EMPIRE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 122, 24 May 1909, Page 6

EMPIRE DAY.

i-iiii nii_ un i ■ REVIEW IST VICTORIA PARK. SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. Although factories and other places, working under awards of the Arbitration Court, do not recognise Empire Day. the 24th of May -was observed as a pretty close • holiday, and, as the'weather was fine, pleasure-seekers thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Retail and wholesale business premises were closed, also banks, insurance, legal offices, as well as the Exchange. There was plenty to attract pleasiue-seekers to-day, as the morning opened with a review at Victoria Park that was witnessed by many thousands of people. Then there was •the opening of the Winter Show at the Railway Wharf sheds this afternoon, and last, but not least in public interest, the race meeting at Takapuna. A very large number of people came into town on Saturday and by the early trains and steamers to-day, while others went away on excursions by rail and coastal steamers to various places of f.opular Tesort. This evening the pantomime, "Cinderella,"' will open at the Opera House, and "The Merry Widow" will be repeated at His Majesty's Theatro-. Then, too, there will be new programmes presented at the Tivoli and the Albert Hal\ THE REVIEW. Victoria Park presented a fine picture this morning, when there was a parade of the Public School Cadets and the ■Veterans, coupled with an inspection by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, who also delivered a brief address. The Veterans, under Major Morrow, attended to the number of about 100, and formed three sides of a hollow square eround the flag (which it io significant to note was floating from a pole of Oregon pine). A detachment of Permanent Artillery was in attendance, under Captain Pilkington, and there was another large detachment of men from the ■Pioneer, most of those on parade being New Zealand boys. The great interest, however, centred in the cadets, of whom 1,270 were present, under Acting-Brigadier Carpenter. Ko. 1 battalion was under the command of Major Kobb, No. 2 under Major Xhimop, and No. 3 under Major X.ay. Major Rust (commanding the North Auckland Battalion) was also present in uniform as an interested spectator. By the time fixed for the opening of the ceremony, there was an immense crowd of spectators, many of those pre6tnt evidently being relatives of the cadets, for you could occasionally hear such a remark as "There's your uncle, Dick," as the lads marched past. Hi* Excellency's arrival, accompanied 'by a troop of the Mounted Rifles, was the signal for applause. The Mayov :Qlt. C. D. Grey) received his Excellency, who, accompanied by Mr. <'. J. Parr (chairman of the Board of Education). Jlessrs. L. J. Bagnall and G. J. Garland ;(membersl, Mr. C. H. Poole. M.P., and Captain Blunt, of H.M.*. Pioneer, al once proceeded to the place where the Veterans were assembled, and his Excellency spent considerable time walking around examinging the medals of those •who had fought for the Empire in years gone by. The Governor then proceeded to where the men of the Pioneer were stationed, and reviewed all assembled %y walking along the different detachments. At one cadet company a lad in the back rank was noticed to be lying down, and Captain Blunt at once asked an officer to send to his men where he had an ambulance corps in attendance. When asked .by the officer if he fplt unwell, the little fellow, who looked very white, gave a true boy's answer that he had to come away without breakfast. It speaks something for the discipline of the cadets that the "boy never seemed to have thought of falling out until the parade was over.

THE MARCH PAST.

Bis Excellency next proceeded -to the I Bap, where the veterans were dismissed, and the march past took place. Standing by the flag, his Excellency returned the salutes as the men and boys marched past. The navy led the way, and as the men of the Pioneer went by, the crowd cheered lustily, -while the band played "A Life on the Ocean Wave." Then followed the detachment from the permanent force, and the remainder of the ;inarchin£f was fltme to the /"BJntish, Grenadiers." It is almost needless to state that the Jack Tars and the permanent men marched with admirahle precision of movement. The way in 'which the cadets kept time was, however, a matter of comment with the officers who were looking on, Captain Blunt remarking, " It is magnificent." Tn fact, the whole of trie evolutions carried out by the lads were most creditable. With regard to these parades of veterans, it appears that there has 'been' some delay in getting railway passes from the Government for the men 5n the country to come to town. Some 18 months ago these were promised, tut upon the secretary of the Empire Veterans' Association applying for the passes, he found that none were available. Arrangements will, however, be made so that in future these are available upon a certificate from the secretary. r THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. the inspection and the marchpast the troops were assembled in front of the grandstand, from which the Governor delivered to them a short ad ; dress. Mr C. J. Parr, chairman of the Education Board, in introducing his Excellency, congratulated the cadets on the very fine muster which had paraded, and expressed the Board's appreciation of it. His Excellency the Governor was he-artily cheered when he rose to speak. "From Ottawa to Fiji, from Capetown to Hongkong, from London %o Melbourne, and from the banks of the Gange3 to the beautiful shores of this harbour is being celebrated Empire Day," said hi 3 Excellency.—"the day upon which we of' the British race Tβjoieo in the noble record handed down to u=, and, which is far more important, reflect upon its responsibilities." It was unfortunate, he continued, that owing to Empire Day and the Prince of Wales' birthday coming so close together, volunteers could rot eelebra-te Empire Day as they might otherwise do,.but with the gathering on the ground and the well attended church parade of the volunteers on the Sunday previous, the people of 'Auckland ought to be well satisfied with the manner in which the j occasion had been marked. The present \ Empire Day was probably the most im- \ portant one that had occurred since the -s Institution .of Empire Bay, J&e. sygnt&in

