VICTORIA, 100 YEARS

Evening Star, Issue 21689, 7 April 1934, Page 18

VICTORIA, 100 YEARS

MELBOURNE’S GREAT EVENT CENTENARY PREPARATIONS It is probably no exaggeration to say that there will be hundreds of thousands of people m Melbourne for the mam events to lie held in connection with the Melbourne Centenary, which commence in October next, and to which H.R.H.* Prince George has accepted an invitation to be present. • The dedication of Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance at 11 o’clock on the morning ol November 11 will be a sight never to be forgotten—it will uc a ceremonial of great impressiveness, combining dignity aim reverence with glamour iuid simplicity'. Substantially a memorial to Victorians wiio served in the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Imperial forces; when completed will Have cost over £25U,00U, contributed by the Government of Victoria, the Melbourne City Council, and by public subscription. TJie outstanding feature of the memorial is the “Eye of Light,” winch through an aperture in tile solid walls .of- tiio shrine strikes down on to a simple rugged unhewn Rock ol Remembrance,” and being sunk below the pavement, men musu bow their heads to read trio message inscribed thereon, and eternally true, “ Greater Love Hath No Man.;' The Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemingtou and for which a purse of £IO,OOO has been allocated, will undoubtedly draw huge crowds, whilst the London to Melbourne air race for a- prize of £IS,(JUU and gold cup has attracted entrants from all over the world. The race commences from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, at 6.30 a.m. Greenwich time, on October 20, and finishes in 'Melbourne on October 24. It is quite possible that a machine may arrive on October 23, when arrangements will be made for a fitting welcome at flemingtou. Many of tlie machines designed specially lor the race will have a cruising rate as high as 260 miles an hour, and be capable of even greater speed, so that with relief pilots, it will not be surprising if some machines exceed 4,800 miles per day. ' The Boy Scouts’ Rau-Pacitic jamboree will draw Scouts from all over the world—New Zealand will be represented by hoys- from the main centres as well as from country districts.

At the present time arrangements are being made lor an entry of an athletic team of twelve secondary school boys to take part in the interempire public schoolboys’ sports. The team with one master or coach will have their return fares and travelling expenses paid by the Centenary Council, and they will be tfie guests of public schoolboys in Melbourne and Sydney during their stay of one month, the idea being to have a fortnight of play and a fortnight of sightseeing. One rather interesting feature of the celebrations will be the horticultural display. About twenty acres of Fitzroy Gardens have been handed over to the Horticultural Council and huge hothouses will be erected, garden plots laid out and planted with the choicest blooms: native flora, orchids, cacti, and rock gardens will be featured. and rose bowers will be given special attention.

' Another great attraction will be the amusement park, in course of erection near the city of Melbourne. The park will contain a sports area to seat 5.000 people, and there will be a group of fascinating buildings to house a multitude of side shows and novelty stalls. The four main buildings will be grouped around a great central structure, “ Melbourne’s Centenary Birthdav Cake,” five tiers high, and decorated with huge electric candles. The birthday cake building will cost £4,000. On the ground floor will be a restaurant, and an upper floor will contain a ballroom, where dancing competitions for prizes worth £SOO will he held. On September 28, 1934, the 100th candle will be lighted, and a real birthdav cake, weighing ten tons and containing 500 sovereigns, will be cut —the fair continues to April 28, 1935.

, The Eucharistic Congress is to he neld during the centenary, and members of the Roman Catholic Church from all over the world will he attending. An all-Australian Anglican Assembly will also take place during November, when it is expected that the largest assembly ever held in Australia of Anglican clergy will be possible. Over £6ojooo has been allocated for administration, decorations, advertising, etc., and more money is being daily subscribed so that the Celebrations Council will be able to carry out the various schemes arranged in an ideal setting and under ideal conditions.

One of the latest ideas is the establishment of a Centra] Accommodation Bureau, under the control and management of the Victorian Railways. This bureau’s function will he to arrange accommodation for visitors,' as it is anticipated there will be a dearth of accommodation, and so that no one will be disappointed all the hotels, boarding houses, etc., will he tabulated and every assistance rendered in satisfactorily housing the visitors.