EMPIRE DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2200, 26 May 1908, Page 3

EMPIRE DAY.

BRITISH PATRIOTISM

ENTHUSIASM AT HOME

United Press Association— Copyright LONDON, May 23.

The Empire Day celebrations in Great (Britain are being spread over < three days. A million children attending the schools in London saluJed the Bag yesterdayj. Lectures and exercises relating to tlio Empire Day movement were given in IUJU The Municipal Councils at Battersea and Poplar refused to fly the fla fhe display of bunting in the West End of London was greater than ever. In the East End hundreds of the poorest children purchased small fla f’he boys at Eton College flew a Union Jack from the elementary school at St. Mary’s, New South Wales. The flag was flown on a- staft made from timber of the battleship Trafalgar, launched from Woolwich At Greenwich School, a flag from Greenwich School, New South \\ ale was unfurled. •-* , , r „ The Earl of Meath, through Mi. Carruthers, sent a message ol sincere thanks to Australians for the enthusiastic support given by them to the Empire movement, in company with ten million other subjects. Ho urged them not to forget the spirit of the movement, expressed in its watchwords, “Responsibility, Duty, sympathy, Self-sacrifico.” If these ideals were impressed in tlio home and in the school upon the rising generation they would become worthy citizens of the Empire in the workl. It the London County Council s instance, a patriotic programme, with lessons on citizenship, was conducted in nearly every school, also flags were saluted. London’s lead in this matter was generally followed in the proVl H?s Majesty the King thanked London scholars for their message of JoyTho Duchess of Albany distributed prizes .at the Esher national schools, where tlio Earl of Meath addressed the children on how best to help the Empire, and Senator .Dobson recommended universal training to drill and shot, to enable our people to defend the Empire. , r ,. Lord Tennyson, Lord Meatli, AD. Budyard Kipling, Mr. Bason-, Mv. Dobson, and Councillor AAeodon (Melbourne) spoke at a similar demonstration of boys’ brigades and bands at Sl TlarS'schoMat Pcckham has been temporarily transformed into a nuiseum for the display of products of the Alotlierland and colonies, lent by Mi. Taverner land others. The scholars were much interested. LONDON. May 21. Twenty thousand children attended the Church of England Temper Society’s Emipre Day fete at tlio Crj ‘“, M £nike, P"*»« flags from Canterbury and Parramatta schools, New South Wales, to tuo Canterbury schools. . +i,ah•Mr. Carruthers, addressing .a thon sand scholars at Canterbury, empha2s, i. The headmaster of King s ’ j terbury 5 eiil'ogised Bnshop - foresight in permanently = •it the heart of Australia an iiutitu led on the same lines, o.ily the Ansforms 11 The' : Doan° h* Pwl*"that soon everybody in England would enjoy military discipline.

The King -and Quocn attended the Euipiro Day inspection of the Duke of York’s school at Chelsea. Lord Roberts witnessed the shooting of England’s team of boys for Lord Meath’s trophy. OTTAWA. May 24. Lord Grey, addressing a parade of school children at Toronto, called on them to colobrato tho tercentenary, and to lend a hand in presenting to Canada the sacred ground where the fate of North America was decided. SYDNEY. May 24.

Empire Day was celebrated by a large church parade of troops. Tho Governor-General and Sir Hurry Rawson were present. There was lino weather for Empire Day. The city was brillinnt with bunting, and there woro many patriotic demonstrations.

PALMERSTON N., May 25. Empire Day was celebrated in cold, rainy weather. Tho ceremony of saluting tho flag was performed at tho local schools, there being a fair attendance of scholars and adufts.

INVERCARGILL, -May 25. -Empire Day was observed as a school holiday to-day, but. there were no public functions until the evening. Tho school children saluted the flag before breaking up on Friday night, and to-night 200 youngsters took part -in a loyal demonstration at tho Theatre. The function was of a purely patriotic character, typifying tho'different parts of the Empire, and was -arranged by tho League of tho Empire. CHRISTCHURCH, May 25.

The Empire Day celebrations in Christchurch were ushered in this morning by a parade of the cadets attache'll to the local cadet battalions. ■The boys mustered at tho drill shod, "aiiU,,. headed -by - the Garrison Band, marched to Victoria Square, where they were grouped at the base of the statue of the late Queen. Victoria. Speeches were delivered by the May-, or and the two Bishops, and Mr. Justice Denniston. The day was observed only as a partial holiday. NAPIER. May 25.

Empire Day was observed as a partial holiday. The retail places of business, which were open as usual will this year keep a whole holiday on the Prince of AVales’ Birthday.

DUNEDIN, May 25. To-day’s colebrations in connection Ayitli Empire Day passed off capitally. At all schools the children assembled in the morning, when they were addressed in terms suitable to the occasion, after which they gave cheers for the flag and sang “God Save the King.” Demonstrations at the Triangle and the troopers’ memorial statue were taken part in by over 1000 cadets, all schools being represented. The speeches, three in number, were brief, and the whole ceremony was completed within an hour. Speaking at the trooping of the colors at the North-East Valley school Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.P., chairman of the Education Board, said we had lived so long under the protecting arm of the Mother Country that we had forgotten what war meant. AVe were living in a fool’s paradise, and our present state of unpreparedness must not be allowed to continue. The load the Old Country was carrying was greater than she could reasonably be expected to bear. All must be prepared .to do their part. There was menace in the East, and it behoved every boy, youth, and man to do his duty in learning to defend his country. If we were known.to be ready we would never be called upon to fight

ASHBURTON, May 25

Fine weather attended the patriotic demonstration in the Domain, which was attended by the volunteers, cadets, fire brigade, bands, etc., and a- large number of people. The flag was saluted, and a, feu de joie was fired. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Mr. G. T. Booth, of Christchurch, and the Rev. H. E. Betlhouse, a local clergyman. lhe function was very successful.