EMPIRE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 206, 25 May 1908, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY.

CESSATIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. RECIPROCITY BETWEEN SCHOOLS. (Rec. May 23, 4.10 p.m.) ST TELEGIUrn—PSESB AESOOUTION—COPTIUOHS. London, May 23. The Empire Day. celebrations in Great Britain were spread over three ' days. A \ million-children attending the" schools in' >' London saluted the flag yesterday, and lectures and exercises relating to 1 tho movement were given in one thousand schools. 1 Tho municipal councils' at Battersea and Poplar refused to fly the flag: Tho display of bunting in tho West End of London was greater than ever before.; In the East End ; hundreds of the poorest children purchased small flags. I The boys of . Eton College presented a ' Union .Jack to tho elementary schools of Eton. . V At Greenwich School a flag from thf . Greenwich School in New South Wales waj unfurled/ ' MESSAGE FROM THE EARL OF MEATH. . THE KING'S THANKS. • ;! - '' (Rec. May 24, 4.25 p.m.) - / ' London, May 23. - The Eai'i of Meath; through.the Hon. J. H, - Carruthers, late ''Premier of New Soutl .. . Wales,, sent'a message, of sincere thanks foi v . Australia's enthusiastic support of the Empire movement. In company-with ten mil-, lion other loyal subjects, he urged them not : ; to'forget the spirit of the movement as ox-, pressed in.its watchwords :—'" Responsibility, sympathy, and self-sacrifice." If these . ideals were impressed in the homo and the . school,; upon/the rising generation, they would hjecomo worthy citizens of the mightiest Empire in the . world.' At the. London County Council's , instance ; ; a patriotic programme of lessons on citizenship was conducted, in nearly every school,' 'and. the • flag was also saluted. London's lead is being generally followed in the pro- : yinccs. King' Edward thanked the London scholars : 'v' ; for- their message of loyalty. The Duchess of-Albany~ distributed'prizes at tho Esher National schools, where ' Lord Mcath addressed, the children oil how to best help tho Empire, and Senator.Dohson, of Australia, recommended . universal. ..training, .in drilling-and shooting to enable them all to defend the Empire.' . Lords Tennyson and Meath, Mi - . RudyardV Kipling, Captain 'Bason (late British Resident', in the Now Hebrides)/Senator Dobson, and' Councillor We'edon (late Lord Mayor of Melbourne) spoke at .a similar demonstration . by : the: Boys'' Brigade's bands at.: Shepherd's Bush. , V '■' A;large school. at Peckh'am has been temporarily transformed into>a museum for.the display of products of; tho Motherland and the' colonies,-lent by Mr.'Taverner, the Vic- . toriah , Agent-Gchoral, and others.. The scholars havo been much interested.: . MILITARY DISCIPLINE. i , (Rec. May, 24, 4.25 p.m.) , \ ; : London, May 23'. . Mr. Henniker. Hoaton, M.P. for Canter* bury,, presented flags from tho Canterbury/ and Parramatta Schools, New South Wales, toy two Canterbury : schools. ' . Mv. Carruthers, ex-Premier of New South Wales, addressing a thousand scholars at Canterbury, emphasised'that the loyalty of Australians to the flag, was be,cause it was an emblem of liberty, nationalisecurity, ana om- /v.pire. He stated that 2500 New, South Wales " schools! were, celebrating Empire 'Day. Tho Mayor of Canterbury returned .thanks for tho flag. , '' • I ' , Tho headmaster of- King's School, Canterbury, and the Dean of Canterbury eulogised Bishop Broughton's, foresight] in '.permanently. 'esta.blishing at the heart of. Australia asclioo) embodying the noblest ideals of English life.: Mr. Henniker Heaton stated that King's .-..v. Schools,'" Canterbury, 1 and ythq Parramatta :, ; ' School: wero . modelled on , the 1 samo lines, ' only the Australian. scholars wore tho Voluntoer's uniform. ■ " 1 - ' The .'Dean; hoped " that 'soon everybody in England would enjoy military discipline.'■■■ : -. .1 . . ~ , (Rec. May 20, 1.7 a.m.) ; ' Sydney,- May 24. . Empire Day was celebrated by a larf ■ church parado by the troops. The Govemf'(Sir Harry Rawson) was. present. THE GARRISON CHURCH PARADE. SERVICE AT TOWN HALL. , Yesterday (Empire Day) 'was an ideal daj for tho Church .parade of the Wellington : Garrison, which was held ; in the Town Hall. Unusual interest had been taken . in the' event by. tlio public, and a' big crowd gathered near tho assembly 'ground . at; tho Central ; ' Dnllshod, while ' smaller groups of pcoplo : ■ ■were stationed along'tlio lino of march. Tho Garrison, consisting of the Royal Now Zealand Artillery-and'Engineer Companies, tlio / ' Garrison Artillery Volunteer Division, and tho Wellington Rifle Battalion, fell in at 10 o'clock,; and formed up / in columns of companies. . At half-past ton, to tho .music of tho " Garrison auf Battalion , Bands, the troops ' advanced in columns of fours, and proceeded ; • along Lanibton Quay, Willis Street, Manners ' Street, and Lower Cuba Street to the Town Hall. • ... .. ■' TIIE PARADE STATE. The; Mowing was' tho parade state:— COMPANY UNITS. Royal Now Zealand Artillery, Captain Svmon, 54./ ... i D Battery of Field Artillery, Captain Potherick,' 43. 'No.- •1: -Co:' •• KZ.6.A.V. (Wellington Navals),-Captain Monzies, 33. .:Noj 2 Co. N.Z;G.A.Vv (Pctoiio Navals), Captain Freeman, 55. Heretauiiga Mounted Rifles, . Captain Samuol, 24., _N6. , ~s_ Co. ' N.Z. Engineer .Volunteers, Lieut: Fitzgerald, 20. ■ ■,* < City Rifles/ Captain Eeson, i'3s. . AVellifigton Guards, Captain J. Duthio, 1 junr.. 32. ■ * " Kolburno Rifles ; Captain Davis, 29. Civil Service Rifles, Captain Marshall, 48. . Post and Telegraph, Rifles, Captain Har- ' ton, 25. ... '... • College Rifles, Captain Turner, 32. " ' - Zealandia Rifles, Captain Corrigan, 40. v Highland Rifles, Captain M'Diarmid, 03. Joiinson'ville Rifles, Captain Moore, 21. ' . ' Cycle Corps, Lieut-.'Fountain, IS. .Garrison Band, Deputy - Bandmastei Jf'Donald, 32. '■■■■ Battalion Band, Bandmaster Dean, 26 Pipo Band, Drum-Major BroW'-'-''" STAFF OFFICERS. »»SES?i2S2!t' '• «• ■

