DOMINION DAY IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3003, 28 September 1908, Page 5

DOMINION DAY IN WELLINGTON.

ENTHUSIASTIC CELEBRATIONS. "BROTHERS HOLD YOUR OWN." BY TBIiKGEAPH— PBESS ABBOOIATIOK. WSLLINGTON, September 26. Tne fir6t anniversary of Dominion Day was celebrated in Wellington yesterday with 1 considerable enthusiasm. The weather conditions were extremely favourable, and everything passed off with great sucjeps. ; In the morning there was a demonstration on the Basin "Reserve, there being presented to the great crowd of spectators a living New Zealand Ensign, composed of over five thousand coloured flaps carried by ''children.' Three battalions of Public School Cadets formed a national guard. The Dominion medals were presented by his Excellency the Governor to head teachers for distribution among the * children.

Lord Plunk et in a 'short speech » said it was important that the rising generation should be taught that the ■ \ title of Dominion was not given as a toy to be played with, but as an ac- , knowledgment that these islands were now entitled to a place in the rising sister nations of the Empire* and in the belief thdt their people were prepared to accept the Responsibilities which the higher status implied. Sir Joseph Ward said they should utilise such an occasion for the purpose of impressing particularly upon the youngei? generation the great value of pride in their country, and the enormous advantage it A was to have instilled into the young V:,. mind of this growing Dominion, and the necessity of sincere and devoted patriotism to this portion of the great Empire. Before very long Dominion Day would be. proclaimed as 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 ihe country. There were more than 'twenty thousand persona at Newtown, Park; in the afternoon when the Governor 1 inspected 2,400 volunteers and cadyts, and th*re was an impressive march past. The Premier and Lady Ward were present, besides several .other mem- , bers of the Cabinet, members of t..e Council of Deience.' The parade was probably the largest ever seen in > and" was altogether an impressive ,ahd highly successful turnout. * - At night the city was Bplendidly < illuminated, the chief [ feature being an admirable representation on the huge Government Buildings of the Rising Sun symbolising \ New Zealand's bright future. There was a reception at the Town Hall, presided over by the Mayor. ' Lord flunket said in a speech that, he was satisfied that the people of New Zealand did not intend tleir country to be a Dominion only in name. He had n6ticed a slowly growing but clear indication that the country was realising its responsibilities. The spirit of nationally that was arising heie was properly appreciated at Home. They could not blind their eyes to the' fact th: t in, a time of profound peace every nation wa? arming itsil? with feverish rapidity and even ,in pe--3 lime Iho 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 capable of at bast adequately protecting themselves >he better for all.

Sir Joseph Ward spoke of the significance of the'day's celebrations, 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 i ot receive that assistance or detail it was considered the country was entitled to. Representation had been made to the Mother Country asking for cooperation so that New Zealand could have a ship not ttow used in the Old Land on which a thousand lads could be trained for the merchant marine and for ships of war. He was sorry to say there, had been no. response to the request. There should certainly have been a reply. He could not 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 your own."