EMPIRE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 8

EMPIRE DAY.

**MOHE HONOURED IN THE BREACH^ :v;;-^;i)ATiptiLr : aOT V;: ' For' years end.'. jeiue; : bods of.'the. :Empire v honoured, apprbpriatoly and demonstratively,- ' {'the anniversary .of the birth of their SoverQueen' They took their ■0 whole-Keartedly4it' was one: of,'tno., ■days set apart. \ Upon., her ..demisethe. date '"was, ii-perpetuation: of her memory, and as, V a. .day : of-special significance—a reminder or -our' Imperial 'heritage—mado tho occasion for an expression of tho patriotism' Which is : to ho tho inheritance of every v: British/subject.' As Buch,:it was duly and : fittingly honoured in' the observance, especi- ■ allyin the porfcrvid days'following tho boutn '■ ' But 'fervohr; is: no _longer vis- ».! ible, loyalty-is less exuberant ; - : seeming/ and patriotism 'wears; its cloak more :-. modestly. .'x.Tho Jtimos : dovnot oaU: for^moro, ■ -which is'porhaps just as;woU.': Thus it .bap- '■ -- pons that-Empire Day, in these, latter,times, has become a dull and colourless thing if as. •; it is observed'-in .Wellington: is go ': by.- It was dedicated for a-purposo, but that •V-.'' purpose, is -'slowly -becoming obscured.in tno .' ■ Eathering- mists .of the: passing years. ■■-■)' : " Yesterday'was Empi.ro Day by th.e.oalendar, i but little 'was dono, :te celebrate the ocoal\ Bioh'it one excopts.the displays of bunting y which fluttered, in tho stiff, nor'^rrestor..which :: howled through'.thb,-stfeets,-driving tho gritty ■ ; - dnsfc in biting eddies.; -The Government .and : municipal offices and tho, banks .wore closed, :■' ?eo were the -schools.. In tho past ;ao .schools : generally took: au active part in demonstra- .•": tions apprdpriato to tho -day.. Tlio various juvenile cadet corps, paraded in their respec- ■ "-.tiye playgrounds, in front of-tho school flag, .and presented arms while the" flag was ' im- -■ furled,' and the National Anthem was.sung J'by-theothorohildren.^:Patriotic,-, speeches- ■ wero deliveretl, and tho remainder of • tho day was bbsorv.edm» holiday/.Thisyear, however, . thowhole'of theday, apptsarodto have been oh- .-■'. Borvecl as' a' holiday. ■ There; were,' as iar ;as '• could.bo gathered,fno'organised demonstra- • tion anywhere/ : --' -. ', ''; ''■'■ :Tho lady members of the.Navy League and .-.■-.Victoria,-League-, 'tastefully.: decorated , t the .-.:Qiieeri.,Victena,'s'tatue,;with garlands, al- : though tho/display was,a,modest.one. ;; ..;', .-.'■: These features -exocptedy the. day was very ~ much, as "other days.:■: Men;.df business went; . ':■ about their ' business as usual/:', : *■■ : •; -. •'■-.-1

