EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2511, 26 May 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

CABLE NEWS.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN BRITAIN.

A SPECIAL NEWSPAPER ISSUE

United Press Association—Copyright

LONDON, May 24

Tho “Daily Mail” issued a special Empire Day number, containing 72 pages. The reading matter includes articles on all phases of Imperial life. The Australian Commonwealth and States and the. Dominion of Now Zealand have large advertisements in the publication.

Mr Joseph Chamberlain, ex-Secretary for the Colonies, writes a special letter, dealing with “our great aggregation of humanity, sealing a new bond thereby follow ,the same interests under the same flag.” This, he writes, must of necessity commence with defence, and a commercial union, would probably precede a political union. “New Zealand’s offer,” he states, “which has been received somewhat ungraciously by the Government, is a new feature. It is equivalent to a contribution of 80 million pounds sterling from Britain, and is not only munificent itself, but shows the price tlie Dominion places on the maintenance of the present standard of national defence. Henceforth 11,000,000 Britishers overseas must be considered with ourselves. This feature of British development will involve an entire, change in our public life and its objects.” The lower portions of Brock’s Victoria memorial were uncovered, including 1000 tons of Carrara marble and SOO tons of granite. Brock has also completed the statue of the Queen and groups of Motherhood, Justice, and Truth. Tho main memorial will he finished at the end of 1910.

Including IS,OOO schools, with nearly 4,000,000 scholars, in the United Kingdom. it is estimated that 15,000,000 children throughout the* Empire celebrated Empire Day. "Five thousand boys marched to the embankment at Hyde Park, carrying 56 flags of the dominions and colonies. They were accompanied by IS bands. The Union Jack was saluted at Reformers’ Tree, where the colonial colors were trooped. The celebrations in tlie. provinces were more general than in previous

years. A civic lead was given at Glasgow for tho first time, and the toast of the Empire was honored at a municipal banquet. Schools in Sliepperton (Middlesex) received a Union Jack and other gifts from the Sliepperton (Victoria) State schools.

A WORLD-WIDE CELEBRATION.

’BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS CADETS FROM PARTICIPATING.

United Press Association— Copyright (Received May 25, 11.10 p.m.)

LONDON, May 25

Many exchanged flags, _ including ’flags from Dcvonport and Caversham, were unfurled on Empire Day.

The British colony at Berlin, including representatives of all the colonies, celebrated Empire Day by a picnic at Wann Lake.

Lord Methuen addressed 1500 children at Johannesburg.

There ryer© celebrations at Jamaica, Bermuda, Singapore, Malta, and Gibraltar. The London streets were gay with Union Jacks and colonial flags, except 'at the Government buildings. Flags were flown from church towers throughout the country. Ten thousand children assembled at Devonport, 9000 at Acton, and 6000 at Ealing. Three thousand were regaled in the castle grounds at Windsor. The War Office issued an order prohibiting the Harrow School cadet corps from taking part in the. celebrations m London. CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRATIONS. A< NOTABLE SPEECH. OTTAWA, May 24. Unprecedented enthusiasm was shown j„ Canada. Lord Grey addressed tlie cadets at Toronto. BRISBANE, May 24. The Empire Day celebrations passed off successfully. The weather was dull and threatening. SYDNEY, May 25. Mr C. Lai a ke, Canadian Government agent, speaking at the Empire League demonstration, said lie. did net believe Germany was unfriendly to England but Germany had had marvellous tvecess With characteristic patience Hie had made her preparations, and then snrmm upon Denmark then Austria, and then 1 France, and her people had been made drunk by a class among them. She had’at this moment an. unsatisfied ambition. If we could 30lieve Germany at the head ot the nztics could do better lor the world aud would stand for the oppressed against the oppressor, ho would bow to the w of God, hut ho did not believe •bewrfd do for the notions what we had d l

rpuu Phkss Association.] . L > WAIIIOA, May 20. Finn ire Bay was marked by a small dWav of bunting. A Rifle Association Ss«kplacc in a«n wi+l, a bad light, the winners being W'airoa Match- Farrier-Sergt BroAvn Iwt 60 -Dr. DeDisle’s Cup-Lieut. Sndtli 80; Farrier-Scrgt. Brmvn. _t r The silver challenge cu]i_ resultech.yT, j\ arm Rifle Club 618; 0,.6.