DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 6

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.

OPENING OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT. In a clear, sonorous voice, which penetrated to the farthest corner of the Senate Chamber at Ottawa, tho Duke of Connaught, tho new Governor-General, .on Thursday afternoon, November 16, read, in both English and French, the Speech from the Throne in the presenco of the largest and most brilliant assemblage that has ever graced the opening of the Canadian Parliament. Many distinguished people came from great distances to witness the ceremony, being attracted by tlio presence of a Princo of tho royal blood and his consort. The Duke, who Was attired in FieldMarshal's uniform, looked every inch a prince. The Duchess, who was much admired, wore a beautiful gown of gold tissue, and chiffon, with a long tunic, hcitvily beaded and elaborately embroidered, tho waist being outlined with silver bugles. Her ornaments were a tiara and a necklace of diamonds. Her long train of gold and white brocade was carried by two jrages. A beautiful, typical Canadian winter day marked the assembling of Parliament. The ceremonies lvero more elaborate than usual; and tho Senate Chamber w.as filled to overflowing long before the opening hour. The improssiveness of the scene was added to by the presence of a large number of military men who were at Ottawa to attend a military conference. Their Royal Highnesses were escorted from Government House to' the 'Parl'amenfc by a cavalry escort, and on arrival were received by a guard of honour from a local regiment. Guns boomed forth a royal salute, and thousands of isolators who had assembled" to witness the royal progress broke into prolonged cheering. The most important passages of the Speech from the Throne read by his Royal Highness were as follow:— * ■ "It is with much satisfaction that I meet for the first time the Parliament of Canada and avail myself of your advice and assistance in fulfilment of the important chargo -which has been entrusted to mo by his Majesty tho King. I can assure you that I esteem it. a privilege fo be called upon to administer the affairs of this prosperous and growing Dominion, and to associate myself with you in the important duties which you are about to approach. "It affords mo great pleasure to congratulate you upon tho continued and increasing prosperity of the country. Our trade, both with British and foreign countries, is rapidly expanding, and thereis every prospect that its volume in the present year will bo largely in excess of that attained at any time in the past. "It is essential to recognise that in a country possessing so great an area of fertile land as that with which the Dominion is happily endowed tho great basic industry is agriculture. My advisers aro convinffod that tho fehn'o has como when greater aid and encouragement should be given to those who aro engaged in the cultivation of the land. To this end a measure will bo introduced under which it is hoped that there may be co-operation between the Dominion and the various provinces for the purpose of assisting and encouraging farmers to secure the best results in production, and at the same time to preserve the fertility of the soil. ' "A Bill will be introduced fo publish a permanent Tariff Commission, j wlio-e duty it will be io obtain hv in- ! vcstigulimi' and inquiry such inlunmiI tion as will furnish a more stable and satisfactory basis for tariff legislation • than has hitherto bean available,"-