:V(TELEC.RAMS FROM THE PREMIER. ' "■■".'.".'■-' In : :connection -TTith,' the Empire Day :cole-/ ' .-' bration at Christehurch,. tho.Prime' Minister "f-'•'-• (Sir Joseph : Ward)--, sent the_ following • tele- -.' gram, to-tho, Mayor of that city:— -. ' •.. ; .'..:.: ''His'-WoAhip;the;Mayor,(3hristchurch,; /':}, ■'■•' '1- extend to your".Worship-and,the eiti- • ■.'■■'■/"sons,.assembled at yonr patriotic demonstra- >?; tionvriow taking 'place, my'hearty greetings, , : ■■, ' and regret.-' that. pressure of public duties ;•. prevents my being.with you on this ocoasjon. ~ To those who have the welfare of our Empire ■ . x »t heart, ; this- day brings: homo a reminder ■'•.^of .pur 'glorious.-privileges- as.members 'of a ■/,;'.-' nation which stands in the -forefront of lib-:;,:,-.':.erty.and progress.'; ' Mjvmessago"to you all; ,1> 'this day-is: .'Lot us /guard the welfare, of ;,'':•.'■-■' our Empire 'by.- maintaining. the proud ppsk. ■ /irrtion "whiohvShe .holds.to-day.'.".^.'.:.,:• '\;:;' "J.Vg! : WARD." " v ■■':'. ■' To' the "Mayor of' Dunedin, "where "the ceje-. :;:;- : :bration..included'the : laying of,wreaths upon :, the'.lVoopers!- Memorial,!-the'.Premier- sent' v;- ; a .similar; message,: in'the coiirse~ of'vwhich ..'. I he said: '"Let us guard -the welfare of. our' ; : y. Empire/as.those;.of hallowed.-memory \did ■■ :'■..' before us; by jealously; maintaining the proud '■'■•■■ position:she. nblds to-day." ';:.;,;; '■;' ..'.■'.':.'. :p; ;l GREJETINCSFRO^ 'A : -;'';.,Hi3 ; Wo'rship the Mayor (Dr. A. K.'New- .; ?., nian) received the '. following cable f from Mel-. : ;' : :bpuriie ■yosterday':--"City,; of Melbourne ex- ■ 3, '.' tends 'Empire- Day;greetings : ;to'■Motherland; -■--,' and oversea Dominions of the Empire." v ; - :-To|thiS:the,vMa|pr,feplied:"City ofjWel-J '■'' '.}■ ling cordially ■.feciprocates "your- greetings. '-;.>; may- w'o':-liye'»in -friendship. , ", Z'i^y-: ' U;j ; 'i : '',, RE-UNIOW OF VETERANS. ',•' "$";■; ■ '■'.;.; : '-theVmeinßers 'of i'the -Wel- .-■' lington? branch, of--the: Royal;.New.'Zealand %/'-■; Association of bis- Majesty's; yeterans, took ■• ; :v-v:'place:--last^ii^t , .''i'at-- : . ; this''-'Aleia'ndra . Hall, &^lJuck!e ; : ;Newall ; v.C.B;, vpre-";-v'sided, supported ;by Captains Hamorton' and ;.. 'ih Tregear, 1 •. and..a : .most..enjoyable;evening wjs ; '■v. Bpont.'-:: .Sovqral;;.of I',-tlie , '' yeterans-vhad'eome. i: ;■; from;Vas;far'away fas; Waikanae .and. Hutt. ■: i "--S6'ngs, ■:■ anecdotes, of ;warfarc 'enacted -in: di fj; Cerent; parts of. the .world,- both on .land and ;.:!; : ;sea,v,and v atirring".'Bpeeches 'touching;.on the .;:;.value;-'of-.being''united ! in 'the-- cause of:.: a ;-. • '^great,;;.powerful.'/iSmpire,;.-were- among-.-.•.the '■■■\\. features 'of the. evening; ■ and .various toasts /..; to :comjmem6rate;Emplre'Day were.honoured : '-; ; '-;''With enthusiasm;;.. \^^: ;;;::■::.: : :', ,-'.!'.,• -..■..-;;; ; : . ; - >;v.-~"W;' : - ; V^1NVbTHER'CENfHES.':-'--R ; r'

J'v^.:V: : '\^>;:^,(Bl : 'MLEGE«'k^PßraS/AraoO^TlOH.);v':: / .,f' 1 ; ::xv'.^ ,; -^v;-^ '■■'.'■ i.;■ ■'.■"■; Splendid : weather ■■" prevailed '• ■;for.; 'Empire ;\ <>fi ■:: Day,' (but ithe:holiday 'was, only.,partially-■ ob- .;;'• -f:':Berv€d:■■■Thb.principal function;was a gathor- ;;'/;,( .'ing. of stho: , public sohool'; children, i school ■'::-.( 7 ]/' jracks.s ;..lt;>as 'unfortunate/.that the:'ohU-' . '■ 'vy ;• Jreh's demonstration-was not-managed bettor. .;■ : /' : k : . The ■ were:.-;in : their ■ .'places; at .10.30 <.v;,; ';? a.in:, 1 .'but,'there''was absolutely' nothing ',to *;:{;";r eleven. ■ ■:: : ■ ;■ '.Tho-barrackß, .'commodioiis were, ■;■'••.;■ - ..''vbocame/excoedihgly stuffy, and; a few of .the VI:. ; : .'.girls ..were*unable ;tp;stajiti.th'e. : strain put on /;;;.::.' tbem.'^'After.'a'Jong'wait, no few«r'than sis ij:,7.. :;speeohe3'..wbre made,.and : some:of'them were ;•;.': f,r .' lfetoned;";to;jwitb:: absolute '■ inattention;. v.Tfce' .!•".:'? ./heat .made'; the 'children -restive,'. '"anH/ : after i■■' ,: ;i J: the first speech'or'".tn'o,,they. woro;not in a ■ : ';.-;r' "mood. to; list'en-.-to any more.',. The deriipnstra- ■ :,'■'":':■ ..'.- */_,.';' .'/but.it wasM6lops drawn out/and too'obyi-:;'-S:, i :tires_omo'to tho'children to bo regarded '■- l ; : - '■' ,'witn. unmixed -isatisfaction.;'.'■'.V Spoeches: were -Vl^-v'.^fflade';^ ;-:;, GibbV(Wcllington), ;■ 'Messrs;; GJ.T:, Booth, ?and :;'.-ft : -.,'':.Harty}..^;P^' ; Tho. !^hildre]i7inarch<!d--fo.'yi<>; :' •}■•-' ..r'ioria j'Square,-. where a; wreath, from .each J ''.on ..'.-.the.-'- pedestal of .-''.., :Qneen ~ yictoria|s'S Statno... • There : also i .V.t'".-:-':i;;".thei "Mayor- : nvade'- a'ibrief:speech, in', the ; : '.' ; ; courso of .which ho., read a telegram from .:.-:;,': ;'-- ; '/(".".■:j : -.v-ito J' : \' : '"::'-;i ;;.".■..•:'-,'■ V:'■:-'• ;; : V;' ) ■'-.'•. ' f -'(raoli.-'.pini' f BPEOIAIi, COEBESPpITDKHTO;: ? : ?'i'- : ;;--* ";v';iV^ : - : ' ; ' ; V:;\. Palilatua, ilay .;'■;./'; On Sunday special 'services- in .connection ■v.V-/:%''-/-yith''--Emptte- ; all ' the v; ; ; ; •;'. ■:;churches. ;■. In the morning a' church parade.of ;;.;.';.,' Mho. inarchod.,to the Anglican ■;.y-..;v. .Dhurch;', The Mayor.a'nd. : a number of cqun- '•■■' /, . ' . oillors also:attended.■j'.Thevllev. C.-H.. Isaao- .■«.''.:{..; eon, vicar;■pre'aehed.an'appropriate sermon. ; .