Purely; Major C. D. Mackintosh; Captain and Adjutant J. X Cowles; Staff-Sergeant • Charters. 1 . Major;Hislop (unattached), Captain F. J. Courtoncy (unattached),. and Captain Humo (No. 3 Co. JT.Z.G.A.V.), were also amoDg tho officers present. . , ' THE SERVICE. . Inside' tho big hall, tho gallery was crowded to its fullest capacity, and tho side : scats' in tho! downstairs portion wero woll filled, tho front area being reserved for, the troops. On the platform, a temporary pulpit, draped ' with tho Union' Jack,, had been . erected. • • Tho officiating clergymen .woro Chaplain-Major F.T. Shoriff, and: ChaplainMajor W. Shirer, and Mr; N. Collio presided at tho organ. . ' . . Tho service opened with tho singing of •" Old- Hundredth," after 'which Chaplain- ■ Major Sheriff' conducted the * prayers. Chap-.' lain-Major .Shirer read tho lessons, and then delivered a stirring/address to the troops. Ho took for text-the words'in Psalms 147, verso 20—" God ha? not dealt so with any nation."' The privilogo of; Empiro, ho said, carried great responsibilities. Theirs was an Empire wide in extent, varied in races reprcsented and in'religion professed, and with • forms of goyemmont suited to its constituent types. It Was an Empire of over 400 millions of , people. One-fourth 'of tho ■ world' s ; - population were , subjects of the British Empire. Tho brown man was represented by something like 300 millions ; 43 millions were \ absorbed, by the black-raco; and ,of. .the 54 ; millions who were white, \4l|. millions wero inhabitants of'the United Kingdom. To , such an Empire it was an honour, as citizens, to •belong.' Did they realise what that meant? Others had 'laboured in the building of ,the .'Empire. Could they guard and keep that ■ heritage " into . which they had entered? .It was with tho Empire, as it was with.the.individual.' ."Imperial citizenship meant the . co-operation of: good individual citizenship and the acceptance of Imperial responsibility. Tho ■ responsibilities of Imperial citizenship meant. vigilance fpr"tho. security. of the'■ Empire from threatened danger, and readiness, to serve. It had been said that under tho . British Territorial Army Scheme, tho word

"volunteer" had passed away. It was a good word, and had served for 49 years.. He hoped that though the word had gone, the ;/ ; ■ spirit-of voluntary: service still remained.'. . FLOWERS FOR THE QUEEN'S STATUE. A MIDNIGHT CEREMONY; . As overyono knows, Empire Day (May. 2-1) was instituted to perpetuato the memory- ; . af." her, late Majesty Queen Victoria, whose ■ anniversary fell 'on 'that, -date..'. A tasteful tribute to. tho occasion- was paid by the, - ladies of the Victoria League at midnight on! : Saturday, when'tho Queen's Statue, 1 inPost / • -Office Square wasdecked with garlands, floral ' ■■■ ./■■■ anchors,, and cables. Wreaths .were placed, . about ■ the arms, and the remainder, of the v , floral ■ decorations were arranged about tho , .. base.-." V. ;f (BY; TELEGRAPH.'—PItESS . 'ASSOCIATION.)*, Napier, May 24:. Tho volunteers, defence cadets, .■ and veterans; paraded and, attended a service, at,tho ;V " : ; : Dathedral this. afternoon 'in. honour vof.'Em- . aire'.Day." 'The weather was dull," but there was a : good muster, and a fairly largo attendance of the public. >. ■ Nelson, May 24. Empire"'. Day 'was'observed;.: yesterday.-. as 4 close holiday, but there was no public -\y celebration ;of the occasion. The Farmers' ' TJnion,'held 'a' sports meetinp; and field dav at Wakefield. . .