EMPIRE DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14574, 24 May 1911, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY.

QUIET OBSERVANCE. Ninety-two years ago Victoria Alto andrina was barn. Since the death of England’s great Queen the birthday of the ■Sovereign has twice changed, but throughout Victoria's long reign her subjects became so habituated to glad observance of May 24 in hex honor that its recurrence now never fails to awaken old memories, though perforce “Empire Day” has replaced the old familiar title of “ Queen’s Birthday.” Empire Day is not a general holiday—not oven a bank holiday —and, more remarkable still, is not on the “ closing” list of the Supreme Court offices throughout our Dominion. However, today was obseiwed by the insurance offices, which were closed ; and on a number of buildings bunting was flown. Of more importance in the eyes of juveniles was itfi generd observance in the slate schools. The formal honoring of the memory of a great Queen and of the Empire which daring her reign increased so greatly in importance was chiefly left to those of whom, a great proportion did not see the light until Victoria’s reign was over. AT THE SCHOOLS. —North-east Valley.— At North-east Valley School the trooping of the colors was always one of the functions of Empire Day during the hcadmastership of Mr Murray, and now Mr 0. D. Flamank is perpetuating this pretty custom, which bids fair to become one of the traditions of the, school. This morning there was, as usual, a large attendance or parents and friends at the school playground, where the ceremony was gone through by the school cadet corps, with precision and effect, under the direction of Mr Rawlinson. first assistant master. Speeches were made by Mr T. Arnold and Rev. Mr Mason, and there were also in attendance the Rev. Mr Gray, Rev. Mr .Suckling, and Mr Harvey, who had been asked to speak, but forbore on the ground that too much .speechmaking is not to the liking o fchildren on a cold morning. Mr Mow at, of the School Committee, moved a vole of thanks to Mr Rawlinson, which was heartily carried. —Albany Street. —

At ten o'clock this morning the pupils of the Allany Street School were inarched to the stirring accompaniment of bugle and drum to a position before the flagpole, when they were addressed by Mr Jas. H. Wilkinson, chairman of Committee, who explained how the 24th of May came to be called Empire Day. Ho desired to remind the pupils of tha great men who had made the Empire what it is. Great soldiers had fought "for it ; great inventors had advanced its industries; great navigators had extended its boundaries. They were all members of one great family under the banner of the Union Jack, and all had their part to play, and the duty of loving, honoring, and respecting the great and good was incumbent on all. He pointed out that the interest in Empire Day waa increasing year by year. The pupils of Yardheads School. Scotland, would that day be saluting the flag sent them by tha pupils of the Albany Street School, and their thoughts would' be flying* across the sea to them. Here was a tie that was binding them closer to the Mother Country.

j His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Burnett} i then addressed the pupils. The birthday j of Queen Victoria had been chosen as Kmi pile Day. Although destined to be Queen, i of a great Empire, she was brought up | very plainly, and tiie prospect of her great j destiny did' not make her proud and arroI gant. but impressed upon her strongly the I necessity of being good. .She was a good | ijueen. and this goodness accounts for her , popularity. They should emulate her in, this quality. Mr Barnett spoke further on the indifferent way in which England treated her colonies many years ago. But now matters were different. A better understanding existed between the Mother: Country and her colonies, and this understanding was improving all the time. The Hon. J. T. Paul also addressed tha pupils, pointing out that the colony was dependent upon them in the future, and calling upon them to piny the game. Owing to the possibility of war. it behoved them to prepare for it, and it was their duty to do so, hut they were living in an age of great advancement. Wonderful strides would be made iu tbeir liictime, and ho conlideutlv hoped that nations would soon cease to war with one another. Then tha money needed for war would be available for the feeding and clothing of the poor. The ceremony of saluting the Flag was then gone through, alter which the Scottish Standard received from the Yardheads School was sent to the masthead with the accompaniment of ringing cheers. The school were then dismissed for tha day. —Cavercham.— Tiie scholars were addressed by the Rev. D. Dutton and Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. Several members of the School Committee were also present. The children .saluted the Flag, and sang the National Anthem. They were thru sent homo to enjoy the remainder of the day. —High hireet. — ! This morning, at tiie above school, the j children assembled round the flagsuUf at ! a quarter to ten, when Mr J). Wishart I (the chairman of the Committee) introduced Mr Charles Statham, wlio made an interesting and appropriate address to the young people. lie touched upon Queen Victoria's early life, and subsequently on. the consolidation of the Empiie, and tba need that existed for the rising generation preparing themselves to take their part in its defence. The children sang a verso of ‘Cod save the King,’ saluted the Flag, gave three cheers for the Empire, and on the motion of the head master (Mr Waddell Smith) a vote of thanks was carried by 1 acclamation to Mr .Statham for his ad--1 dress. The girls, under Miss Anderson, me making a number of wreaths, which, are to he placed on the base of the Queen Victoria Statue, tbc Troopers’ Memorial, and the grave of Lieutenant Boyer. \ .C, 7 in the Southern Cemetery. ] —Moray Place. — 1 The ceremony in connection with Moray I Place School took place yesterday after-liro-on. Mr A. 3Tiller (chairman of the Comi mit lee) addressing the assembled children Ixifore dismissing them for the holiday. A couple of versos of the National Anthem were sung, and the Flag saluted. Normal. — At the Norma! School this morning addresses .wore delivered by the Bev. G. 1L Balfour and Mr H. H. S. White. —Anderson Bay.— This morning the standards assembled as usual, and the ceremony of saluting the Flag was gone through. The children were then assembled in the school, and a short programme was gone through. _ Ad- | dresses were given by the Kev. A. Cam- ' erou and Messrs Bridgcman, Youngson, 1 and .Somerville, and the children recited ; Kipling's ‘The Children's Song’ and sang : ‘The. Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ The I Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster North, rolled up in full force, and took part in the proceedings. —Kensington.— The ceremony Musselburgh School was of tire usual character. The children i assembled at 9.30, and after the National 1 Anthem Kid been sung tho cadets tainted i the Flag, and the bugler Bounded the I general salute. Short- addressee wore given I by the chairman of tiie Committee (Mr J. i Harris) and the Bev. R, Fairmaid- Tho | silver medals won by the school in recent j swimming competitions were presented io ! Masters l M. Tyson, Oonchman, and G. Faif 1 - I maid. The proceedings closed with the I singing e£ the New Zealand Anthem and | the giving of three hearty cheers for King George and Queen Mary.