THE LATE EMPEROR'S ASCENSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 142, 16 June 1888, Page 8

THE LATE EMPEROR'S ASCENSION.

Upon the ascension of the late Emperor to the Throne the "Illustrated World" published at Stuttgart, and thus gave expression to the sentiments of his subject:— "The wishes and hopes of the German people are not centred upon the Crown Prince of the German Empire who, as Frederick 111, succeeds to his father's throne. May a kind Providence give him strength and health to fulfil the high mission that in this way his wife the Empress Victoria may be rewarded for all her loving and affectionate care. The love and sympathy of the whole world is with him as it has been with no other prince on the steps of the throne. May these blessings have the effect of strengthening him in the difficult work which Providence has laid upon him in making him the mightiest ruler of the world.:) THE NEW EMPEROR. The new Emperor, Frederick William Victor Albert, is now in his 30th year. He was born on the 27th January, 1559, in Berlin, being the eldest son of the late Emperor Frederick 111. and his wife, the Princess Eoyal of England. He grew up amidst the quiet, homely life of his parents into a strong and hea fcjy man and remained with them until he established a home of his own, On the 27th February, 1881, he married the PrinceES Augusta Victoria Frcderica Louisa Feodora Jenny, who ■ was born on the 22nd October, 1858, being a daughter of the late Duke Frederick of Schleswig - Holstein and the Duchess Adelheid, formerly Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. The princely pair have had issue, four boys, the eldest of whom, Prince Frederick William has already given evidence in his childish play that he feels himself to be a German soldier. The military spirit of the Hohonzollerns is found in the new Emperor in all its force and exclusiveness. Morally hois the perfect portrait of the late nonagerian Kaiser, Like him, he loves the army, and makes it the object of his entire attention. No colonel more scrupulously performs his duty than he when he enters the quarters of the regiment of tho Red Hussars, whose chief he is. His solicitude for the army mauifests itself openly It is not without pride that he regards his eldest son, who will soon be six years old, and has already been interested with the uniform of a fusilier of the Guard. The Kaiser - elect is a soldier in spirit just as harsh towards himself as severe toward others. So he is the friend and emulator of Prince Yon Bismarch who sees in him the depository of the military traditions of the house of Prussia, and who is preparing him by his lessons and his advice to receive and preserve the patrimony that his ancestors have conquered. i

The second meeting of the Auckland Institute is to be held in the Museum buildings on Monday evening, when tho Rev, Mr Gulliver will give a lecture on "The Realms of Imagination." Mr Gulliver is well known as an eloquent and able lecturer, and there will doubtless be a large attendance of members and their friends.

Tho new Opwa House at "Wellington to take the place of that recently destroyed by fire is expected to bo finished and opened beforo Christmas. Mr W. C. Chatfield, architect, has prepared plans for the restoration of the building and in some respects great improvements will be made. For instance, the chances of fire will under the new plans be reduced to a minimum, whilst provision has also been made for increased means of exit in the event of n, lire occurring during a performance. So far as possible wood in the reconstruction of the building has been discarded, either solid brickwork or cement taking it 3 place. The whole of the staircases leading to tho dress and family circles will be of brick and concrete work, while the partitions throughout the entire establishment will be of brick and plaster. From the dress circle landing, and oh either side of it, brick stairs, broad and easily, ascended, will spring, giving convenient access to the family circle. In addition to these means of ingress and egres,-?, there will be doors on both sides of ths dress circle opening on to the staircase which leads to the stage. The family circle likewise will be very liberally provided with escape exits, in addition to the staircases which will be used on ordinary occasions. As a still further precaution against any fire which may break out in one portion of the theatre spreading to another, provision has been made for a fire-proof curtain which may be lowered automatically. In the reconstruction of the dress circle the architect has been enabled to provide ampler seating accommodation than the late Opera House possessed, to the extent of 35 seats. The new circle will comfortably seat 257 persons as against 202 in the old circle, 'and the ventilation will also be carefully attended to. As a whole the new Opera House, lor completeness, will favourably compare with almost any theatre in the Australasian colonies.