TO-MORROW'S CELEBRATION IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 5

TO-MORROW'S CELEBRATION IN SYDNEY.

Since the arrival of the GovernorGeneral gave an air of actuality to the preparations, remarks the Sydney "Morning Herald," the interest in the coming gala has become, if possible, even more acute than before; and the spectacle of a Sydney in process of transformation by means of avenues of flagpoles and Venetian masts, by skeletons of triumphal arches, Toy elaborate preparations for electric light illuminations, and by the appearance, of: more than, the accustomed crowds in the streets, helps us to feel from day to dayjhow closely we are approaching the realisation of our Federal aspirations. The average citizen cannot fail to notice how this general decoration of the city is bringing out its architectural features One has but to look at the impressive facade of the General Post Office to perceive, better than ever before, what a striking effect it makes in the heart of the city. The outlines of the Town Hall, again, picked out in lines of electric.fire as they will appear on the night of the Comm6nwealth Day, impress .themselves in an exceptional way on the mind as indicating the design of an imposing civic monument. So also with Sydney s other palatial public offices. lne scenes in Martin. Place, in Macquarier street, in Queen's Square, in Bridgestreet, and elsewhere along the destined route of the procession already give promise of such a celebration of Australia's national birthday as the premier city will have proud reason to remember. "When the decorations are ready on New Year's Day, the arches

completed', ;and tfi"e streets bedecked with flags aud bannarets, and transformed for the occasion by a pictuiv esque display of colour, .and when at night the illuminations and the elaborate pyrotechnic fete which it is understood is in preparation are in full display, the scene will no doubt-be as remarkable as the occasion. The procession in itself will be a spectacular exhibition of the first order, "to which the presence of the Imperial troops will lend a brilliancy not approached in Australia before. We shall be repeating in Sydney on a reduced scale, but with the same significant import, the demonstration of Imperial solidarity which London witnessed three years" ago on the occasion of the royal jubilee.