CELEBRATIONS IN DUNEDIN

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 41

CELEBRATIONS IN DUNEDIN

Owing to the exceptional circumstances which have arisen this year in consequence of the death of King Edward, it was decided by the Empire Day Committee not to hold any public observance of the day on the present occasion. Moreover, it had been notified that the' day would not be recogirised as a Government holiday. Accordingly, the' celebrations on May 24 were confined to the public schools. There the children assembled in the morning, and after being addressed on the Subject of Empire Day, saluted the flag, and were dismissed for the remainder of the day. As far as the public was concerned, anyoutward show of observance consisted merely of the flying of a few flags. Several wreaths, symbols of emotion in respect of the late Queen Victoria, were placed on the memorial statue near the Victoria Gardens These tributes included one from the Victciia League, one from the pupil 1 of the Albany Street School, and one from the pupils of the Mosgiel District High School. In the afternoon members of the Otago District Officers' Club assembled at the Oval, and placed a wreath upon the Fallen Soldiers' Monument. The officers present were: Lieutenant-colonel Smyth (officer commanding the district), Lieutenantcolonel Allen (president of the ■ Officers' Ciub), Lieutenant-colonel Smith. Lieuten-ant-colonel Stoneham, Major Chalmer, Captains Wolstenhohne, Fordbam, and Douglas, Quartermaster-captain M'lndoe, Lieutenants' Black and Barron, Surgeoncaptains O'Neill and Newlands, and Chaplain Lieutenant-colonel Gould. After prayer had beea read by the Chaplain, Lieutenantcolonel Allen placed the wreath on the rronument.