Peace Rumours.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 November 1918, Page 3

Peace Rumours.

How They Originated.

I LONDON HAS A SPASM, i | [ELUCTIUG TELEGKAPH—COPYRIGHT. 1 I (Pea- Press Association). I Received this day, 11 a.m. | _ London, November, 8. I There were numerous rumours of peace yesterday during mid-afternoon ' and thousands of copies of the cheaper j newspapers were sold in tluc city. The ! circulators of the story, were obliged to withdraw the messaged Apparently it wa.s based on the misreading of a message received from -France regarding ceasing firing while the German delegates crossed the 'lines. YESTERDAY'S REHEARSAL. LEVIN HAS A PRELIMINARY. The Borough Council 011 Thursday night received a deputation from the Fire .Brigade in suppoht of its recommendations that the fire prevention service in Levin be brought undeir a fire board. The Council unanimously favoured the proposal and passed a resolution agreeing to it. The Town Clerk was authorised to take the initial steps to secure a vote of the ratepayers on the matter. A public meeting will first be held in accordance with the provisions of the Act. An outline of the proposais will appear in a future inline. New York, Wellington and Levin each in its degree put flags in its collective hat yesterday, made glad noises and rejoiced. A premature peace report was the cause of the enthusiasm and excitement. Lt came from tXew York and core a'il the marks of authenticity besides being (supported by circumstantial evidence. The statement was that the armistice had been signed by Germany 011 Thursday and operated from 2 p.m. In any ease the public were not disposed to enquire too deeply into the reliability of the report. The repressed emotions of four tragic years clamoured for expression. It was not every day that peace was declared, and anyhow there were plenty of good .reasons for rejoicing apart from whether the final act in the great .struggle had been played. Accordingly, when a "Chronicle'' extra announced the news, 110 time was lost. Every flagstaff 1)lor-i-oined forth, inito bunting, detonators and fireworks exploded in a spontaneous burst of enthusiasm, units of the "benzine band" sounded a loud tattoo, business premises dosed, the schoolchildren were dismissed and the Celebration Committee met hastily to make its arrangements— when there came a second cable, marked "Official" this time and from Washington, stating that "Germany had not yet signed the armistice." By this time, however, the community had made up its mind to celebrate on general principles. The town was gradually filling up with country folk amongst whom the, tiding: spread quickly, and the serious concerns of business were quite out of the question. So despite a bitterly coTd westerly wind, reaching at times galelike velocity, the afternoon wa® spent in an informal demonstration in Oxford street. The Levin Band, under Conductor Davison, mustered in very creditable strength and discoursed patriotic aire. There were cheei's for the splendid soldiers who had so signally defeated the enemy and generally the surplus enthusiasm was worked off. The occasion was looked upon a,s a kind of rehearsal of the real thing, and no one was any the worse off for the untimely celebration of an event that must now be only hanging in the balance. The number of residents who turned out in fancy costume and the number of decora ted motor cars in evidence at half - an hour's notice showed that the public appreciated the suggestions published in the "-Chronicle" at the Mayor's instance on Thursday. One thing that stood out unmistakeably was the community's will to rejoice and it may. be safely predicted that when the great day does come Levin will do justice to it.

The Celebration.-; Committee was not perturbed by the absence of confirmation of Germany's acceptance of the Allied terms and continued its work until the arrangements were perfected. At the meeting of the Borough Council on Thursday night the Mayor reported what he had done in the matter. Prompted by Crs Aitken and Matheson and assisted by the Town Clerk he had published the outline of the celebrations appearing in the "Chronicle," but he wished to say that they were open to receive any suggestion* from Councillors /as the programme published was only a groundiwork. He emphasised that it was intended to make the occasion a semi-religious one and that it was desired to bring as many of the country people in as possible. The religious side of the demonstration would be arranged by the local clergy with himself and the Town Clerk and the other rejoicings would be in the hands of a committee of Councillors and townspeople.

Cables and telegrams indicate that premature rejoicings were wide-world yesterday. In New "fork wild joy reigned. Whistles and bell- made a deafening noise and the people shouted and cheered. Sydney jnbi'ated: in the most boisterous fashion and the public still refuse to believe the contradiction. Wellington made holiday. The street® were crowded with gaily dressed demonstrators and; motor car--'. The people laughed at the official disclaimer. All business stopped in Auckland and the tramway men ran the trams into the barne at 11 a.m. and stopped work for the day.

Speaking in the House last night the Pri me Minister said he exceedingly regretted the report that had been published and steps had been taken to provent the -ame sort of thing occurring again. Parliament" adjourned yesterday afternoon owing to the general excitement and pressure of Cabinet business.

Tito full programme for the celebrations in Levin when official news that ncace is declared comes to hand has now Iveen settled in its details I<v the Oominittee and is hero published for general information. The rejoicing are spread over two days and give all sections of the community an opiHirtunity of ex-p'-essinjr themselves: