EMPIRE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 132, 26 May 1908, Page 3

EMPIRE DAY.

London, llav 24. Twenty thousand children attended the Church of England Temperance .Society's Empire Day fete at the Crystal Fa lace. The King and Queen attended an Empire Day inspection of the Duke of York's School at Chelsea. Lord Roberts witnessed the shooting j of England's team of boys for the Meath trophy. •

Ottawa, May 24. Earl Grey, addressing a parade of i school children at Toronto, called them to celebrate the tercentary and t<> I™ l ' I a hand in presenting to Canada th.' -S-K: j red ground where the fate of Xortli America was decided. I Sydney, May 2->.

There was fine weather for Empire Dav. 'The city was brilliant with bunting' while there'were many patriotic dcmoii&trations

KKIH HARDIER 11ALIK. MESSAGES FROM COLONIAL PREMIERS. Received £Hh, 10.35 p.m. London, May -•». Kier llardie. hpeaking at Bristol and Ttferring to Empire Day. dwlared that Socialist* might have interfered to jtre▼ent children at tie schools being taught to wave flags and sing a ghastly bit of doggerel like the NationJl Anfkrm.

Most of the Prime Ministers throughout the Empire sent Home messages of congratulation in connection with Empire Day. EMPIRE CONCERT. Received lititli, 12.30 a.m. London, May 21. At the Empire concert at Albert llall Miss Ada Cro-s|(.y W as the chief vocalist. Great enthusiasm prevailed.

IN NEW ZEALAND. Per Press Atsociagia Ashburton, Last Sight. Fine weather attended the patriotic Empire Day demonstration in the Domain, which was attended by volunteers,

cadets, fire brigade, bands, etc.. ami a large number of people. The flaj; was sainted, and a feu de joie fired. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Mr. G. T. Booth, of Cliristchurch, and the Rev. M. E. tollhouse. The function was very successful. I Dunedin, Last Xight.

To-day's celebrations in connection with Empire Day passed off capitally. At ail the school's the children assembled in the morning, when they were addressed in terms suitable to the occasion, after which they gave cheers for the Sag and sang "'God Save the King. There were demonstrations at the Triangle and the troopers' memorial statue, j iwhich were taken part in by over KMKI radets, all the schools being represented. The speeches were brief and the whole ceremony was completed within an honr.

6peaking at the trooping of colors at the North east Valley School. Mr. Ti&lacKenzie, M.l\. chairman of the Eduction Board, said that we had lived *o long under the protecting ann of the Mother Country that we had forgotten what war meant. We were living iu a fools' paradise, and the present state of unpreparedness inu*t not be allowed to continue. The load the Old Country was carrying for defence was greater than she could reasonably be expected to bear. All must be prepared to do their part. There was menace in the East, and it behoved every boy, youth. ami |oan to do hia duty in learning td defend hfe country. "If," he concluded, *we were known to be ready we would serer be called upon to fight." Palmerston X., Last Night.

Empire Day was celebrated in cold, rainy weather. The ceremony of saluting the flag was performed at the local schools, there being a fair attendance of scholars and adnlts.

Invercargill, l«a&t Night. Empire Day was observed as a .-school holiday to-day. but no public functions took place. To-night 200 youngsters took part in a loyal demonstration at the theatre. The function wa« of purely a patriotic charaetrr. typifying th M different part-, of the Empire, and wa-> arranged, by the League of the Empire.