PROCLAIMED IN MARKET PLACE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 228, 26 September 1907, Page 5

PROCLAIMED IN MARKET PLACE.

Though threatening, the weather was all that could be desired this morning for the public ceremony of repeating the proclamation of New Zealand as a Dominion. ' Business temporarily ceased at eleven o'clock in recognition of the observance. Tke Volunteers, headed by Garrison Band, having marched iato Market Place, they were lined up, under the command of Colonel Gfeaytor, in the form of three sides of a square, with the Band in the hollow. The Mayor (Mr A. WcCallum) then nwunted the Government Buildings Ssfceps, and delivered the following-:—

A FITTING CELEBRATION

By the King. A PROCLAMATION. Edward R. and I. WHEREAS we have an the petition of the Members. of the Legislative Council and House of-Representatives of our "Colony of New Zealand determined that the title of "The Dominion of New. Zealand" shall be substituted for that of " The Colony of. New Zealand" as ike designation ot the said Colony, w© -have therefore by and with the advice of our Privy Council, thought fit to issue this our Royal Proclamation, and we do ordain, declare, and command that on and after the twenty-sixth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and seven, the said Colony of New Zealand and the territory belonging thereto shall be called and known i •% the title «tf "The Dominion of !sew Zealand'"' and we hereby give *>ur commands to all public depart:ments accordingly.

GIVEN at our Court at Buckingham Palace this> ninth day of September in the year .of -our Lord one thousand, nine hundred t and seven in the seventh year of; ■out iseijgn-. . God Save the King.! : :A "feii de joie'i was then fired by <£he Blenheim Rifles and High School•Cadets, followed by throe cheers for the .proclamation, called by Colonel' ■Chaytor.

The Mayor, addressing the gathering, said this was an important epoch in the history of New Zealand. There were- .to be speeches' by several of the local oitizens, andJh> would allow himself a. few words a*'referring to a proI gressrre forward Some 1 people had not' received the proposition that henceforth New Zealand would be known by ,the title of Dominion as warmly as they might have done, but -he was quite certain that if they had the same opportunities as the Premier of judging the facts -.of the position they would have recognised the wisdom of the change without hesitation. As loyal citizens , they should have full confidence.in Sir 1 Joseph's ripened judgment, ajad as lime went on he felt sure they would see^£at,he had acted-in a statesmanlike HSprier. Certain people—mostly tradespeople—had taken objection to the day being kept as a holiday, but to them he said that, although Napoleon said we were a nation of shopkeepers, yet they should also remember we were a nation of patriots. He hoped this would be a memorable day with the children, who were to be our future rulers and citizens. Change of -came-'did not mean that the old term of "Colony " was to be brought into disrepute. Ml it meant was that they had stepped on to a higher plane, and their sM pioneer colonists would; ever be .reverenced. Farewell "Colony*"-; welcome " Dominion i" (Applause). Gojiaciliar White, who explained; that ..the Mayotr had .called on him .to. speak .without notice, said that doubt-' less .Sir Joseph Ward.had adopted Sir' George•.Grey's idea that New Zealandwould Jbe the governing centre of the islands <j>i .the Pacific, and was taking: time by the forelock amd getting us called ra iDomrnion -so as in a way to register o>ur adaim., so that we could take a Head in the matter as distinct from soiy jnov.ern.ent .on the part of the Coapampnwealth. New Zealand's ob jectiaaa ;.to iiiolusion in the Commonwealth jho doubt inspired by the vje^w t&at she Jheiself .would become ; the "governing centre "of the Pacific islands. JEhis movement had emanated from Sir Joseph Ward, and not the Colony as .a whole.; but it was to be .hoped that, as a Dominion, they as a people woyid liv© U.P to the standard set and be" .a nation worthy of the name. They must develop manufactures and producing industries. There was no reason why .New Zealand should not 'yet be a country whose population, like that pS Japan, would be counted in millions. (Applause.)

The Chairman of the Education Board (Mr R. MoGaUmn) said such expressions had lately been heard as foolery, tommy-rot, screaming farce, and so on, from people who ought to i)iave known better. He hoped their presence and his presence .there would 'fee an answer to these irreverent and pi^sumptuous persons. He represented tifefe boys and girls of the primary sojsfcols and the college pupils both hse&'-arid in Wellington, aid would adfess his remarks to thorn. For a lo%irime the name " Colony " as appli^l to New Zealand had ibsen an entigfc misnomer. Originally a colony was 9 3$ arm, then a small settlement * then „« people that went out to settle a ©aiH&ry. They had an American colony .Cm Paris to-day. True, the Americas Colonies remained coloisies until tfey bix>ke away from Englaad, but— lim:* here was a truth for t&e childre»-».-.'had America started off as a doming they would not have had to break <af/ay to get liberty. There should thai* have been no Independence Day. If people were given a, great trust SP keep they would be a better and spore loyal people. If children were and thought i\o go astray, &fien that very distrust coaused them te> ,go astray. The meshe desired $© give the children •flsai the autnoiities who managed edutation in Mar!il>orough was just Mis'- With all their getting m the Way #f commercial wd general education., they should ss\s?ays strive after wisd-op and understanding. There was a* old proverb tfet?t a good name was fcerter than richer A good name was far above property, Earning was far above acres and farsa-is and sheep runs. With their wisdom tfhey should have a1 revvvence for those who knew more tha-ii jtfoey did themselves. INow, these people, U they only had sa Jittle faith in the rulers of the cewtry, would not have taken up this sally attitude, but wald have, instead, taught the children the lesson of ¥&* vorence. He then announced that # commemoration medal, to be given to all scholars, had been struck. He hoped the children would live worthily }of the Dominion. " Dominion" meant, , I of. course, that they had now the * i right to goyeyn themselves. The

children were> the governors, of til© i future. (Applause). # Mr*E.-.H. Penny (Chairman or the Borough - School. Committee) agreed that the occasion was a very important one. No doubt Sir Joseph Ward 1 had been looking ahead. New ZeaJ land would yet be a very great coun- ■ try indeed, and the place she held in the great Pacific Ocean would be a very central one. Probably Dominion ; JDay would not wear the same national I aspect as Independence Day in the i United States, but it would become | more than a by-word with the people ! of- New Zealand. In England every I hill or old bridge or tower marked j some tragic or happy historical event, and so in time to come the same thing ' would be said of New Zealand. < History would develop events, tragic and otherwise, and New Zealand would became a great and noble country. He hoped this would be one^ step to that greatness. (Applause). Before asking the Band to play the National Anthem, the Mayor expressed the hope that all the crowd present would take and enjoy a holiday for the rest of the day. "God Save the King" was then sung, and cheers for Sir Joseph Ward and t&e Mayor concluded the proceedings.

The parade steate of the Volunteers was as follows:—Mounted Rifles (Captain Watson), 12; Blenheim Rifles (Lieut. O* Sullivan), 15 % ; High School Cadets (Captain Gouldmg), 36; Garrison Band (Bandmaster Rose) 20. The muster roll of the Education Cadet Battalion was as follows: — Blenheim Borough School (€aptain Giffordk -32 Springlands (Lieut; McIsaacs). '22; Grovetown (Captain Ladley), 24. The cadet battalion "was in charge '6i Major Sturrock, and the whole tinder the command of 'Colonel Chaytor. The school children of Blenheim, Springlands, and GTOvetcwn attended* in good numbers.