■;; ' ."■'•- (BTTELEOnAPn.—SPECIAL obiIRZSroKDBHT.) ; '•::■.,'.:v',y: ; :K '-■>£:;■'. ■■ '■;'■' -■ '■!:■■.' Levin, May 24.,:'. ■■;;.: Empiro - ;:Day, ; the boys of the Weraroa :■■ / State „ Farm, 'ana tho Cadet Company, par-. ■..-ndod.:under Lieutenant Watt. The brass - ■*- tncli.pipe' bands' also, attended:-- Major 'Bur-. '{<.' linson; addressixl tho boys, making, special '■.:'■ "reference to tho offer of > a Dreadnought by ; : Mie ■■Womier,' and. tho. proceedings termin- ;■;.': '■• tted with •■ three cheers for : the -King. Later, '■',;-. i 'football:match,;,was.;played' between reprai,:■ ■■ientatiy:ps';.of;'"tlio Kailway 'Department, .Wei-' ' : ,;jingtbn, and. 'the boys, of-the farm,- a hard- , .■::■ fought.-game'; resulting in a draw, «|jh' ;; side.-.sconrig : ;thre6:points, v Horrich- scored ' •;", for'.the;'Department,, and W. Smith' for tho ;;i : fdmi:V-;M'r<-:Bfoughton-was.:refprde; j ; !v'-''- ; '. :; '^r- :^: ,( ' May 24. ' ■;'-. No . wa's ; observed : here except by ...'the banks , and > schools'.. >The.'. New Zealand ''■'. flag 'ivfis ; flown/from'the Post Office,' whilo ';■'-'. flags' were, also flown' from several private re-. ■o : . sicfecev ;It:is tho general opinion.herb'that .:'■ .-■ there aro'tbb many holidays m : New' Zealand. ; .'■■. ■ j ibt lELKaßArn—raEsa association.)l. • s:\;: : ;--'. \;\ J . 'y-y->\ :■ ': : Ashburton, May 24. ■ ■: in. connection -with Empire ■:. Day "passed, off "very successfully haro, ..tho ■'■'..■" weather : beiiig,'fine..:.,: A';dose' holiday was '■;.:■':: obseryed'by tho,. tradespeople and ■; a : prdces- ■ eion consisting; of ; .bands,- : yolunteers, -firo -'. :--brigadcs,"cailots, school children, and - a sound '■■''■ : :of hyenty-fivo Bluojackets from t.v; lengerj' marched, through' . ! the' : town to; the : ; ■ iDomain ;iu the .moniing,... ■& . ndinher-■; of

