike, than a peal* of hells and syrens proclaimed the commencement of the Peace Celebrations. A light mist came down, but this merely presaged the fine day to follow, and did not damp the ardour of the folk moving about the streets and wishing each other a hearty “good morning.” Very shortly after tlic signal to begin was given at nine o’clock, gaily decorated motor cars began to make their appearance in order to transport the public to the Westland Hospital grounds, where the foundation stone | for the war memorial wing was laid at 10 o’clock. The cars were numerous, and the designs were all good and distinctly effective. The cars will take part in the procession this afternoon, ..ml < ill not be the least imposing part of the great spectacle to be revealed to-day.

A “Guardian” representative was privileged yesterday to see some of the preparations for the tableaux effects this afternoon, and the public will witness a display to-day probably hitherto unexcelled in the history of Hokitika.

TO-NIGHT’S CONCERT,

The opening item at the Peace Concert at the Princess Theatre to-night will be a tableau, “Britain and lor Daughters.” On the revelation of the tableau the Doxology, and the Old Hundred, followed by the National Anthem will be sung. With this splendid «ud appropriate introduction the entertainment will proceed. First will come the Kcwpies which will sot everybody agog. Then “the Merriest Fellows” from the Gondoliers follow, to he succeeded by the children dancing a gavotte. Two operatic items will follow, “Love’s Own Kiss” from High Jinks and the Dudes from “Our Miss Gibbs.” A spectacle item will be “Allah” the soloist being Miss J. Davidson, and the danseuso, Miss Olive Breeze. “Loveland,” the swing and chorus from You’re Si Love, is the next item, Miss Edna Perry being the soloist. Three other operatic items ensue, being excerpts from To-night's tile Night and Going Up, and then comes the grand finale, a chorus and march. There will not he any interval. Extra electric lighting will be supplied by Mr Pollard’s staff. The whole production will he under the sole personal direction of Mrs. W. Staveley. . There ( will be about fifty performers in all, 'and Miss Michel will be the pianist.

MONDAY’S PROGRAMME

Monday will be Children’s Day and the peace celebrations will be continued with an eye to the young folk having a specially good time. In the forenoon the great Sellos’ circus will arrive in town. It has materialised at rather short notice, but that will not detract from its merits, which are mainly to amuse. It will ho a great conglomeration, and the children will enioy every moment of this remarakble spectacle. Curiosity will lead the adults to watch the antics of this wonderful show, and they also will find something to amuse and entertain them.

At noon the children will be regaled with refreshments at the Town Hall, where it is expected about 1,000 mouths will require to he filled, the School Committee lias taken the task on very enthusiastically which is a guarantee that the service will he well per formed. Later in the afternoon the country children will he entertained also at tea, so that the young folk will find themselves well cared for in the matter of refreshments. Tlio next item on the day’s programme is the sports meeting to he run off in Hamilton Street, which will he closed to all vehicle traffic for the occasion. Games and sports of all kinds will he in the programme and the winning competitors will receive prize tickets

which will be oashed on presentation to Mr A. Andrewes. Then follows the free picture shows at the Princess Theatre and the Opera House. At the former a well-varied programme will be given by Mr Pollard while at the latter Mr McLean will produce an exceptionally fine picture “The Fair Barbarian.” Alice Brady will be the cinema queen at the Princess and Vivian Martin at the Opera House. Pic- 1, ture lovers will take their choice accordingly. At night the illuminations will be again lit, lighting up time being at dusk for the entortainmeut of visiting children. A grand peace ball conducted by the Returned Soldiers’ Association will wind off the celezrations, this special function being held at the Drill Shed which is sure to be well patronised for the occasion. FROM THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. A PEACE MESSAGE. file following message to the people of New Zealand has been received from his Excellency the Governor-General: “It is with feeling of devout thankfulness that we learn that peace has been signed, and Lady Liverpool, myself, and all who are on hoard the Tutanekai much regret we shall not. be able to be with you on tlic date set apart for the universal rejoicings. Although we shall be absent from New Zealand we shall be present with you in spirit.”

(CKE PUKBB ASSOCIATION.—OOPVHIGHI.} BRILLIANT SIGHTS. AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. I lie streets of the city to-night boro a distinctly festive appearance. Very successful “dress rehearsal” illuminations took place about 10 p.in., and judging by this trial, the spectacle on Saturday and Monday nights should be very fine indeed. The several imposing arches in Cathedral Square and various streets looked magnificent, in coloured electric lights and some of the illuminations on business premises were very striking. The spectacle in the centre of the city to-morrow night will be brilliant.

OBEYING THE! KING. SEAMEN PROVE THEIR LOYALTY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. When the ferry steamer Mararoa was held up at Lyttelton this evening owing to the crew’s refusal to sail consequent on the men’s desire to celebrate Peace in Christchurch, the Union Company was given an assurance" by the Seamen’s Union that the men would proceed to sea on condition that they received an extra day’s -pay or an extra day’s leave. Upon the vessel’s crew announcing their intention this morning to remain ashore, the local secretary of the Seamen’s Union telegraphed to Wellington, stating the position to. the Union’s officials who in their turn, telegraphed hack advising the crew to sail. Nothing, however, would induce the crew to leave for Wellington.

Some of the men jocularly remarked that the King’s instructions were that they should celebrate Peace and “they would!” Consequently they would take contrary orders from no one else.

ANOTHER SHIP DELAYED, CHRISTCHURCH, July, 18. The Union Company’s Tofua, which was to have sailed to-day was held up for the same reason as the Mararoa, but it is understood that the Tofua’s men objected to sail because the vessel was to be despatched for Newcastle, a port affected by the seamen’s strike. POWER HOUSE TROUBLE. WELLINGTON, July 18. If the power-house men carry out the threat they have made, no trams will run in Wellington during the Peace Celebrations. The men were offered time and a half, with three day extra annual leave, but they demand double time. WELILINGTON WEATHER. WELLINGTON, This Day. There is fine weaher, hut a boisterous northerly wind for Peace Day. Tlio city is gaily decorated. The trams frtm an early 1 our were conveying large numbers of people from the suburbs. The monster procession is just now assembling and bids fair to he unique, containing many notable features. This afternoon a sports’ gathering and dancing competition will be held at Newtown Park, and there will be a fireworks display to-night.

SYDNEY EN FETE. A FINE DISPLAY. SYDNEY, July 18. The Peace celebrations commenced to-day with a presentation of Peace medals to the children of the various Schools. The city has been putting on the last touches to he ready for to-morrow’s big demonstration. A most gay display is 6eeu everywhere of bunting, banners and greenery. Macquarie Street and other sections of the march route form a 6trikng spectacle with shields, emblems, devices and insignas of peace. At 11.30 the procession halts for three minutes as a tribute to the fallen. I’hero is a great influx of country visitors for the first time since the war. The university students held a commemoration street procession to-day. As usual, there was rollicking fun and horseplay. The cruiser Sydney has arrived to participate in the Peace celebrations.

PEACE IN EGYPT. CAIRO, July 18. There are enthusiastic Peace celebrations by all sections of the population. Sixty thousand attended the various fetes. A MOST DISTINGUISHED VISITOR. fßeceivod this dav at 9.25 a.m.l LONDON, July 18. Marshal Haig and General Wilson, welcomed General Focli at Victoria Station. He had a great ovation.