DOMINION DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 235, 28 September 1908, Page 3

DOMINION DAY.

LOCAL OELEBRATIOXS. 1 Dominion Day in Xew Plymouth was. not characterised by any great outburst of ettthubkism. The Government oiliees dosed and some of the citizens hoistodi -flags, the New Zealand ensign llotitiiig out from tlhe flagstaff-on the Post Ollke!tawtr. The haute aiiU k-sv offices and the business places remained open cs •usual.

TME SCHOOLS. ■ With a view of hkiving the impor:<tnee of Dominion Day impressed on the minds of the rising generation, Sir •Joseph Ward Jrad ewiiuuunicuted to the •Education Board his desire tint the school-children should assemble on the an»rning 01 Dominion Day, salute the ftig, and receive the special medals, struck for the commemoration of the raising of the status of New Zealand Jrom the colony of tV colonists and of. ihe bygone days to the Dominion of today. The official communication incl.ul-1 t*d also a request for a. parade of the , Bchbol cadets. These wishes of the Premier were in turn communicated to the feeadnras'ters of the schools, who were asked to assemble their children at 11 o'clock to salute the llag and receive the medals. With a view of making New ■Plymouth's pelebrations on a bigger scale efforts mere made to assemble the iWest End, fitzroy, and Central Schools pupils at the Central iSshool. Fitzroy, however, decided to carry out its function on Friday afternoon, but the We»u 'End people fell in with the suggestion <of the chairman of the Central School Committee, conveyed through his Worship ihe Mayor, for a combined function. The result was a .muddle. The ■West End children, in charge of their teachers, presented themselves at the Cenrtial School at 10 o'clock, and lined up on the western side of the school •building. No one appearing to ndti:e (heir presence, the teachers wondered wiry the suggested passing of the youngsters ,was not carried out. By-and-bye {the chairman of the Central committee happened along and wished .Mrs. Dowling fQoai. morning," and left again. The children from the suburban school remained in line. Then it transpired that 'tile Centrals were lr.ustcred on the other side of the building on the tenniscourt, (-where their jnedala were preheated), and that teachcra were stationed at the entrance to prevent any child .wandering beyond the enclosure. Bo the West End medals were distributed also. By -tiris time there were Signs of an approaching storm. The chairman of the Central committee, ilr. iF. P. Corkill, and the Mkyor had a difference of opinion concerning ihe fnulty terangementa, and his Worship was Been to be nettled, or as nearly so as. anyone has seen tlhis genial gentleman ft>r some time. Mr. Coridll contended that he wus not in authority, that the, iWest End people hiad come at the Mayor's invitation, and unknown to the Central School authorities; also that it "was the Mayor's business to have arranged a programme. He disclaimed tuny responsibility for the presence of ihe West End pupils or f£j| making arrangements to receive them. He was quite prepared, however, to carry out any arrangements the might) imtiike. His Worship retorted that he ihnd performed Ms official duty in communicating to the chairmen of the committees the contents of tlic Premier's message, and also that the West End people were there upon ilr. Corkill'* own invitation, and he was there, upon Ms own invitation,.to help if necessary. Then the torero ended. Mrs. Dowling, .caned her pupils to attention. The Mayor addressed thenu H/explained !o ithe children how the designation of "colony" Wad been supplanted by "Djmunion," at thle instance of Sir "Joseph Ward. He reminded tliem of the great difficulties encountered by the early Kdlonyts, the fatliers and mothers,. grandfathers .and grandmothers, of the children of to-day, and urged them to 'Hake up the running." They had done great things for this young country, and ihe hoped that the school-children whom he Was now addressing would leave behind thenl as fine a. .record. His Worship then expressed hfcj disappointmentat the lack of arrangements that day. He aid not jkiuov exactly how to express himself, but he must say lie was, •extremely sorry that the children had, been HVromght jhere 'to he made sillies of." That's ,whht it amounted to. lie did not know who was responsible, out, it Was a great shame. He hoped that nest year their Dominion Day celebrations would ibe carried out in their owrt schoolgrounds, where the arrangement* iWouW. doubtless be perfect, as Mrs. iDowling's arrangements always were. The youngsters—many of whom, it subsequently transpired, had come to the Central School with a certain amount x>f unwillingness owing to the recent inter-school football alleged "ringingin," were boo disheartened to raise a decent cheer. Then they were dismissed, none too pleased with Dominion Day,l9oß. Meanwhile, the Central pupils were being grouped and photographed under ihe trees at the end of the tennis-court, the idea lieing to send the photographs and a school flag to the Plymouth; school (England), in exchange for a flag: to be sent from there and used on the Central School flagstaff. This ceremony lover, Mr. Corkill addressed the gatheiing. He endeavored unsuccessfully io find from the youngsters that thiy knew whist Dominion dJay was for, and (then explained to them the growth and progress of New Zealand from its sav(age state, inbahited only by Maoris, less Ithan a century ago, through the whaling days, on through; the gradual settlehneirt, granting of a constitution, ami, (building of towns land cities, to the prcbent day, when its importance had warranted tfche change of name to "Doiminion," "a lordly condition." He concluded by regretting tluat the- celebraHions bad not been iiixed for Friday or IMonday, so that parents could have attended, and lie enjoined on the children to .preserve their medals. Cheere were then given for the Kitog land for the bneinnan.

