PEACE CELEBRATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1919, Page 5

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

AN UNREHEARSED-ACT, DANCING BEFORE THEIR MAJESTIES. By Telegraph.—Press AJan.—Copyright. Received July 21, 9.5 p.m. London, July 20. A demonstrative and good-natured crowd closely followed their Majesties' open oarriage in Hyde Park and insisted on dancing. Their Majesties laughed aloudwhen gaily decked girfo commenced high-stepping. Thousands watched the unrehearsed scene, and cheered entliusiMticalty when the carriage drove off, — AIU.-N2. Cable Assn. DUfeLIN CELEBRATIONS, , i' London, July 20. The celebration in Dublin was en" jthußiaatic. , Lord French took the salute. Six thousand .troops and 1000 demobilised troops participated in the march past. IN AUSTRALIA. i —— ; HEARTIEST REJOICINGS. , Sydney, July 21. lreace celebrations in other States were favored with fine weather. Everywhere, in the town and in the country, the occasion was marked with the heartiest rejoicings. There were peace thanksgiving services fet all the churches, which were largely attended. Melbourne, July 21. The conclusion of the peace celebrations waf marred by a rio.t, caused, It is . supposed, by the arrest of a soldier. A crowd of soldiers, sailors, and civilians attacked the police at the Towu Hall, - but Were driven back after several chargea by the mounted police. Many Stones and bottles were thrown by the rioters, and there were a number of lninor ; injuries on both sideg. The streets were not cleared until after midnight. .Eleven arrests were.made. 1

On Sunday night a party of sailors and koldiers marched .to the Victoria Barracks and attempted to raid the armory. Wanking was received, and the armory KM guarded by machine-guns. The riotere fired several Bhots at a sentry, whb was compelled to fire in self-defence, wounding a returned soldier named O'Connor. Mounted troops dispersed .the rioters. A number of arrests were made. •—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asm.

Received July 22, 1.35 ajn. Sydney, July 21. . Illuminations and festivities are continuing to-night. The city is- crowded. IN NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph.—Preai Association. Dannevirke, July 21. flannevirke held its peace celebrations to boisterous weather. Saturday was children's day, when the juveniles of the town Jtnd Burrounding settlements marched through the streets and were Afterwards entertained at dinner and subsequently takes to picture matinees. There were fireworks and a bonfire at night. To-day it being devoted to celebrations by grown-ups, a procession and flports being the principal features. Napier, Last Night. The peace celebrations concluded toflay with more processions and a children i •day on the beach, where ocean waves, free cakes, lollies, and ginger beer ejwMjid several thousand kiddies to spend a happy day. There-was a record ttm-out for the torchlight procession in the evening, when .thousands of masqoefltders danced around a huge bonfire oft the parade. The celebrations were kept up till long past midnight. Christchurch, Last Night. The weather to-day was perfect, being Warm and calm. Over 8000 children participated in the school procession this znomlng. Children carrying flags were Mjaaged in groups to represent the Virions Allies, each group being headed fcy the flag of its particular nation. The effect wag a very fine one. The citizens' profession in the afternoon was easily ths. finest spectacle, of ite kind seen in CfiristchurcL It was about four and a naif miles in length, and took over an fcour to pass a given point. The outstanding featuoes were a big parade of returned soldiers with battle banners and il hundred magnificently decorated motor The route was thronged everywhere, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed, in marked contrast to Saturday's military procession.

Dunedin, Last Night. The peace celebrations were continued to-day in splendid weather. The school children were entertained at various schools ip the morning, and the upper standards in the drill hall in the afternoon. The outdoor fixtures held in the Afternoon With the object of raising money for the returned soldiers' building fund were well attended. At Rugby football the returned soldiers defeated Otago by 17 points to 8. At. Association football O.tago beat fhe returned soldiers by 4 goals to 2, |jknd in the hockey match returned soldiers beat Otago by 6 goals to 4. A concert was given by the Choral Boclety in the drill hall to-night. The jrtreets were brilliantly illuminated again to-night.

