The election of Cardinal Achille Ratti, Archbishop of Milan, to the Pontificate was proclaimed from the balcony of St Peter’s at 12.25pm on February 6.Describing the ceremony, the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph wrote that a vast crowd had assembled in the square of St Peter’s waiting patiently in the rain for hours.
The sight was picturesque in a new way, for everybody was holding an umbrella and the immense square looked peopled by 10,000 black mushrooms.
At a quarter past eleven a slight puff of smoke was noticed by some, and again a little later, and a murmur went round that the Pope was elected. But the crowd remained uncertain, for owing to the rain the smoke could not be easily distinguished.
There were 40 minutes more of patient waiting, and at 12.25 finally the window over the balcony in the centre of St Peter’s was flung open, a huge red tapestry with the new Pope’s coat of arms was hung out, and a great cheer went up from the throng of “E fatto! E fatto!” (he is elected).
It was expected as before that the Pope would only appear inside the Basilica to give his first blessing, but it soon was apparent that something new was going to happen.
All the gates leading from the Basilica into the Vatican were closed, and knowing Romans as one inferred that the Pope was going to give his benediction to the crowd on the Square of St Peter’s, as used to be done in olden times. At last the Pope also appeared, followed by a group of dignitaries.
The Pope, a handsome man, was smiling, and walked with a firm step. “Evviva il Papa” cheered the vast crowd enthusiastically.
Plaudits for rugby president
At the annual meeting of the Otago Rugby Union on Saturday night the newly elected president, Mr V.G. Cavanagh, presented the outgoing president, Mr H. Harris, with a beautiful gold watch, and a Nellie Stewart bangle for Mrs Harris, in recognition of his 25 years on the executive and 10 years as president.
The gift was a slight token of their esteem and recognition of the highly valuable services Mr Harris had rendered to football during his term. Contributions to the present had been received right throughout Otago, and the spontaneous manner in which they were made spoke well for the esteem in which Mr Harris was held.
Mr Harris had a splendid record, and one of which any man would be proud. He was fair, saw both sides of the question and, in fact, was the most unbiased man he had ever had the pleasure of sitting with on a committee.
Lights on at Milton
Additional evidence, if any were required, of the progressive policy which is steadfastly carried out by the electric power and lighting department of the Dunedin City Council is afforded by the successful completion of the extension of Waipori power to Milton, the chairman of the committee (Cr Shacklock) having informed us that the street lights in the borough were switched on for the first time last night.
This circumstance marks a distinct epoch in the history of Milton, and the illumination of the streets with brilliant electric lamps would undoubtedly be very cordially welcomed by the citizens.
Cr Shacklock added that it was hoped to extend the lighting tonight to those private houses and other premises which have been connected up, and that as from today the
woollen mill will be partly running on Waipori power.