' Meanwhile, the cadets had been as- ' feembling, marching briskly lo the ' jparade-grouad. There were Companies Srora thie Central School, West End, ttTiteroy #nd Bell Bto«k» and Waitara. (At 11 O'clock the "fall in" was sounded' !by the bugler, and some of the companies "fell in" accordingly. The officers In (Charge of country eorp.; grew ind'gkant when they found that the cadetsWr the Central iSalVool were allowed lo 'disregard the owing to the ■non-completion of their appearance be lore the camera. However, Major SandIfortl allowed the disobedience, and the (officers commanding the companies had ino redrew. Fortunately the phob>jgraphing occupied only till twenty minutes past ,11 o'clock, aind the "till 8n" was (sounded again, this time iwiih the proper result., Adjutant Johnstone handed us the parade ritate as follows: Central, No. 1 Company, Captain McliToy, 39; No. 2 Company, Captain 800.-k, 82; .West End, Lieut.* Evetts, 4fi; Wai-J Wai, (Lieut. White, 41; iFiUrov and Jtell •Stock, Captain Rice, V.D.. *39. Thetaadets were inspected ,by Major San 1!ford,and then saluted the flag with the Royal salute. They were then rang-d Sn the form of a hollow tstjiiare (it the flagstaff, and were addressed by his. (Worship the Mayor, whose remarks | •were on the same lines aa those delivered lo the West End pupils previously. He added that he wvmjd lie pleased to donate a iprae to be awarded to the

Hrinner of n competition amongst the buglew of the companies, the winner •fco he 'appointed bugler to the battalion. Cheers for His Majesty and for his Wor-

Ighrp .were given. Major Sandfor I thanked the iMlayor ,for his promised | 'donation, (and stated th'at it was his>j intention to arrange a rifte-shootingi faceting for the cadets at no distant I Bate, and that he trusted the people] interested would assist him in securing' prizes. With the mateViul in this batItalion he thought flVranoki cadets were [entitled to representation in the Xcv Ke'aland "trains* Tliis concluded the funcftion, the lateness of the parade presenting the prearranged plan to march Ithe cadets through 'the town to the Post Office, there to salute the flag.

Considerable feeling exists concerning! , ■the muddled arrangements. The view* ; fof MV. Oorkill are reported above, in ( 3ih difference of opinion 'with the Mayor. 1A Xew» rejiorter was seen by Mr. DempHeV. head teacher at the Contri. School, who pn.lestcd against the stale merit that there w.i,s "friction."' ami be i Maimed ,thlat there was no friction! taused by him. Mrs. Howling was, 'equally emphatic in her denial of In-; itention to cause .unplca-iant nc-s. and to j !prV>ve it pointed to the f.n--t that she, Jrad promptly fallen in with the si-bv.-ui-1 to mass the children a I the <'cnHa',: rVhool. Mr. K. flilbert. chairman of the '• (West End jcrmimHtee, sit*ited tint t.V-j •combined gnihering iwiis the outcome of: the suggestion of Mr. Cerkill lo tic 1 Ohyor. nml thai Mr. Cork-ill knew I bat, I HWe invit.i'lii-.n bad been an-.cried; fuv ther, Kh'.i!, <m l"r : ,|ay after'ii»i»i .Mr. Corkill ri,ng Irim ,:,, on the l-l.'phon • to have th„ nmnwiimiri* eonii'rin-'d. in order thai he'iiii/lft have the public in- 1 •formed bv ~. '-|o„al" in ihe eveniiej !pt!.per. Mr. (iHVnt paid Ife had fall.-ii' in with the proposal it was ijufiQssaie for him to be present

ait the 'function on a Saturday morning, and he understood from the Central School chairmaai tlJait the West End ■pupils would fall in with the Central children and he addressed with them to save duplication of speeches. , Whether or n'ot the Central S.'ho-jt authorities -were n'wnre of the intended !visit of the (neighboring sehool, the fa,-b rentains that they were "given tUk- cold' shoulder" in ample proportions.

