Empire Day.
At the Alexandra School, on Monday, Empire Day was inaugurated as a public school holiday in a fitting and becoming manner. The children, accompanied by the teaching staff, assembled in strong force, there being about 150 present, and gathered round the flagstaff. On the hoisting of the Union Jack, three ringing cheers were given for the Flag, which ww duly saluted. Mr Gloss, the headmaster, address-, ing'the children, said that the Premier of the Oolony deemed it incumbent on the colonists of New Zealand to commemorate by a public holiday the memory of our hte beloved sovereign, Queen "Victoria. Hence it was proposed to call the 24th of May Victoria Day; but this name hot, for good reasons, proving acceptable, it. was changed to Empire Day! This name amplifies the unification of the Empire, which took place during the Boer War. At that time New Zea- . land gave of her best and bravest in upholding the honour of the Motherland from which we sprung. Mr Closs impressed on the children the greatness of the Anglo-Saxon race as a colonising people, and urged on them to be true to the traditions of-the rabe and ever to bear in mind that wherever the flag floated it was the emblem of peace, justice and freedom. The proceedings were closed by the children singing " God Save the King " and giving three cheers for the King. Mr Gloss apologised for the unavoidable absence of the chairman of the School Committee.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AHCOG19030528.2.21
Bibliographic details
Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 368, 28 May 1903, Page 4
Word Count
247Empire Day. Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 368, 28 May 1903, Page 4
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.