connection with our command of the set which had occurred this year had brough home to us how vital the existence o the Empire is to every one, and th duty ol self-sacrifice which entailei upon us from time to time. There wa no need for hfin to speak of th magnificent offer of this country, bj which its people proposed to take theii paFt in that sacrifice; the enthusiasts appreciation of it throughout the Eninirt was a sufficient repiy to New Zealand , ! offer. He believed that some of the beue fits which our country would derive fron it would be shown more clearly at th< great conference on Imperial defend which was about to take place. His Ex cellency went on to refer to the repre sentative nature of the gathering. Then was a splendid muster of old veteran: who had fought for and helped to hole the Empire, and also of the permanem forces—a smart soldier-like Jot of men which would form the nucleus of a large] force if at any time it should be re quired. There were representatives alsc from the Royal Navy—(cheers) —all ap preciated anfl were grateful for their pre sence here, and were especially proud thai a number of them were New Zealand boys. He hoped i 1 would be found possible to havf a great many more New Zealand mer, taksn into the navy. At present thert was no lack of volunteers, but only a certain number could be accepted. He had no doubt that nipre men. would join later, and he hoped it would be possible for them to serve not only in these waters, but on other stations throughout the Empire. There' was probably the largest and most representative muster oi cadets that had ever been collected together in Auckland. Certainly lie had never seen a more soldier-like lot of boj-s anywhere in New Zealand. (Applause.) The people of New Zealand were proud of their school cadets, and, as they knew, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was never tired of talking about the boys of New Zealand and Australia. Thesf countries had set an example in cadet I work which would be followed in other I parts of the Empire. His Excellency paid a tribute of praise to the officers in control of the cadets, to whose industry and self-sacrifice the success of the system was in great part. due. He concluded with a short reference to a cablegram which he had received from Lord Meath fo niark theoccasion of Empire Day: — "The Empire blesses the King." The day was one on which we should think of responsibility and self-sacrifice, and if ever there was a man who was prepared to undergo a great deal of real self-sacrifice for the benefit of the Empire, it Vas His Majesty the King. (Cheers.) He was verj- glad to have had an opportunity of inspecting the troops and he assured them that it was a very proud day in his own life. (Applause.) Mr Parr called for three cheers for his Excellency the Governor, which were given heartily by the troops and civilians. The Governor in turn called for cheers for the Ki-ig, which were also heartily given. CHUKCH PARADE. The officers and men of the Auckland Garrison, to the number of about 600, attended church parade at St. Matthew's yesterday morning, in celebration oi Empire Day. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, was present, and the following staff officers: —Colonels Wolfe and Abbott, Captains Carpenter, Bosworth, Daivson, and Archibald, and Surgeou Lieutenant-Colonel Walker. Liautenant-Coionel Patterson was in charge of the parade. Chaplain Lieut.Colonel W. E. Gillam conducted the service, and Chaplain-Major P. S. Small- - field preached the sermon. The preacher in his sermon said that although there were some who held that there could be no compromise between religion and warfare, the commonsense of the great majority of Christiana declared that a man might be a Christian and yet fight for nis country. If we prayed for peace in our time, and yet made no effort to defend ourselves, we should, sooner or later, have our independence taken from us, and we should deserve to lose it. Whilst we should aim at arbitration, common-sense and history showed that it was not safe at present to trust to it. We beld our Empire by our power under the providence of God, and because we believed our cause a righteous one we should pray for it to be blessed. PENNY DREADNOUGHT FUND. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, this day. Mr F. J- Dargaville, chairman of the local school committee, when addressing the children- this morning on Empire obligations, suggested that Dargaville school should open a penny Dreadnought fund, and ask all the schools of the Dominion to subscribe money, to be eventually presented to Sir Joseph Ward, with a request that a piece of silver be purchased and placed in New Zealand's first Dreadnought as a gift from New Zealand's school children. Mr Dargaville was warmly commended for the suggestion, and a fund has already been opened.

SOUTHERN CELEBRATIONS.

DUNEDISf, this day. The weather is beautifully fine for Empire Day. A close holiday is observed. The children assembled at the various schools, saluted the flag, arid then inarched to th.fi Triangle, whore addresses were delivered by the Mayor and others, after which wreaths were laid on the troopers' memorial in the Southern Oval. At night a mass patriotic meeting will be held in the Garrison Hall. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, Sunday. In connection with the Empire Day celebrations, a church parade was held this morning at St. George's Church, and was attended by the Rifles and the Cadet Battalion/ The Second Battalion Band, under Bandmaster Clarke, headed the procession, and. the service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan. Before the men wer e dismissed the Mayor (Mr. F. 11. Ciaxton) presented the Citizens' Belt to Private Thomas Morrison, of the Waiokaraka No. 1 Public School Cadets, and Mr. Burns, medal to the runner-up, Lieutenant P. O. Downes, of the same company. Marksmen's badges were also presented. CHIUSTCHURCH, this day. Ideal weather prevailed to-day. Empire Day wits not a close holiday, beqause in most trades the awards mention the "Sovereign's birthday" -as a holiday. Empire day not being mentioned. It is probable there will be an agitation for. an alteration. The cadets paraded with the boy scours, and a mass meeting of children in King Edward's barracks was addressed by the Mayor and others. The cadets marched to yicr torja, Square, where, .the girjs" of each

a school placed wreaths on the Q U ej n ■ t Victoria and Troopers' statues a jj ; )f monument. A mass meeting will be held s c this evening, when Mr R. MoNah's ad- 0 d dress on military training will be , 3 in the Choral Hall. T , c _ 1 mi+m . (