GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIAN WOMEN.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12502, 25 May 1906, Page 7

GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIAN WOMEN.

', VIEWS OF COLONIAL STATESMEN. (Received! May 24th, 11.11 p.m.) ' t LONDON, May 24. . > Janet, Lady Crarke, of Melbourne, • conveyed to Lord Meath the Australian Women's National League's greetings on Empire Day. , The "Standard" published cables from many leading colonial etatesmeni approving of tlho celebration. (special to "thb tress.") DUNEDIN, May 24. Very little enthusiasm was dis- - played this year in connection with [ Jiuipire Day. The ceremonies in the . schools were sornew-hat formal. The . weather was fine. > (PHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) » AUCKLAND, May 24. I Fin© weather ruvouiou the oeieora- > tioms of Empire Day, which was ob- ' eerved by the schools and pretty generally >uy t-iio pubnc. Majiy of the school 1 assembled and tainted the flag, ; and aftar listening to patriotic speeches the Echolurs wore dismissed for • the day. 1 Speaking at the uuveiling of the \ statue of Sir John Logan Campbell to- : day, his Excellency ttie Governor i*ud 1 tHiat he had revived a cablegram from 1 the Earl of Meath, the originator ot the idea of Empire Day, stating "Em- ■ pire. reeponsibi ity, duty." He in- ! ' tended to reply to that message ; ' stating that — "Wo have chosen Empire Day to honour one whoea life 1 and rpublic career have olose.y foi.owod these high ideas." The following cablegram from the Premier, at Melbourne, was leoeived ' by the secretary of the Campbell statue Committee:—'"Though not with you in. > person, am with you in spirit. I re- ; joice fbat you are paying a fitting ' tribute to one whose broad-minded | benefioenoes will be of lasting moment ' to the people of Auckland, and whose good works will live af;er him." WELLINGTON, May 24. The Earl of Meath, the originator of Empire Day celebration, cabled to the Acting-Premier to-day—"S.ster nations, rejoice." The Hon. W. Hall-Jones's reply was ' —"Your Empire message touches chords 1 which vibrate and reciprocate through- ' out New Zealand." [ Yesterday being Empire Day and the anniversary of the birthday of Queen ', Victoria, the railings round the etatue of the late Queen in Victoria square . were decorated with evergreens and i wreaths, the work being carried out. [ under the auspices of the ladies' branch iof the Navy League. There were eight ,or rine wreaths altogether. A few of i them bore cards, but the majority were i ' sent anonymously. One pretty wreath i compa-eed of white chrysanthemums and j ivy leaves wae sent by Mjsa Grotta Waij cot Wood, and tore the motto "In rev«- ---> rential memory"; another, also composed of chrysanthemums, bore Mrs • Mathiae'e card, with the inscription, ' "In loving memory." A wreath from ■ the Blue Jumpers' Association wae ' composed of white chrysanthemums ■ and maidenhair fern. , The statue was i visited by a large number of Kihool i children and others during the day. The half end half conditions i which usually obtain on hoi days in > Christcfaurch were the case yesterday up to 1 p.m. The Government .and othar offices, and the wholesale warehouses were closed, bnt tlie retafl shops continued open till the statutory hour. With the exception of flags fly ng from the Government office flagqtaffe, and the decoration of ine queen's statue, no further mark existed of Emp re Day. At Kaiapoi, Rangiora. and several other townships in North Canterbury flags were hoisted, especially in the public schools. Some of the Eohools were granted a holiday.

CABLE NEWS.