THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 23, 5 June 1902, Page 20

THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.

On Monday morning, shortly after 10 o'clock, the pealing of the Town Hall bell announced to the citizens of Dunedin that the war in South Africa was a thing of the past, and that peace had been declared. The following telegram from the Acting-Premier, Bir J. G-. Ward, conveyed the welcome news : — ' It is with intense pleasure that I ad vine you that I have just received intimation that peace has been declared.' Lord Kitchener wired to bis Excellency the Governor from Pretoria under date June 1, as follows :—: — 1 Peace signed last night.' No sooner was the news received in Dunedin than business was suspended and people rushed from factory, warehouae, and chop towards the Town Hall, where it was announced a meeting would be held. From nearly every business place floated flagß. The meeting at the Town Hall was addressed by the Mayor and several prominent citizens, the keynote of the speeches being thankfulness that the war was ended and that peace reigned once more in South Africa. Later on the enthusiasm of the people found expression in a monster procession which paraded the principal stseete. In all parts of the Colony the receipt of the news that peace was declared was made the occasion for great rejoicing. In Wellington an immense concourse of people assembled in the front of the General Post Office. The firing of rockets and and the shrieking of whistles and sirens expressed the general joy, The Mayor was the first to give the official announcement, and he waß followed by Sir J. G. Ward, who gave an intensely patriotic speech, punctuated by singing and cheering. The crowd took the horses out of the Acting-Premier's cab and started a procession down the street. A whole holiday was declared amidst immense popular enthusiasm. The whole town was a mace of bunting, and every place of business was closed. In Christchurch the Mayor proclaimed a holiday. Processions were hastily organised, the schools closed, and the whole community engaged in celebrating the glad tidings. The chief feature of the celebrations was the procession organised by the employes in the Addington Workshops, and which contained several capital effigies of prominent figures in the war, Buch as Lords Roberts and Kitchener, Generals White, Baden-Powell, Colonel Robin, and one of Mr. Kruger and John Bull shaking hands over a glass of wine. A mass meeting was held in Cathedral square in the afternoon. The following cable news regarding the torms of the peace agreement was received on Tuesday :—: — After signifying their acceptance of the British terms all the Boer delegates arrived at Pretoria on Saturday and signed, at 10.30 at night, a document containing the terms of surrender. Lord Kitchener despatched a message to England, and \added that Lord Milner and himself h*d also signed. The Boer conference at Vereeniging o<. Saturday came to a unanimous decision, and the principal leaders accompanied the delegates to Pretoria. The 26th and 27th have been proclaimed public holidays at Pretoria. There were great jubilations in London at the declaration of peace. Immense crowds gathered, singing patriotic songs, carrying flags, and wearing rosettes. Processions took place in the streets till a late hour. Mr. John Redmond, addressing a league meeting at Kensington on Saturday, Baid the pacification of South Africa would not be witnessed in this or the comirjg generation. The Dutch would regain their independence and power. England was willing to pay the sacrifice to conciliate the colonies, but the goodwill of Ireland exceeded that of the 32 colonies. General joy is expressed in Canada and the English provinces. Satisf^Hn- io ..ipreHsed in America and on the Continent. The ' London ' Standard sajs that England's gratitude would be associated wi h urjgrudghig admiration lor the most valiant adversaries the Motherland and colonies had ever encountered. There was no cause for humiliation. They were defeated, but not disgraced. There was great jubilation in Brisbane when the news was received, but Btrange to say there was no public manifestation in Sydney. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons, announced that the terms of peace include — That the Dutch language is to be used in courts if necessary, and taught in Bchools where the parents desire it ; rifles to be retained for protection ; military occupation to be withdrawn when self-government iB substituted ; no special tax on the Transvaal or Orange River Colony landed property for the war, but £3 000,000 to be raised for restocking farmßf armß ; rebels to be tried according to the laws of their colony, but there is to be no death penalty, the rank and file to be disfranchised for life.