speeches were delivered there, and tie National Anthem was sung. : la the afternoon ohildreh'i eports wero held, under auspices of the Patriotic Committee, and in the evening a monster No-License rally took place, the speakers being Mr. H. D. IJedford, of Dnnedin, and theßov. A. Dowdney, of Wellington,- .-. May M , • 'Empire Day was celebrated at Lytton Street and Manchester Street schools, at 'both of which, ■Mγ. Fred Piram, chairman of the Wanganui JMucation Board, ™s tho principal-speaker.. Mr. J. W. Bramwellspoke behalf of the Lytton Street School Committee, and the Rev. Mr. Innes on behalf of the Distriot High School Committee. . ■': 'V ;,■.. '~, Groytown, May 24. . Empire Day hero was Jnot observed .as a holiday, except .by the school children and a few of tho business firms. . , ; ... . ,' Duncdln, May 24. : i Tho woathor was beautifully fine for/Empiro Day, which was observed as a close holiday The children assembled at' the various schools, saluted the Hag, and then marched to the Triangle, whoro addresses were delivered by tho Mayor, and others, after which wreaths were laid, on the troopers' memorial in tho Southern Oval. -At night a mass/patriotic meeting was held in the Garrisoit Hall. Speeches at this meeting : were ' delivered by the Mayor (Mr. Walker), Mr; J; Allen, M.P., Dr. Nisbet, and the Rev. P: W. Fairclough. /,;..■ : : Invorcarglll, May 24. There • was no celebration- of Empire Day here, roxcopt that" tho , banks, Government offices, and' merchants closed their promises; ';: :'"■'■■:./. "i: , Napier, May 23. The'aimnal church parade in commemoration, of'.' Empire Day took: place ,: at . the Cathedral this afternoon. There was a good muster of volunteers and veterans. Tho collection'was in aid of ..a bed in the Napier spital - ;■/ ■■;■■ ] Tiniaru, May 24. ■ 'A brief ceremony was held this morning in .celebration.- of Empire Day. The school' cadets paraded-and saluted tho flag, cheers I ■ wore given for the King, the fine, and the Navy. ■"■. The weather was beautifully fine for the''holiday,''for which 'the principal attrac-tion-was ft SOTon-a-side football: tournament. ; " , i Auokland, May 24. A ! featuro of the Empire Day celebrations was a review of,-the cadets by the Governor in .'Victoria Park.. The weather was fino, and there was a large.gathering of tho public. 'Tlio included aSOO cadets, 100 veterand 501>°ys from H;M.S. Pioneer (nearly all New' Zealand boys) , ,: and a contingent from tho -Permanent Force: His Excellency deliverer! a speech appropriate to tho. occasion. He complimented the > cadets on the splendid, : turn-out,- sinnd-said that they were as soldierly-looking boys.as seen any- • TtfJinT/j ■. '■ '■." ■.■■'.''■■■ ■■ ■ ■ ' <■ - ". .' •> ;.'.'.. : ■,;■ Nolson, May 24. ,' . There was no "general, holiday. The Minister for iEdrfcation wae,'present at the saluting of the flag by the boys pf: the Central School. .;.-■;)',■''"':■;• ■"■'".■'•''--, Blenheim, May 24.- ■'.-• The holiday, is not beinCiobsorved. the only celebration being -the saluting of the flag by the school children and addresses by members of the Scbpol ; ; Commrttee'.v' : -.-•■ : :'.'. ' ■". ■' : .' : v'V' : . r '■■'"■/.;", Wanganul, May 24. '■■ . EmpSfe' D&y : was only/ observed by few ; as a general '.holiday, and all the shops are open.' The principal attraction is tno races. At'ithe sphoob, there was.sarnting of the-flag,., ■ followed .by, oth6r" ceremonies.. ■ The weather is showery. ■.'.■.■' '..'. '■" >;. ■/ . .■: ; .^ / , ; . ..■.■l'" y ,::>•'." , ' .Hastings, May 24. : : 'Empire Day was observed as a close holiday. Four hundred players took part:in the hockey tournament, and thoro wns a big at-, tendance at the' Hastings Rugby Sub-Unions' Empiro:Day sports./.'.-'.,.,: . -./ ; .; , : , .-..■■„ '■':•.•

CELEBRATIONS. [di TiriEonirn— pebss AssnctATtoN—corTttiqm.) ';'■•■■ •. ■'■'■' '(Rec. May 24, 11.35 p.m;) Vi - ;; ';;/:;'>,-i-;.',\ •;.. ■■••--, ;■ Sydney, May 24. ,Empire Day : was. celebrated in gloomy, weather. Outdoor functions'"were' somewhat marred by the.rain which fell in the morning, but'it cleared'intheafternoon/- ;;■-./ / "■';-,;, \C:. ■ A : '"' "J : 'p.''Brisbahe,' May 24. 'The Empire celebrations passed off successfully. :- : The.'weather.was' dull and ikie^tening.',-;-:-; f '.y;v ; h:/.' ' ' •■'^v>--'-'■:'"'• '■': '.'•■ '--Vv" ■'■