Levin En Fete.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 November 1918, Page 2

Levin En Fete.

YESTERDAY'S RKTOiIOINGS. Levin made amends yesterday for I'is apparent apathy in regard to recent Allied victories. It was a day late, in celebrating the capitulation of Turk«y but tihe impromptu demonstration arranged. by the Mayor for Saturday night —although it was handicapped by short notice and heavy rain, and lacked tihe spur of spontaneity, showed that the community was thirsting for the opportunity to relieve the pent-up emotions of four momentous and lhistory-ma/kiiig years. Austria's surrender provided the occasion yesterday. The news was received at the "Chronicle" office just before noon in the form of a Presls Association message, marked "Urgent Extraordinary" and stating that: "The Governor-General has received ail urgent message fix>m Mr Lloyd George that an armistice has been signed with Austria. It takes effect at 3 p.m. o-day (London time). . Tlie message was ali once communicated to the Mayor and issuedj as a broad- : sheet, and it was not long before the liown was decked with, flags and bunting and the public began to congregate, while various festive noises from all sorts of unmusical instruments combined in a happy clamour of wjoioting. Bells and trumpets were overworked in a effort to ouTxlo each other and/the discovery that a string of benzine tins djraged along behind a motor car made a deafening rattle on the asphalt was exploded to the fullest diegree. At one o'clock the schcowMdren with i

their teachers made their apearance in town and they and the public were spiritedly addressed by the Mayor, whose remarks were puntfbuated by chering, exploding fireworks and sundry other indications of the general pleasure that another stage had been reached in the long progress towards "the piping days of peace." But the Mayor, nevertheless, wmpeted successfully with the opposition and gav4> expresion to the thoughts /that arose; in the minds of'all.

Mr Blenkhorn said that four yeans ago the Powers, allied with Germany threw down a challenge. They had menacedi the freedom of ithe world and had destroyed the peace that had so long endured. But the resolution and determination of our Empire and her Allies had been put forth to withstand thewi and we were now reaping the rewiardl of our exertions (cheers). The fruit of this war would Be the security of the world for generations, for we all hoped this would be the last of wans. To the children Mr BlenKhorn said the | burden andi the anxiety had fallen on this generation and what they had done meant that iJie hoys andi girls now growing up would be free from the menace that had hung oyer the world so long. It would be years before the children realised that, hut he hoped that they would* always remember that, when they were going to school, they took part in the celebrations at the de- j feat of Turkey and Austria. -For that reason the day was a memorable one. j The Mayor reminded them that when I they grew up they would be citizens of | the glorious British EmpiTe ; with 1 all its privileges and responsibilities; He spoke of the great efforts of our Allies and finally expressed the hope 'that soon j another gathering would be held to mark the end of fine war.

-The Eevs. iM. Bawden Hanrfe and J. H. Haflam added a few appropriate words and Mr ~VV. Thomson, Chairman of the School Committee, announced a holiday for the rest of the day. The Band then played a verse of the "Old Hundredth" and the National Anthem, followed by rounds of cheere. A telegram from the Prime Minister was received asking that a holiday b« observed by ' business premises and sohools, and as, in any caffle 'there was no inclination on anybody's part for work or business, the remained closed and it was decided to, "carry on" in the afternoon. At three o clock therefore, there was another demonstration. Fancy costumes made their appearance from all quarters and a pa-, rade of flag-decked motor-car® took place, headed by the Levin Band. La- j dies dressed in national colours, Pier- : rcfis, a pantomime Highlander and other grotesquely attired individuals gave oo- | 'lour and animation to tEe spectacle and once more various devices were employed to produce joyful and unmusical noises. The procession, attended by some hundreds <jf school ohildwn J traversed tlie town and then went 09 to the Domain in Queen street where there were hastily arranged spQilis for all classes of young folk for prizes liberally I

•provided by the public. The Band enlivened the proceeding and a very pleasant afternoon was spent, the National Anthem. bringing a memorable day lio a close just berore 6 o'clock.