DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT. A MEMORABLE CEREMONY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 5

DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT. A MEMORABLE CEREMONY.

[By Telegraph.]

[(FROM. OUR SPECIAL CORHEBrol'''__NT.) ■ DUNEDIN, March 22.-.

•The inaugural steps-in the celebratten of the Jubilee of Otago took place to-night in the Agricultural Hall. The ceremony was an exceedingly brilliant one, the occasion being the opening of the Industrial Exliitd* tion by the Governor. The beautiful large hall, holding some four thousand, was crowded to excess, and when the whole assemblage rose to receive the Governor the spectacle was most striking. In front of the platform a temporary dais was erected, on which were seated the Governor, the Premier, the Mayor, several members of tho Legislative Council, the Hon. W. Rolleston, the Hon. T. Fergus, Mc T. Brydone, the Vice-Presidents of the exhibition, and a large number of leading citizens and their wives. Beyond these in the cupola-like stage were seated the members of the Choral and Orchestral Societies, the white dresses of the ladies forming a pretty back ground. Viewed from the platform the effect of the vast audience, which crowded the body Of the hall and the galleries surrounding it, was most, impressive. For a while the large assemblage waitpatiently, then as the notes of the prelude to the National Anthem are heard, signifying the arrival of his Exeellerioy j 4_e Governor, a great wave of sound is caused by all rising to their feet. Then the old familiar air, the National Anthem, which Englishmen as a rule ring so badly, buret forth from the choir, the audience also joining in. As his Excellency rised at the conclusion of the anthem to call upon the Boa. Thos. Fergusi enthusiastic cheerbreak fortlr", which the Governor, evidently pleased with the warmth of this welcome in the capital of Otago, smilingly acknowledges. The Hon. Thos. Fergus • now rises* and, in a voice which is heard clearly throughout the whole of the building, proceeds to detail the rise and progress of the Exhibition. As he refers in graceful terms to the selfsacrifice, indomitable and Elude of the early settlers of Otago, cheCxreak forth from time to time. He concludes a pleasant little speech by a reference to the work done in helping the progress Of of the province by the Agricultural attd Pastoral Association, and speaks, amidst loud cheers, of the handing over, at rio distant date, to the Association, the beautiful hall in which the ceremony is being held.:-:

"The .Old Hundredth** is then sung by the choir and audience, and quite a thrill pervades the whole assemblage as the melody of the grand old psalm rises and fills the building. .' . / The Premier, who is received with mingled marlfis of approbation and dtsapprobaMbn, steps to the front in answer to a oallfro-j the Governor. The right hon. gentleman disretrards the hint given in the olficial programme as.to th©, ftddreßse- betoir " iwrt* and the cense_Uonoe is. *-»fi «_-«_•»

going through a series of statistics the audience evinces a considerable amount of impatience. The, Premier, by the way, makes a moat amusing mistake. Whilst running through, the comparisons of 1848 and 1898, he says—"ln 1848 the population was 140 souls; now, in 1898, the population is 1(39 sduls." A roar of laughter from the audience pointed the mistake, which, by the way, the Premier did not correct. A hurried reference to Captain Cargill, Mr Macandrew and Dr. Burns was about the only reference in his speech evoking enthusiasm.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. B. Cargill) followed with a short and graceful speech, and then the choir bursts forth with the grand chorus " Thanks be to God."

Mr T. Brydone now comes forward and shortly aiks his Excellency to declare the Exhibition open. Once again, as his Excellency rise 3, the audience breaks forth into tumultuous cheering, which lasts some seconds. The Governor, in a pithy address, describes in glowing language what he has seen durine his recent tour through Otago in connection with the woollen manufactures and the mining and dredging industries. He speaks in terms of regret at the absence, through illness, of Lady Ranfurly, expressing a hope that she may be sufficiently recovered to take part in the Jubilee ceremonies of the next day. He closes his speech with an appeal to the rising generation to emulate the example not only of the grand old pioneers, but also of the settlers of today, who are worthily treading in their footsteps and upholding the traditions of the past history of Otago. Cheer.* ring out again and again as his Excellency concludes by expressing a fervent hope that the colonies will always remain part of the British Empire, and that colonists will never forget the country which signilies to them all that is meant by the word "Home."

The usual photograph, which is now an integral portion of any public function, is taken, this time by aid of a flashlight, the brilliancy of which for a brief second almost blinds one. This over the audience onco more rises to its feet, and the Hallelujah Chorus, grandly sung by the choir, concludes what throughout has been a lilting inauguration to the moro imposing and elaborate Jubilee celebration of the following day. Tho arrangements for the Jubilee tomorrow are very complete, a prominent incident being that Maoris are coming from all parts. The procession will be a very brilliant affair, and also the ball on Thursday night. On Thursday morning the Rev. Gordon Webster as moderator of the Presbyterian General A-sembly presents an address to the Governor. Princes street is like Colombo street, so many Christchurch people being in evidence.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, March 22. The special meeting of the Presbytery held in connection with the Jubilee of the ChUrch was opened this evening. The Moderator, tho Rev. W. Will, presided and preached a sermon. The deputies from the Northern Church, from the Free Church of Scotland (Rev. Dr. Duff and the Revs. Robert Mcintosh and Andrew Keay), from the Presbyterian Church (Rev. George Douglas), Presbyterian Church of Victoria (Revs. J. Meiklejohn and W. S. "Rowlands and Mr J. Andrewson) were wel-

• corned and associated with the Synod. The • Assemblies of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia sent greetings and congratulations. The deputies ■from the Northern Church were heard.