INDEPENDENCE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 7

INDEPENDENCE DAY.

CELEBRATION IN AUCKLAND MESSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND. Tire 141 st anniversary of the dav on which the American Republic declared its independence was celebrated Yesterday On account, of America's recent entry' "into the war she commemoration this year is of outstanding interest and importance -and the celebrations of American citizens found an echo in all parts of the British Empire In Auckland yesterday the Stars and Stripes floated beside the Union Jack over public buildings, and many private business establishments. Over 100 callers visited the office of Mr. A. A. Winslow, I ruled States Consul-General in New Zealand, and paid their formal respects to the representative of the Republic, and many I took the opportunity of congratulating Mr. \\ mslow upon the decision of America to enter the war on the side of Britain and the allies In the absence of the M*v..r. Mr. .]. H. Gunson, who is in Wellington engaged on National Efficiency Board business, the Deputy-Mavor, Mr A. .J. hntrican, accompanied by municipal ofiicers. called at the Consulate. Among other callers were Mr. H. D. Heather chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board' the Consuls of the allied and neutral nations. Mr. VY. Beddoe, Canadian Trade ( ommissioner, and the representative* of leading firms in the city. Mr. Wmslow was asked bv a Herald representative if he had a message for the people of New Zealand. He replied:— ■'On behalf of the United States of America, its Government, and citizens will you convey to the people of New Zealand my grateful thanks for their many cheering and cordial messages, messages containing sentiments which all democratic peoples cherish. I consider the present commemoration of America's Declaration of Independence one of the most memorable in the history of the country I have the honour to represent. To the people of the United States the commemoration of July 4, 1776, is the symbol of a declaration for independence, liberty, peace, and justice in the world. America entered the war on the side of Great Britain and the allies to preserve those ideals, and I am quite certain that the peoples of the two great English-speaking races will stand firm and united until the object for which they enured the struggle is achieved and a victory won that will free the world of a hideous menace. From the news that is now coming to hand it looks as if Russia is with us, not only for democracy, but for a speedy victory, 'if the Russian'offensive continues, and if she puts forth the great efforts of which ehe, as a nation, is capable of doing, it is my opinion that a final victory will be achieved before the close of 1917." Mr. Winslow stated that he had received the following telegram from the Hon. \. M. Myers, Minister for Munition and Supplies : —" Hearty congratulations to you and your fellow-citizens on tho 141 st anniversary of the declaration of independence of the United States of America, which this year you celebrate during a state of war entered into for the preservation of those identical principles which the American public adopted in 1776. I trust that in the future years July 4 may be rivalled by April 2, 1917, «s an epoch-making day in American national history as the day upon which your great democratic country again declared for independence, honour, and I civilisation." I