The I'itzroy School' c/wcrved Dominion Day on .Friday forenoon. The children mu,4c-red in front of the school, in the presence of the chairman and secretary of the committee. The flag was lioisted and duly saluted, after which ap]>ropriatc addresses were given by the chairman (Mr. .1. Tiseli)) the secretary (Mr. A. Weller). and the headMaster (.\ft. O. Johnston), a. feature of Ifr. Weller's remarks being an. expression of regret that instead of the function jbeing imarkcd by gifts of nieduls 'the money expended' thereon tod not been put to better 'purpose by instituting a ispecial "Dominion whohtrship" for •competition in each- educaiion district. •After the distribution of the .medals the scholars were dismissed and granted a half-holiday. Hearty cheers were first RivHi for the Dominion, the committee, ■and the teachers. The proceedings were carried out with great enthusiasm.

CELEiiKAXIUAS ELSEWHERE. Sydney, Sept. '2O. Tfle Xew Zealand GovcimueiK .agency and tiic L'nion Company's oilicc., are gaily decorated with bunting in honour of Dominion Day. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Eeildiug Saturday. Regarding Dominion Day celebrations—Pelleting is calm. Auckland, .Saturday. The Dominion Day celebrations here, apart from the presentation oi medals at fcli-e school, are limited to a review at the Domain this afternoon. It is expected that this gathering will attract a large number of people. Wellington, Last Xignt. The first anniversary of Dominion Day was celebrated in Wellington yesterday with considerable enthusiasm. The weather conditions were extremely favorable, and everything passed oil with great success. In the morning there was a demonstration in the Basin lteservc, there being presented to the great crowd of spectators a living Xew Zealand Ensign composed of over 5000 colored flags carried by the children. Three battalions of public school cadets formed a national guard. Dominion medals were presented" oy nis Excellency the Governor to head teachers for distribution among the children.

The gathering was addressed byLord Plirnket, who said he agreed that ia inviting the cnildren of Nvw Zealand to take a prominent part in 'ne first anniversary of Dominion Day the authorities were to be congratulated. It was most important that the rising generation should be early taught that the designation of Dominion was not given by the llother Xation as a toy to be played with, but as an acknowledgement that these islands were now entitled to place among the rising sister nations of the Empire, and in the belief that their people were prepared to accept the responsibilities which the higner status implied. Sir Joseph Ward said they snould utilise such an occasion for the purpose of impressing, particularly upon the younger generation, the great value of pride in their country, and the enormous advantage it was to have intilled into the young mind of this growing Dominion the necessity of sincere and devoted patriotism to this portion of the great Empire. He hoped that before long Dominion Day would bw proclaimed a statutory holiday throughout the country, and that the volunteers would be able to take part in a daylight parade valuable to them and valuable to the country—the fixing of a certain day for certain work connected with the volunteer movement of New Zealand.

There were more than 20,000 persons at Xewtown Park in the afternoon, when the Governor inspected nearly 2400 volunteers and cadets, and there was an impressive march past. The Prime Minister and Lady Ward were present, besides several other members of the Cabinet, and members of the. Council of Defence. The parade was probably the largest ever seen in Wellington, and was altogether and impressive and highly successful turnout.

At night the city was splendidly illuminated, the. chief feature being an admirable representation on the huge Government buildings of the rising sun, symbolising Xew Zealand's bright future. There was a reception at the Town Hall, presided over by the Mayor. Lord Plunket said he was' saislled the people of Xew Zealand did not intend (heir country to be a Dominion only in name. He jiad noticed a slowly growing but clear indication that the country was realising i.-< responsibilities. 'Jnc spirit of nationality that was arising here was properly appreciated at Home. They could not blind their eyes to the fart that at a time of profound peace every nation was arming itself wit-li feverish rapidity, and even in peace time the commercial struggle for supremacy was almost a war in itself. The sooner the British colonies could fill their vacant lands, and the sooner they could evolve a force cap-

able- of at least adequately protecting themselves, the better for all. Sir .los''ph Ward spoke of the significance of the day's celebraions and of the splendid and important future of New Zealand. He said it often happened through want of practical knowledge on the part of persons helping to control affairs in the Old World, that the Dominion did not receive that assistance in detail it was considered the country was entitled to. Representations had been made to the Mother Country asking for co-opcraion so that New Zealand could secure a ship not now used in the Old Land on which a thousand lads could be trained for the merchant marine or for ships of war. He was sorry to say there had been no response to the request. There should j certainly have been a reply, and he could riot account for the indifference

