LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3893, 14 January 1878, Page 3

LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

_H s

There are thousands of people .scattered over our colonies to whom the Lord Mayor's Day will be a welcome reminiscence of "their youth. The show this year was perhaps as good as any that has preceded it, though the pomp and brilliancy of the entertainment was sadly marred in drizzling rain. The new Lord Mayor (Mr Alderman Owden) inaugurated his year of office by proceeding in state, accompanied by the high officers and principal members of the City Corporation, to Westminster, where he was presented to her Majesty's Judges. Outside' the city boundaries the " show" appeared to excite less interest; than usual, owing probably, in some degree, to the unpropitious state of the weather; but within the limits which define the civic jurisdiction, much curiosity was evinced with regard to the procession, in consequence of the official announcement that it would include some new features, principally among which were :—A pair of large doublehumped dromedaries, ridden by two persons representing Egyptians, with Egyptian attendants at their heads leading an ornamental car, drawn by six horses, with postilions, carrying a model of the Cleopatra needle, reclining at an angle, supported at the base by an Egyptian 'Sphinx and a group representing E A pair Of elephant. (rmo Indian, one i African), ridden by persons to represent Nubian chiefs, with Nubian attendants at their heads, leading an elaborate ornamental tableau car (about 25 feet in length and 27 feet in height), drawn by ten horses, ridden by postilions, on top of which a lady representing " Peace and Plenty," with suitable trophies, kc.; a little below a second lady to represent "Britannia," extending her hand to "Old Father Thames" (representing ships and commerce); and an African and European representing the Colonies, with a sheaf of corn, other trophies and emblems, and round the car a number of persons representing the Muses, &a, properly grouped; at the four extreme corners, four persons to represent Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. At Bishopsgate Church two addresses .were presented. Little Miss Croxton, who looked very pretty in a dress of light blue, was then lifted to the coach window to present a bouquet from the upper girls' school, but the the Lord Mayor would have the door opened, and the young lady found herself inside the state coach submitting to be kissed by a Lord Mayor. Gracechurch street was decorated with floral festoons and baskets of flowers, and the houses with trophies of flogs with shields. At the point of Lombard street there was a large floral canopy, supported on groups of masts. The procession passed along by the " European M»il " office, St. Paul's Churchyard, and into Fleet street without any [particular incident. At Temple Bar Cleopatra's Needle came into collision with one of the supports of that rickety edifice, and the result was delay and a break in the procession. Eight of the horses were unyoked from the allegorical car, and, the structure.having been considerably reduced in height, it passed through the bar, when the horses were re-harnessed, and the journey was resumed. The Lord Mayor, on his arrival at Westminster, proceeded to the Court of Exchequer, where the Lord Chief Baron and Baron Huddles ton were seated on the Bench in their full-bottomed wigs. The commonsergeant introduced the Lord Mayor elect, and gave a brief outline of his career. The Lord Chief Baron made a speech on the balance of power in Europe and the RustoTurkish war, in the course of which he said,

" England might meet and defeat any number of States of Europe banded together against her." The Lord Mayor made the usual affirmation, and the civic party retired from the Court, after inviting the Judges to the banquet in the evening.

Mr Archibald Forbes, the war correspondent of the "Doily News," has received the Order of St. George—the highest military distinction—from the Czar. The "Angsburger Zeitung," writing on the subject of Mr Forbes's decoration, says it was bestowed upon him, "not for nattering the Russian cause or for the use of a complaisant and convenient reticence, but for his great courage, his prodigious tang froid, and his unshakeable love of truth."

An American lady coming from Canada assured the Customs officer that she had nothing-but wearing apparel in her trunk, but he went to tbe bottom of the institution, where he found a dozen bottles of brandy stowed away. "Madam," demanded he, sternly, "do you call these wearing apparel ?" "Yes," the lady demurely replaxl, " they are my husband's ' night cape.' "

The Emigbation Offices, at- Piymocth. —"Anglo-Australian," in the "European Mail," suggests that there ore thousands of both sexes in the colonies who will hear with regret of the death of Mr Wat*on, for so many years master of the Government Emigration Depot at Plymouth. Mr Watson's funeral was attended by a large number of his Plymouth friends and other* interested in j emigration. The shops along tho route were I closed, and ns a mark of the esteem in which ! he was held it may be mentioned that among those who aime from- distance were, besides Mr Arthur Hill, of Reading, tbe owner of the depot, Captain Smith, 8.N., on behalf of the colony of New Zealand, Mr H. H. Speed Andrews, R.K., representing the AgentGeneral for Sew South Wales, and Mr T. F. Smith, the despatching officer for South Australia, specially deputed by Sir Arthur Blyth, the Agent-General for the Colony, to be pre* sent on his behalf. Mr Watson passed an active and energetic life, ably representing Mr Arthur Hill for sixteen years v manager of his well-known Government Emigration depots, at Bl—kwall and Plymouth, and he will long be remembered with regret by all who have been connected with Government i emigration.