HOISTING THE FLAG.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 22, 22 October 1898, Page 3

HOISTING THE FLAG.

A number of people turned up on Thursday to see the Union Jack hoisted on the flag pole lately erected in the school grounds. The flag has been procured by means of subscriptions the movement being inaugurated by Mr Petit, a gentleman who has always spared no time 'or trouble in endeavouring to advance or improve this town. Shortly after 2 "o'clock, the school children, headed by the Waimate Brass Band, marched into the ground in front of the school, and formed in line near the flagpole. Mr Taylor, chairman of the schdol committee, said it gave him much pleasure to assist in the ceremony. The flagstafr had been erected and the flag procured with a definite object, that of kind ling in the hearts of the girls and boys a spirit of of patriotism and enthusiasm, 'to inspire in them' feelings - of loyalty and devotion to Great Britain, and to;help ' them to recall what they 1 owed, "under God, to the British Empire. ThisEmpire_. was 52 times the size of Germany," 53^ times that of France, 3£> times that of the i United States, and had a- population ij 'of_j one-fifth of the 'human race. Was it tfot a great thing l to "' belong to such < a nation, a' nation .which' produced stich -men as Wellington'^ * Havelock? „* G6rdon and -Kitchener.- When -"theyi'-read - of those men's- deeds ''and ~ df>, those Jof ~ hundreds" of ; 6th"ers%h'b' nad' 1 * fought tflid , bled fortneir mother • country f did** ifr dot send *c6ur"smg= through 'their vems. Where the British rule was ci-

tabliehed, peace, progress and prosperity would follow in its train. They were Britain's sons and daughters and were ready to play their part in the making of - J;he E.njpireJ^iWhere-ver the 'TJnien Jack f theywere about tonnfiarl -floated, Englishi men, Irishmen and Scotchmen confronted { every danger, endured every hardship, lived as men should and died like heroes i'for their 'queen and country. What an jvexainple. These -were the lessons they i ought to learn, and what tiney owed to • "Great Britain ,nmder'God ; to Him in the i first place. The speaker* would like all the boys^to take ..off their hats, and for . everyone to unite in singing the ifirst verse i of that grand Ihyoan, the " Old Huni. *-dredth." . Mr Taylor asked .Mrs. J Studholme, <on jTbehalLof the subscribers vand the school, • ito hoi6t the .flag. 'The hymn was sung | -.with the Union Jack floating. The band 1 .played "'God Save the Queen," and the " A song was sung by the children, under the of Mr C. J. Goldstone. Mr Taylor, at the request of Mrs Studholme, expressed that lady's pleasure in •unfurling the standard «of *G)?eat .Britain, • rihe standard under -Which, all nations, •6avage or civilised, *£ouiad peace and .safety. They belonged to a nation, ■>which, i under God'« Jslessed laws, takes the lead in. the world. Jt was not only . Boldiers who fought for their country. They might all try to live .up to a high ideal, remembering that as they belonged to the leading nation of the world, God .would expect from a nation so blest •goodly and Christian lives, and loyalty to , their' Queen. The -oheirman -then called upon His Worship the "Mayor (Mr Nicol) to say -a few words. This gentleman expressed the -pleasure /it gave him to be present on such an occa--eion, and in .a few words exhorted the <to -ever' remember that, it , .was;their /duty 'to -uphold the , honour oi .-4hpA flag under which they were Jborn. /Mr .Coltmaij, chairman of the High ' rSohobl Board ,of ? and captain j K)i the Bule' Volunteers, Also spoke. , He -^Hras^ proud, to take part in the pleased to see that Waimate^tUl took

the'lead, and to see the excellent drilling of |[the boys, who were being taught by Col.-Sergt. Sanders. Many-of thesewould .no doubt take their part in the battles of their country. " Mr Taylor called -upon Mr Petit to say a few words. "This 'gentleman, who was an^ax-dent Imperialist, "had done wonders iin^ regard to getting the flag and appurtenances. He also tooTf this opportunity of t thanking subscribers for gifts. Mr Petit was pleased to " be able to .wit'Hess the hoistingjof the flag. He said that when passing the school one -.day <lie saw the boys drilling. This carried ihia <mind back 45 -years, »wlien -he had been drilled Jn-the same-way. At 'his school they had -«. flag, and the thought struck him that it would be a good thing to have one here. After a lot of work the flag and pole had been procured, and thanks were due to the committee for carrying the scheme through. He was glad that Mrs Studholme had unfurled the flag. Thanks were also -due to the .local papers for advertising the ceremony free. He hoped the children would be aware of the many meanings of that flag, for -which he would ask three hearty cheers. These were grven,-and three for General Kitchener, and Mr Taylor proposed three for "General"" Sanders." These, and three" for Mrs Studflohne were "heartily given. Mr Taylor conveyed Mrs Studholme's ifaanks. One thing he ought ta do, to apologise, for the.absence of Mr Pitcaithly, >the Headmaster. They regretted his •absence and the cause of it — the death of !his sister. The children would not have -to go back to lessons that afternoon. He •would call upon them to sing " The Bed, "White and Blue" Before the children were dismissed the ■Bey G. Barclay asked" leave to say a few words. This, he. said, would be a kind of- ' Doxology. He had listened with, great - pleasure to $he speeches that had been made. The flag had been described' in .-rjx&tihet a partial manner as the Union .Jack' of England, whereas it represented Ireland rand r and Scotland .as .well. • If • there ; was only, one country -there would be no union.

A selection by the Band closed the proceedings.