displayed. Sir Joseph Ward spoke of the intention to increase New Zealand's naval contribution, and concluded with a quotation from Tennyson's "Brothers, hold vour own." Dunedin, Saturday Night. Dominion Day was celebrated very quietly Irere. flags were flown freely, and a number of business premises closed from Ito 5 p.m. In a number of e.'hooN, the medals were presented yesterdav.'iuirt in the others the presentation takvs place on Monday. The principal feature of the celebrations was a parade of volunteers and school cadets. Napier. Saurday Night. The Napier and Hastings infantry , volunteers, with the Tc Ante and Na- . pier High School cadets, had n successful afternoon's fk'ld work to-day. Col.

Davie-, gave out a scheme of attack 1 and defence when the troops paraded. 'J and this was carried out in a manner I, j with which the Inspector-General cx- ,.| pressed himself as well pleased. There I were about 100 troops on parade. , Tim distribution of Dominion Day '['medals to the children ui the public „ I vcliook tool; place on ihe nnrine parJade in the for, nnon in beautifully tine a weather, the speakers inclining Mr.

Just icy Chapman and Col. l)avic=. HroymouUi. laist Sight. Dominion Day was celebrated in beautiful weather, and the (own was gaily decorated with bunting. At the I State school the children assembled and .saluted the Hag. singing the. National Anthem. A largo crowd of the public was present, and appropriate speeches were delivered b.v the Mayor. I the chairman of the Education Board, the Stipendiary Magistrate, the neadniaster, and the Rev. R. Stewart. Three cheers were {riven for the Premier and Ladv Ward. Medals were presented to the children. The schools

throughout the drey -education district ( ■ uitablv celebrated the occasion. Christchnrch. Last Kigln. The first anniversary of the elevation of Vcw Zealand to the status of a dominion was celebrated in Christchurch wsterdav. With the exception of the review of volunteers and cadets m r-iuimcr Si|iini'e. the oeea-ioii was marked chiellv bv the display of birat-Mi-r ~n the public ollices, and the numerous other buildings, mid by the fact

that the majority of the Covvrnmrn offices were closed. The stiops and olace- of business were open as usual, •he w-elilv half-holiday having been observed on the e.ii.-tomary day. Tlv only indication of any illuminations in th„" „iiv al night tv;h at th,. (.eneral P„-l Ollice. where (he words " :.:■ H0,„■„,;„,, ,„■„,;„,, of \ew Zealand.' in lellers of. rVc'.vif light, were disll'a Ved. •n„. x„rth Ceiiterbnrv hat'alhin and 5 ,1,00 i cadets p.iraibd » fi-vatn..,- Soiia-" i„ [he afternoon. There wa- an cm-i- ---,,„, , n ,,,i ( . r of all i..nls. and a br™ ;,;;:,.„"„:,.,. „f H,. i-blv. Tl," Hon. i, ->!,.V-|l, Mt ; >■■■ ■>•" r>"fene». r.eeoni-,.',„;'--!'be7vn.i,! rtoWn <■'-' in'nwk- ,,' •':., ,„!.m ! eevs. -..id : ,ff"-v.ants the p!,, ■"•••"'in 'Ari'.-'eIMM-b ' v 'e of H, • .'•• M einil' fVI'V'S W« Hie "I« ""hr."! ~-,!|..|l „iio'(ook narl in the proceedings attired in the school uaifonn.

They mardhcd past in a soldierly manner,' keeping excellent line and step, and generally demonstrated the good effect of a little training. Addressing \ the cadets, the Slinkier said that the present was tile first large gathering of cadets thai he had tuc opportunity 01 seeing, and lie desired to congratulate toloncl l.uveday, who had been connected with the'school cadet moveincni since its inauguration liil it had lvachcd its present high standard of excellence, upon the display nume. lie hoped thai Colonel Lovotiay would live to see further developments in the cadet movement, ill - . McXab pointed out to the cadets tha whilst they were young they should learn drill and discipline in order to enable them in after lite to 'become good volunteers and useful in the defence of their country, lie had been a cadet himself, and he knew the imparlance of these matters. After dealing generally with liiieir duty iw boys to train themselves, tile Minister

said that it had given liim great pleasure to witness the parade of the school cadets, and that they had carried out- their part in a most satisfactory manner.

Lytlelton wore ft holiday appearance. The steamers at the wharves were dressed with strings of multi-colored Hags, and ensigns were Hying from many buildings ashore. No work except what was necessary at the two passenger steamers arriving early was done at the wharves.