EMPIRE DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1464, 26 May 1905, Page 2

EMPIRE DAY.

By Electric Telegraph—Par. Press! Association.

London, May 24,

Empire Day wa3 celebrated by hundreds in towns and villages. Flags and banners were flown on thousands of churches and public buildings. The celebration was the topic at public dinners and speeches.

King Edward inspected the Army Corps and unveiled a memorial to the Medical Corps at Aldershot. TV Prince of Wales unveiled the Colonial Boor War Memorial in St. Paul’s. ' Ottawa, May 24. Empire Day was officially celebrated in tbo Canadian echoola on Tuesday. Public men delivered patriotic addresses, and there were appropriate musical programmes. To-day was observed as a holiday.

Sydney, May 24. Favored with fine weather, the Empire Day celebrations were highly successful. Enthusiastic demonstrations of school children took place throughout the State. Their features were the unfurling of flags, patriotic speeches by. loading men, appropriate musical programmes, and sports. Tho city and harbor were gay with bunting. The statues of Queen Victoria were decorated,

Speaking at the Lord Mayor's luncheon in honor of the occasion, the Governor said he thought Empire Day would do an immense amount of good to the whole Empire by drawing them all together, and instructing Young Australia as to her heritage.

Sydney, May 25. The Empire Day demonstration included a combined schools gathering, 3000 children being assembled at Victoria Barracks.

Mr Eeid, at Tamwortb, delivered a glowing Empire Day oration to 800 children, concluding with a eulogy of the King. Melbourne, May 25. Tho Federal Government has received a cable containing Empiro greetings from Lord Meath. The Government replied : *' The Commonwealth cordially reciprocate the Empire greetings."

A NOTABLE CELEBRATION,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 10.38 p.m., May 25. London, May 25. The celebrations were far more extensive than formerly. There was a plentiful display of flag 3 on the London Mansion House, the Colonial Institute, and also in most of the provincial towns and villages. The principal feature of tho celebrations was patriotic addresses in six thousand schools, followed by a holiday. The King witnessed a sham fight at Frenshntn. Tho Earl of Meath addressed a crowded meetiogof tho Children’s Aid Society at Exeter Hall. A choir of 400 children sang patriotic songs, including ” Empire Day” sar>» “ The Flag of Britain.”

The Earl of Meath telegraphed to the King the meeting’s homage, and received a gracious reply. * The Earl of Meath read telegrams from the Premiers and Governors at Ottawa, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth. Adelaide, Natal, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, Bermuda, Capetown, Gibraltar, and elsewhere. Many provincial Lord Mayors and numerous publio bodies sent felicitations. The Earl of Meath stated that the chain of celebrations around the earth’s surfaoe was practically complete so far as the Crown and autonomous colonies were concerned. India had not yot been officially represented, though there were individual celebrations, The promoters of the movement did not sympathise with jingoism or State aggrandisement. The best step towards the world’s peace was to consolidate the Empire so that no Power dare attack. The promoters hoped that the breath and souls of Britishers and their spirit of patriotism would be more powerful for noble deeds than even the Japanese bushido.

IMPBESSIVE CEBEMONIES,

By Telegraph—Press Assooiatlon—Copyrigh Beceived 11.12 p.m., May 25. London, May 25. The Dukes of Argyle and Marlborough spoke at the dinner of tho Canadian Society. Mr Lyttelton and Lord Strathcona spoke at the Canada Club dinner.

Lord Boberts, reviewing the Surrey Bifiemon at Guildford, in connection with the celebrations, hoped that the Government would soon insist that every school would teach the use of tho rifle and advocate rifle clubs in every town, village and hamlet.

Tho London Fresh Air Fund sent thousands of children on a holiday to Groenwieh Park.

The Earl of Meath sent messages explaining Empire Day. Lord Solbourno attended the trooping of colors at Victoria, Natal. Four thousand soldiers were present.

Beceived 1.3 a.m., May 26. Sydney, May 25. Lady Northcote planted an Empire tree in Hyde Park. • There wero patriotic demonstrations at the Boyal Exchange, concluding with a musical programme.