Greymouth, Last Night. The procession in connection with the peace celebrations was unprecedented in the history of the West Coast The town was picked, 1000 coming in from' the country. At 12 o'clock, when "The Last Post" was sounded and volleys fired, wreaths were placed on the rotunda. During the afternoon the cemetery was visited, and wreaths placed on soldiers' graves. There was a grand fireworks display at night time. Addington (10) were defeated in the League football by Rtmanga (11) to-6ay. Bad weather spoilt the sports, and the football matches were abandoned. Invercugifl, Last.Night. In fine weather on Saturday the peace celebrations opened. The town was gaily decorated, the streets being arched with row after row of flags. In the morning the flags were half masted. At noon all activities ceased on the firing of a gun and church bells tolled, .After five tajirates the gun was fired again and all flags were raised to their full height The afternoon was devoted to a brilliant children's procession and sports- The ' streets were crowded. In the evening the city was IDnminated, the water, front and post offioe making exceptionally fine displays, and a torchlight procession led to to Queen's Park, where the fireworks displayed added to the briUianae of ,tho night. On Stmday united thanksgiving services were' held ] jfik Mnflrforl "fcufcft SwUatm

cessful military sports were held, and this evening a big returned soldiers' ball took place. Rain set iu to-night. To-morrow is footballers' day, NEW PLYMOUTH PROCEEDINGS, CHILDREN'S DAY, It was a pity that the weather was hot kinder to the - children on the day sef apar.t for their functions in connection with the celebration of peace. Notwithstanding that the morning gavo every indication of bringing in its wake a. wet day, crowds of children gathered in eager expectation of the joys of a good motor ride around the country districts. The scholars assembled at their several schools, and as cars arrived they were loaded with their precious freight of jubilating juveniles. Continual demands were made from outside districts for more cars. The marshal of the procession (Mr. R. Day) did his beßt to Batisfy ,the requirements of each school. It was soon evident, however, that there were not sufficient cars to take all the children, especially those who had assembled at the Courtenay Street School. One of the difficulties was that many of the country cars which had been promised came in already loaded up, while ft number of others were not able to fulfil their promises. A general scouring round for vehicles produced a few lpore cars, and the Citizens' Band, which it had been intended should accompany the procession, gave up the large char-a-banc in which they were accommodated, and it was immediately crowded with children, who were sent on their way rejoicing. The first part of the procession, led by the Salvation Army Band, and consisting of several open motor frucks with improvised seats, was dispatched a little before 10 o'clock, and the main portion of motor cars left at about 10.15. Other sections from suburban schools gradually gathered in and linked up with the main procession, which presented an imposing spectacle as it stretched out along the country roads, along which the cars were cheered by settlers and children assembled at various points. The children were given a rousing reception passing through Inglewood, where the fire beil was rung to announce the arrival of tho procession, and the cars had to pass through an avenue formed by residents of the inland borough. The first cars began to arrive at Eliot Street, where they were assembled to be photographed, at a little after 12 o'clock, and when the picture was complete .the cars filled'the road from one side to the other and stretched from just over Leach Street right back to the top of the hill by the Boys' High School, numbering over 160 Vehicles of all descriptions. The children were then brought back to the starting point,' those from the suburbs and country districts being taken to the Coronation Hall, where they were provided with hot cocoa and buns by a committee under the direction of the Mayoress.

There were still a large number of children for whom motor accommodation was not found in time .to enable them to make the round trip with the main but ears and buses and motor trucks were secured and each child was given a ride around the town.

The whole affair passed off without mishap of any kind. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS.

After dinner the children were treated to free picture entertainments in the three town theatres. Each building was packed, the only adults: admitted being the school teachers, and for upwards of an hour and a half the children were kept thoroughly interested and amused with a very enjoyable series oi lilmß, which were screened for their particular pleasure.

•In the afternoon each child was given a small packet of sweets. After the luncheon at the Coronation Ball, and also again at the picture theatres, hearty cheers were given by the children for the Mayoress (Mrs. C. H. Burgess), the owners of the motor cars, and for Mr. R. Day, who organised the ou,ting. TREE-PLANTING. The weather doubtless militated against a large assemblage of any sort yesterday, so far as open-air functions were concerned, and the unfortunate delay in getting .the children away on their motor ride served to keep people who had come out longer in the vicinity of the Fire Brigade Station than would have been the case if everything had worked out as planned. In consequence, the planting of the memorial trees in Liardet Street, at the entrance to Pukekura Park, was carried out without ceremony and almost privately. Mr. W. A. Collis, as chairman or the Council Beserves Committee, was present with the Mayor and Mayoress, whom he asked to plant a tree each, and two puriris were set, one on either side of the street, and declared well and truly planted.

Mr. Collis made a suggestion to Mr. and Mrs. Burgess, with which they were in aacord, that when the avenue is completed an official opening should be held and that; in the meantime, the borough should he asked to sanction the changing of the name of that portion of Liardet Street from the park gates to Gilbert Street to "Peace Avenue." The idea is to plant puriris and Japanese cherries alternateiy, 30 feet apart on both sides of that section of the street, and I as that is the only thin? done so far in New Plymouth that bear* any semblance of a permanent peace memorial, the change of name is considered very appropriate.