Centennial Celebration in New South Wales.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 269, 15 November 1887, Page 5

Centennial Celebration in New South Wales.

The Premier has submitted his Centennial proposals, and they have been favourably received by members of both sides of the House and passed. They are as follows : — " 1. That a grand intercolonial banquet be given, to which State invitations shall be issued in the name of the colony— (a) From his Excellency the Governor to the Governors of the other .Australasian colonies ; (b) from the advisers of the Crown in this colony to the Ministers of the other colonies ; (c) from the President of the Council and the Speaker of the Assembly, on behalf of the two Houses of Parliament of this colony, to the Parliaments of the other colonies. Such other persons of distinction residing in the colonies; or who may be visiting the colonies, to be also specially invited. 2. That the Agricultural Society of New South Wales be aided to the amount of £7,000 to enable them to hold a grand Intercolonial Exhibition of live stock, pastoral, agricultural and horticultural produce, including botanical and floral productions, and of manufactures in metals, timbers, fibres, stone and clay, confined to the products of Australasia. 3. That steps be taken to render the usual Regatta more of an intercolonial character, and that a Challenge Cup, of the value of 500 guineas, to be called ' The Hundred Years Cup,' together with £300 in prizes, be given in the name of Parliament. 4. That new postage stamps be issued, commemorative of the centennial of the colony." These proposals, however, according to the Premier, do not by any means exhaust the Government programme, and it is probable that the Ministers have not yet settled in their own minds all the details of their centennial plans. It has been suggested that the aborigines should not be forgotten ; that a military display of some sort should take place; and that literary and musical talent should be stimulated by the offer of prizes for a ceVitennial ode. These and other things, the Premier says, have been thought of, but he does nob express any liking for the ode. He prefers to offer a prize for an historical essay on the colony. The vote of £7,000 to the Agricultural Society on account of the intercolonial exhibition stands by itself, and the Premier confidently declares that the cost of all the other proposals will not exceed £12,000.