Untitled

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8542, 24 September 1907, Page 5

rA special ton School evening, to celebrating Dominion High School. Mr R. Brown presreWj and there were also present—Messrs W. A. Fendall. G. H. Townsend, H. J. O'Leary, J. Carpenter, H. H. Cork, E. H. Waddington and Rev. J. N. Buttle.

The Chairman stated that no public holiday would be observed in the town on Thursday, and it was unlikely that the Volunteers would turn out on account of the improbability of obtaining a fair muster. He suggested, in the face of this, that it would not be advisable to bring the children to school on Thursday merely for the sake of hearing the King's Proclamation read and some speeches, and it would be better to have the celebrations on Wednesday, the day preceding Dominion Day. This last suggestion was considered a good one, and was unanimously adopted. The Chairman, the Headmaster of the School, and Rev. J. N. Buttle were appointed a committee to draw up the programme in connection with the celebrations. The programme will include addresses by the Chairman of the School Committee, Revs. J. N. Buttle, A. M. Johnson and A. T. Thompson, the reading of the Proclamation by the Headmaster, saluting the flag, cheers for the King and the singing of the National Anthem. The proceedings wiil commence at 2.45 p.m. It was decided to telegraph to Sir Joseph Ward asking him to forward a copy of the Proclamation, **so that it could be read to the school children on Wednesday.

READING THE PROCLAMATION. , The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) received a tehgram from the Premier, yesterday afternoon, stating that he would telegraph on Wednesday a copy of the declaration, proclaiming the colony of New Zealand a Dominion, to be read on Thursday. The Mayor informed a Wairarapa Age reporter that he had made no arrangements yet for the reading of the Proclamation in public, but he stated that in all probability the matter would be mentioned at the meeting of the Borough Council, this evening, when any necessary arrangements will be made.

TELEGRAM FROM THE PREMIER.-' Mr R. Brown, Chairman of the Wairarapa School Committees' Association has received the following telegram from the Premier in reply to a letter suggesting the forwarding of a copy of the King's Proclamation to all schools on Dominion Day.—"l thank you for your suggestion and shall be glad to supply schools in the Dominion with copies of the King's Proclamation making Zealand a Dominion. There are no copies procurable in tlie colony of .the picture of the official reading of the proclamation in England, The event, as you suggest, marks an epoch in the history of New Zealand, and it is desirable that the fact should be impressed upon the minds of the children. I had hoped to have been able to arrange for medals to be struck off in time for the twenty-sixth (Dominion Day), but I found that this was not possible. I, however, propose to do this later, and present each school child with one."

By Telegraph—Press Association. WANGANUI, September 23. The local Employers' Association decided that business places should close.at noon on Dominion Day. The Association telegraphed to the Premier to-day suggesting that if Dominion Day was observed they should be relieved from observing Labour Day. The Premier replied that this was impossible, but he said he was considering the question of merging other holidays, for instance, anniversaries of provinces, into Dominion Day. AUCKLAND, September 23. Dominion Day is not likely to be observed here in the way that those who have charge of local arrangements would desire to see. The majority of the employers and employees through their various organisations have protested against "another holiday," the former principally on account of there being too many holidays already, and the fact that Labour Day is almost upon ,4.15, and the htter because they cannot afford to lose another day's wages after the slack time reported in some cases owing to the recent bad weather. At a meeting of Auckland drapers, to-day, ifc was decided to remain open on Thursday. Mr Caughey, of Smith and Caughey, stated that a vote of the firm's assistants had been taken, and 182 had declared against closing, while the 48 in favour of closing included 44 juniors in the dressmaking room.

his decease at a age will be generally regretted. He was born in 1857 at Dunse, Berwick, Scotland, and at an early age went to sea, making several voyages between the Old Country and New Zealand. In 1875 he left the ship Timaru at Port Chalmers, and, striking up country, fuund his way to In--vercargill, and was also employed at the Mataura paper mills. Later on he came to the North Island, and was engaged in waggon-driving over the" Rimutaka before the railway was made over the incline. In 1884 he entered the service of the Wellington Harbour Board, and when, in. 1891, the Labour Department was formed, he was engaged to act with. Mr E. Tregear in organising the work: of that department. He has been Mr Tregear's first lieutenant ever since, and his first-hand knowledge of the desii'es and aspirations and requirements of labour, together with, a large capacity for work, rendered him a valuable officer. His relations with the various officers of the Department were alwavs of the most cordial nature. The late Mr Mackay took a keen interest in the work of Friendly Societies. H_> was really the founder of the Grand Lodge of U.A.O.D. New Zealand. Up to within six months of his death heoccupied the position of Grand Secretary, and on retiring from the position in February last was made a life member of the executive. He was also a member of the A.O.F, In Masonic circles he held the position of W.M. on four occasions. The first was in the Pacific Lodge No. 2 Wellington. Afterwards he was mainly responsible for the founding of the Hinemoa Lodge, South Wellington, of which he was the first W.M. After retiring from the chair he was presented with a Founder's Jewel. He was associated with the establishment of the Brooklyn Lodge, and was unanimously elected W.M. After a lapse of two years he was again elected to the position. At the time of his death Mr Mackay was the W.M. of the Lodge. Mr Maclcay always took a keen interest in anything he associated himself with. Mrs Mackay died aoout eight months ago. Two sons and two daughters are left, to mourn their loss.

MR T. H. SMITH. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 23. Mr Thomas Henry Smith, of the Native Land Court, died today, aged 83 years. He ha"l resided in the colony since 1842, retiring from the public srevice in 1876.