Empire Day Celebrations.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7832, 26 May 1905, Page 3

Empire Day Celebrations.

SPEECH 1!Y EARL MEATH. THE USE OF TIIE RIFLE. (Received May 25,. 10.38 p.m.) LONDON, May 25. Empire Day celebrations this year were lar more extensive than for- | merly. There was a plentiful display jof flags on tho London Mansion House and the Colonial Institute; also in most of the provincial towns and villuges. The principal feature of the celebration was the patriotic addresses in six thousand schools, followed by a holiday.

The King witnessed a shaui light at Frensham.

Earl Meath, President of the St. George's Society, addressed a crowded meeting of the Children's Aid Society at Exeter Hall. A choir of

our hundred children sang patriotic songs, including a n Empire Day 'song. "The Flags of Britain." Earl Aieath telegraphed to the King the meeting's homage, ami received a gracious reply. Earl Meath read .telegrams irom Premiers, and Governors at Ottawa. Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Natal, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Jainaica, Bermuda, Capetown, Gibraltar, and else- 1 where. Many provincial Lord Mayors, Mayors, and numerous public bodies sent felicitations. Earl M'oath said the chain of celebration around the earth's surface was practically complete so far as was known and the autonomous colonies were coii-j cerned. India was not yet officially 'represented, though there were individual celebrations. Tho proImoters of the movement did not sympathisu with Jingoism or State aggrandisement. The best step towards the world's jxiace was thoconsolidaton of the Empire, so that 110 Power dare attack it. The promoters hoped to breath# into the souls of Britishers a spirit of patriotism more powerful for noble deeds than even Japanese bushido. (Received May 25, 11.12 p.m.) LONDON, May 25.

The Dukes of Argylc and Marlborough spoke at the dinner of the Canja*tian Society. The RSgiht Hon. A. iLyttelton, Secretary for the Colonj ios, and Lord Stra'ithcoma, High; Commissioner for Canada, spoko lat tihe Canadian Club Colonial dinner.

Earl Roberts, reviewing the Surrey riflemen at Guildford, in connec- ; tion with tho celebrations, said he hoped the Government would soon insist on every school teaching the use of the rifle. He advocated rifle I clubs in every town and village.

| '1 ho London Fresh Air Fund sent a thousand children for a holiday at Greenwich Park. Karl Meath sent a message explaining Empire Day.

I Lord Selbourne attended the trooping of the colours at Victoria, Natal, when four thousand soldiers were present. FUNCTIONS IN AUSTRALIA. (Received May 26, 1.3 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 25. Lady Northcote, wife of the Gover-nor-General, planted an Empire tree in Hyde Pask.

A patriotic demonstration at the Royal Exchange concluded with a, musical programme.