THE PROCESSION IN DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9993, 24 March 1898, Page 5

THE PROCESSION IN DUNEDIN.

THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

(raass association telegram.) DUNEDIN, March 23. Ideal weather prevailed for the celebration of the jubilee of the Otago settlement. Never iv Dunedin has more quiet enthu« siasm been shown, and on no previous occasion has there been such a remarkable display. For the past three days trains have brought in their thousands of passengers, and this morning from 4000 to 5000 must have reached town by rail while hundreds of settlers came by road. The celebrations commenced by thanksgiving services in most of the city churches. The historic service of the Presbyterian Synod was held in the First Church, which was crowded by a representative congregation. The Rev. Jas. Chisholm (Milton) and the Rev. J. Gibb were the speakers. The Governor attended service at Knox Church, which was also crowded. Dr. Duolop (Moderator of the Dunedin Presbytery) presided, and addresses were given by the Revs. W. Saunders (Congregational) and W. Hewitson. Bishop Nevill preached at St. Paul's Cathedral, and Pontifical High Mass was celebrated'at St. Joseph's Cathedral, where the preacher was the Rev. Father O'Neill, of Milton.

Fully 300 people arrived from Inveroargill to-day, 400 from Outrara, 400 from Palmerston, 900 from Clinton, and 600 from Oamaru, all by special trains, while the ordinary trains brought quite another 1000 people. By the time the services wero over the streets were crowded with thousands upon thousands of well-dressed adults aud juveniles to see the procession. All Dunedin appeared to have turned out, and from Knox church to the Southern Oval was one mass of human beings, while every window and every verandah along the line of the procession was crowded.

The procession was then formed, and was of imposing length. It took forty minutes' to pass a given point. The Friendly Societies, Five Brigades, and Trades' Unious mustered strongly, and in addition to Invercargill and Dnnedin pipe bands, there were six brass bands, including that ot Timaru. The chief interest centred in the old identities, those who arrived fiom 1848 to 1858, about 600 taking part in the procession. The " new iniquity," those attracted from Australia by the discovery of gold, also mustered strongly. The display included one of Cobb's coaches with an eaoort. The trades' displays were the finest ever seen in I)unedin. A number of Maoris, dressed in native costume, were present. The Volunteers, who mustered strongly, lined the streets to the Octagon. The \ ice-Regal party, including the Premier and Minister of Lands, were stationed with the civic authorities in front of the Town Hall, where the procession was viewed, all joining it as it passed on its way to the Caledonian Grounds, Volunteers and school cadota falling in behind his Excellency's carriage. On the arrival of the procession at the Caledonian Grounds, Lord Ranfurly having been received by the Mayor and Chairman of the Sports addresses were given from the grand stand by Mr Cargill (Mayor), the Governor (who asked the assemblage to sing " Auld Lang Syne," a request warmly taken up) and the Premier. The latter said it was not his first appearance, as he had boen there on a previous occasion as a competitor. - He referred in high terms to the part taken by the " new iniquity" in the progress of the colony. The sports were then proceeded with. The number on the ground was from 10,000 to 12,000.

The events were oE no great importance. The Jubilee regatta was held in the upper harbour, and was well attended. A nice breeze made the yachting events very interesting. The First-class Yacht Race was won by Thelma, with Leader 2 and Carina 3. White Wings won the Handicap Yacht Race, and Ragu the Third-class Yacht Race, with Dream second.

The illuminations to-night were on a much more modest scale than at the Diamond Jubilee. Many business men contented themselves with taking down their shutters and lighting, gas in, their windows. Fairy lamps were the favourite means of illumination, and some very effective designs were to be seen. The Jubilee Committee made a display of fireworks from the railway overbridge, which proved ''successful.'. The arrangements were in .charge of Mr W. Stokes, Christchurch.

The Industrial Exhibition was crowded all day and again this evening.