H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. (FR0M THE "SYDNEY MORNING HERALD," APRIL 3.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3355, 17 April 1868, Page 3

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. (FROM THE " SYDNEY MORNING HERALD," APRIL 3.)

Yesterday morning, his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to the Botanical Gardens, and planted two trees there in commemoration of his stay in New South Wales. The Duke was accompanied by Lieutenant Haig and the Hon. the Minister for Lands (Mr. J. B. Wilson). At the entrance to the Gardens he wai received by the Director (Mr. Charles Moore), and among those who were present at the ceremony were Dr. Bennett and Mr. Jamei Laidley. His Royal Highness, having been conducted to the lawn to the south of Farm Core, was addressed by Mr. Moore, who, in requesting him to plant the trees (Theophraata imperialis), remarked that it was, he believed, the first individual of the species which had been introduced into these colonies. It was called " Theophrasta" after the distinguished natural historian of that name, and "imperialis" on account of its*magnificent leaves. The Prince planted the shrub, and Mr. Moore remarked that the designation "imperialis" became additionally appropriate from the fact that this particular tree had been placed in the earth by the hands of his Koyal Highness. The Duke then went a few paces to the eastward and planted another tree, a Dammara robusta, a fine tree found on the east coast of Australia, remarkable for the altifcuere which it attains; and for its close affinity iv botanical characteristics to the Norfolk Island pine. The ceremony, which did not occupy more than a quarter of an hour, having been concluded, his Royal Highness proceeded to the jetty, where his barge was in readiness to convey him on board the 'Galatea.' He embarked at about a quarter to 11 o'clock, amidst the cheers of ajlarge number of spectators who bad assembled at the stairs. With reference to the Theophrasfca imperialis, we are informed that the native habitat of this shrub is South America. It will most probably grow to a height of about twenty feet, and its glossy light green foliage will be displayed to great advantage in the position in which it is placed. The leaves are long, somewhat rugged on the upper surface, and the edges are sharply and irregularly serrated. His Koyal Highness proceeded on board the c Galatea,' where he received the members of both Houses of the Legislature. These gentlemen went on hoard the ship at the in?itation of his Royal Highness, and they expressed their admiration of the noble proportions aud internal fittings of this splendid ship. Having taken some refreshment, the hon. members, who numbered between sixty and seventy, left for the shore shortly after 1 o'clock. Soon afterwards his Royal Highness returned on shore also ; and in the afternoon, accompanied by the Hon. Eliot Yorke, he drove out through the city and some of the suburbs. His Royal Highness called upon the Bishop of Sydney and Mr. T. 8. Mort before returning to Government House. In the evening Mr. Walter Montgomery gave, by command, some readings before his Royal Highness the Prince, the Earl and Countess of Belmore, and a few ladies and gentlemen, at Government House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh received yesterday, at Government House, at a quarter before 2 p.m., the deputation appointed by the Australian indignation meeting, to present the following address, adopted at that meeting on the 24th ultimo. The following gentlemen composed the deputation — The Hon. John Campbell, M.L.C., the Hon. Geoffrey Eagar (Colonial Treasurer), Mr. Burdekin, M.L.A., Mr. Driver, M.L.A., Mr. G. Thornton, M.L.A., Mr. G. R. Dibbs, and Mr. E. S. Hill. The address was as follows :—: — "To his Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent, Earl of Ulster, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, &c. "May it please your Royal Highness, — As native' born Australians, we desire to assure your Royal Highness that we regard with the greatest indignation aud abhorrence the foul crime of assassination recently attempted upon your Royal person. " We deeply sympathise with your Royal Highness in the severe bodily sufferings occasioned by this crime, and we most heartily rejoice at the prospect of your speedy restoration to health. " We assure your Royal Highness that, sharing in common with the rest of the inhabitants of this colony the deepest devotion and loyalty to the Throne and person of her most gracious Majesty, our feelings as Australians have been especially outraged by the perpetration on our shores of so vile a deed. "We are indignant at the thought that our country should have been made the scene of this most detestable crime, and that in our midst, though not of our community, there should be found a man capable of designing and carrying out an act of such unparalleled atrocity; "We have read with the most profound satisfaction the assurance which your Royal Highness has publicly given of your unshaken confidence in the loyalty of the people of this colony. i "And we trust that, when your Royal Highness shall have safely returned to England, you will b« able to assure her Most Gracious Majesty that throughout the vast extent of her glorious empire there are no people more fervent in their loyalty to the Throne and in their love to her who fills it, and none who cherish more warmly their connection with the mother country, than the native-bora Australians." The address was handed to the Prince by Mr. Campbell, and his Royal Highness made the following reply :—": — " I receive your address with pleasure. I have already, through the Gazette, answered the numerous addresses that have been sent to me, — and I feel all that I expressed in that answer." His Royal Highness then withdrew, and the deputation retired. An address from the district of Bega, signed by 500 of the inhabitants, to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, was presented through his Excellency the Earl of Belmore, by Mr. Daniel Egan, M.L.A., yesterday. The address congratulated the Prince on his recovery from bis recent attack, and expressed the strongest loyalty to her Majesty the Queen and each member of the Rojal Family. The address to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, from the inhabitants and residents of Dubbo, was, yesterday, handed to his Excellency the Earl of Belmore, by Mr. G. M. Lord, member for the Bogan. His Excellency was graciously pleased to receive the address, and promised to present it to the Duke. A deputation from the 1.0.0. F., M.U., consisting of Mr. J. Sutherland, M.L.A., Mr. M. Chapman, J.P., and Mr. G. Bruce, waited upon his Excellency the Earl of Bel more yesterday, and requested him to present an address adopted by the society to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, on behalf of the society. His Excellency received the deputation in his usual courteous style, and promised to present it as early as possible. We learn by the New Zealand papers that the news of the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred had created a tremendous sensation. In Dunedin a monster meeting was held, to express horror at the attempt made to assassinate the Duke of Edinburgh, and sincere condolence at the sufferings he has sustained. "God Save the Queen" has been sung in the theatre, and performed in the churches j and on tbe walls of the concert rooms and public assembly halls the words are displayed in large placards. At Wellington a monster indignation meeting was held.

IMPROVIMKNT IS PBOMOTING "Sulphuric acid has," say. BdVt Weekly Messenger, " been extensively used by the distillers of molasses for converting the mish much quicker into vinous fermentation ; this process has been improved by th« addition of * phosphoric acid, according to the rag- . eestion first made by the chemist, Pasteur, who, Regarding yea.t «• plant containing phosphorus^ , „ believed the process of fermentation might be stimulated by that element. Practical results have proved the correctness of this theory, and many distillers now use the phosphate of soda." The silk collodion newly invented hat long been obtained, or something like it, by the Chinese, frmn the contents of the silkworm which has been pre- ' vented from spinning. The matter is found in a , thickened mass or gum, and is made into a transparent varnish. It is also spun (as the gam is said to have been spun lately by a Frenchman in a still ,' earlier stage of its formation in the mulberry-tree), and forms a very Strong thread, used for fishing' line*,