DAY FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 10

DAY FOR THE CHILDREN .

MEETING AT THE TOWN HAUL. THE MAYOR'S HAPPY IDEA. The. round of celebrations in connection ' j with the : opening of the now Town Hall was continued yesterday morning, /.■ when a monster gathering of school-children, arranged for by : the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) was held in the great hall. Although the Mayor did not until Monday morning decide upon: gathering, the children together, the arrangements, which we're made by the officials of the Education Board were, so promptly and successfully carried out that long before 11 o'clock yesterday morning the large hall was filled with some 3200 bright, happy, eager young frees. This large number of scholars was drawn principally from Standards V. and , VI. of all tho city and suburban . schools. The headmasters and staffs of the various schools were present, and a large number of the former with their wives occupied seats upon the platform. The Mayor presided,' and there were also present: The ; Mayoress, His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington), and suite, the deputy-Mayor (Mr. John Court), the town clerk (Mr. H. W. Wilson), Messrs. G. J. Garland (chairman of the Education Beard), C. T. Barriball and G. W. Murray (members of the Education Board), Crowe (secretary to the Education Board), E. K. Mulgan (chief inspector of schools), Arthur M. Myers, M.P., and H. Brett. The Governor, on . arrival, was greeted with the singing of the National Anthem by the children. The Mayor, in addressing the children, said it was a tribute to the excellence of the organisation of the Education Board that by pressing a button, as it were, on Monday morning they were able to bring over 3000 children to the hall that morning. He explained to the children the history and purposes of the Town Hall, and pointed out to them that the fine organ was the gift of Mr. Brett, and the clock that was shortly to be installed that of Mr. Myers. These announcements were received by the children with hearty applause. The Mayor also took advantage of the opportunity of impressing upon the boys and girls a sense of the great benefit that they as Aucklanders enjoy in the possession of the many fine parks of the city, and he impressed upon them the duty of assisting to protect public property from damage and destruction. His Excellency the Governor, who was greeted by the children with a hearty round of applause, said". it was . a -happy thought that prompted tho Mayor to arrange for such a gathering of the scholars. Ho referred to the lessons in good ", citizenship, conveyed by the gathering of old colonist 3 held on the previous day as an example that ail-might emulate in their future lite. He reminded the children of j the many advantages that they now en- J joyed socially ..and educationally as com- j pared with the limited conveniences pos-1 sessed by the children of the early settlers of half a century ago. • His Excellency concluded with, the following inspiring mes- : sage to the children: —" Do ; not forget this: Zealand's strength and security !is bound up " inseparably and indissolubly in its position as part of the British Empire. 7.1 want all you children not to be led away with the fallacious- idea that New Zealand," in its;onward march of progress and .security, can continue oh- that march detached from the family of the British Empire. It is your I connection with the ■ British Empire that makes .you ■ a free constitutional countrya country doing your own work, in your own - way, under your own Parliament—and your continuance ; as as' member of thef;"* family of tho British Empire is the surest guarantee of your - • strength and -progress . in,""the* future: Therefore, I want all'"of yon?-'the. 1 youngest * as 1 well as the oldest, to keep strong within you the" knowledge -and \ conviction that the strength of .;? tho Empire means the security and progress of New Zealand. ; If you are actuated* by this, inspiration now, and ; in your future work, whether in your work or ; in your play, you will be t rendering "your share of a great patriotic effort, for the* good of New Zealand and for the good of the Empire, as "oval and devoted subjects of the King." (Loud applause!) Mr. E. K. Mulgan (chief inspector of schools) briefly addressed the children, giving them a few words of wholesome advice, and - impressing upon j them their duties and privileges as units of a great Empire. :■■■■■ .

-Mr. Garland (chairman of the Education Board) asked the,, children to * pass ■ a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for his thoughtful action in bringing them together on such an occasion, and needless to say the invitation was heartily complied with.

The Mayor, in acknowledging the vote, referred to the good work done by Mr. Garland and Mr. Crowe in getting the children together, and he ; also referred to the excellent speeches delivered by the Governor and Mr. Mulgan. Several selections were rendered on tho organ by Mr. Maughan Barnett, and these were greatly appreciated! by the children, and a very pleasant and memorable gathering was terminated by the singing of the National Anthem.