EMPIRE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6219, 27 May 1907, Page 5

EMPIRE DAY

HUMOROUS MR BENT •AUSTRALIA AND THE BOER WAR . “RULE BRITANNIA I” "BRITON'S THE BIGGEST SLAVES OF THE LOT.” By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Received May 2(1, 4.51 p.rn.) _ LONDON, May 20. Three thousand eight hundred schools participated yesterday in Dmpiro Day rojoiciugfl, which, both m London and the provinces, were unpreoodontod in enthusiasm and scope*. Mr Bout (Premier of Victoria), addressing four thousand scholars at Baling, at an Empire I>ay celebration, referred to the recent enthusiastic do. jnonstratioiu) in honour of Mr Botha, Premier of tho Transvaal. -Mr Bent declared that Australians would not have shouted themselves hoarse and fluttered white handkerchiefs, but "would have remembered the sorrowing widows and tho wooden-logged and armless men in their midst. Mr* Bent added that he hoped Mr Botha would keep his promises, and that tho Transvaal would prove ns good a friend to tho Motherland as Australia had been, and was. Referring to his “idddio guard of honour,” Mr Bent declared that thousands of Australian cadets were willing to show tho stuff they wore made of if the Empire needed their services. Mr Bent caused great laughter when the children sang\“Rulo Britannia!” “Britons never shall bo slaves!” by declaring his belief that Britons were iho biggest slaves of tho lot. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. LONDON, May 24. The London Stock Exchange opened business or- Empire Day with tho singing of tiie National Anthem. DEMONSTRATIONS IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, May 26. It is estimated that 170,000 children pairtioipatod in tho Empire Day celebrations. AT NORFOLK ISLAND. NORFOLK ISLAND, May 25. Tho Em piro Day functions consisted of the unfurling of the flag by the Chief Magistrate in the presence of school children and adults, and a reception- and entertainment of the children at Government House.