ENGLISH NOTES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9739, 29 May 1897, Page 8

ENGLISH NOTES.

The Directors of all the principal English railways have granted a day's holiday, without deduction of pay, to the whole of the regular staff throughout the lines who can be spared from their duties on Jubilee day. Those persons whoae duties prevent them from taking the holiday on June 22nd will be granted a day's leave of absence on the same conditions on a later day* The Prince of Wales has ordered that a grand stand shall be erected over the gates of Marlborough House for the seating of his own household.

The.Lord Mayor of Manchester, at a meeting of the City Council, moved a resolution placing £10,000 at the disposal of the Town Hall Committee, and instructing them to undertake all the necessary arrangements for the celebration in a befitting manner... Sir John Harwobd,- who seconded, explained that an important item in the celebration would provision of a day's, enjoyment for the children and aged people among the poorest classes. Messrs J. A. LUmley and .Co. ruoently let premises' in Pall<—all for the Jubilee week for the,sum.of 7000 guineas.

The Duchess of Bedford and the Duchess of Cleveland were the Queen's bridesmaids, and they both hope, .to see her Majesty celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. ( A contingent of fifteen Dyak police, under the command of Sub-Commandant W. Raffles Flint, is on its **ay to England to take part, with the other colonial forces, in the Royal procession. The Dyaks will also appear in their native war costumes in the Royal "dilitary Tournaments at the Agricultural Hall and in Dublin, These men originally belonged to the head-hunting tribes of North Borneo. ;

The winners of Doggett's Coat and Badge will profit considerably by the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee. They will have to stand, wearing the famous coat and badge, on the steps of Fishmongers' Hall for a few hours, and will receive £5 for doing so. ,'. Replies have begun, says a London paper of April 12th, to come to hand to the invitations .issued to the various foreign rulers to participate in the ceremonies connected with the celebration of tho Queen's Record Reign, j The Emperor and Empress of Russia will j be represented by the Grand Dube and, Grand Duchess Serge, of Russia. The new Shah of Persia is. sending his Excellency j Nasir-al-Mulk, who will discharge on his behalf the double duty of congratulating the Queen and formally announcing to her Majesty his accession to the throne of Persia. The Emperor of China will be represented by Chang-Yin-.Hwan, one of the Tsung-h-Yamen. The King of Siam will J not send a representative from Bangkok, but bis eldest son, the Crown. Prince of'Siam, ' who is now in London, will represent him at i the ceremonies.

The General Committee of the Congregational Union passed the following resolution, on the motion of Dr. Guinness Rogers:—"The Committee of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, representing more than 4600 churches, with a constituency of at least a million and a quarter persons, are desirous of having a proper recognition at the Diamond Jubilee of her Gracious Majesty the Queen. Congregationalists having always been loyal supporters of the House of Brunswick, they expect that provision will be made in the arrangements for the ceremony of June 22nd for the accommodation of their representatives and those of the other Free Churches."

Elaborate arrangetnents are being made for police protection in the City on the nights of June 21st and June 22nd, and in addition to requisitioning the police —roe proper, a large number of pensioners will be employed as special constables.. Speaking of the Queen's procession a London paper says that the " walking men " will be a feature of her Majesty's carriage. Beside each of the eight cream horses attached to the - Queeus carriage will be a pedestrian servant wearing scarlet coat, white breeches and top boots. These men will carry crooks such as are. to be seen in priilts of former great State pageants, audit will be readily imagined that the task of the ''walking men " will be a fairly arduous one at best. -.'■-.

The new feature of the countless devices for . which Defries, the great London iUaminators, will, be r„ponsible, will bb, says the Daily News, the arborescent flame pictures. These give very beautiful effects m the simplest possible way. - A scroll of flowers, say, is painted on granulated glass set on a copper, faoe, and lighted from behind by the same humble gas-piping. The metal tracery -—tends over the glass, and its surface is carved and gilt. So a decoration for day results as well as an -lamination for night. " Never in the recollection of the Defines has there been." says the writer, " such a fierce damand Jor light. Banks, great bush—— houses, famous advertisers, insurance companies, are all competing, one with another, to get a show which will catch the public eye on the great night. Thrice as much money is being spent upon iHu—inations as in that memorable year 1887. And there are yet many weeks before the day arrives. . . . The. most - cnrkms faot conoerning iliumiitattoos which one gathered from MrDefri-Js is that the consumption of gts on the occa_ion of a general illumination has hitherto been leas than on an ordinary night, He personally expect* thi* occasion to break th* r-aet- in th {-Napae**"