THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AT MELBOURNE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 901, 17 December 1867, Page 3

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AT MELBOURNE.

By the arrival of the s.s. Rakaia, we (Wellington Independent) have received, via Sydney, Melbourne advices to tho 29th ult., which contain fuller details of the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh there. .' BECEPTION AT QtTEENSCLIFFE. The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Empire writes : — The excitement in reference to the Prince's visit to this colony, which has been paramount to almost every other for the past few weeks, on the news that the Galatea had left Adelaide for Port Phillip* has culminated into a surpassing intensity. The announcement by telegram, received during the afternoon, " Galatea off Port Macdonnell" (Cape Northumberland, 11 a.m..) though much what might liave been expected, as she had left Adelaide the previous day, excited a perfect furore, and the Telegraph Office and the Exchange Rooms (Greville and Co.), where the public are kept au courani with all shipping movements, were bei sieged for the remainder of the day.

The Argus published a late edition at sis o'clock, copies of . which were circulated amongst the excursion steamers, in which the arrival of the Galatea off the Otway at half-past five a.m. was announced, but accompanied with a statement that she would reach the Heads about two o'clock. This doubtlessly had the effect of misleading some of the owners or charterers, and the start was not made so promptly as it should have been. The small Government steamer, the Pharos, with some of the Reception Commissioners and their families on board, started at an early hour, as did also one or two of the private steamers. At nine o'clock several of the larger steamers got under way. It wanted a quarter to 12 when the Galatea entered the Heads, and at that time the only vessels of the convoy which had arrived were the Victoria (already at Queenscliffe), the Barwon (also lying there), the City of Melbourne, Aldinga, Coorong, and Hero, several others arriving soon afterwards. A boat from the Victoria, with a message from his Excellency, first put off to the Galatea, and, after a short interval, returned to the Victoria with an invitation to his Excellency to come on board. As the Governor approached the Galatea, a salute was fired from her guns. On the return of the boat to the Victoria, after leaving his Excellency and his Aide-de-camp, the Commodore, on board the Victoria, signalled to the flotilla to form line, At a few minutes to one o'clock, the Galatea steamed away, and although the intended double line was not by any means complete, owing to some of the vessels being still a good way behind, yet a fair line was formed which looked remarkably pretty, with its illimitable display of bunting, notwithstanding the smoke. The Galatea steamed away at such a pace that the vessels already in the rear had no chance of getting up ; and the line extended for four or five miles, until at about mid-distance a slackening of speed on the part of H.M. ship brought nearly the whole of them pretty well together. There were 17 vessels in the convoy, and they conveyed about 5000 people to the gathering. On the Galatea arriving off Williamstown at 5 o'clock, the battery fired a Royal salute. Shortly afterwards the Emerald Hill Batteries took up the firing. As soon as the Galatea anchored ■fche Victoria steamed up with manned yards and fired a salute as she passed. The Pharos, with her brass guns, then followed, also manning her yards. His Excellency here left the Galatea and reembarked in the Victoria. The various steamers, with their crowds of passengers then passed cheering lustily as they went, and the Prince, from the quarter deck, repeatedly acknowledged the demonstrations of loyalty by lifting his cap and bowing to the people. THE LANDING AT SANDEIDGE. Monday, Nov. 25. Parliament met to-day, and adopted an address to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, and then adjourned for one week. At an early hour this morning, the fuller decoration of the principal buildings in the city were commenced ; while every train from the country added hundreds of visitors to those already in the city. It is estimated roughly that upwards of 15,000 people have come to Melbourne specially to be present on the arrival of his Royal Highness. Before 6 a.m., dozens of conveyances, carrying their living freight, were wending their way to .Sandridge, and it is supposed 20,000 or 25,000 persons witnessed the | landing of his Royal Highness. At twenty minutes io 12 o'clock, the Duke, accomEanied by his suite, left the Galatea in is own barge, and approached the Sandridge Railway Pier amidst the most j deafening and enthusiastic cheers on the part of the populace. The Sandridge Town Pier, and all the vessels in the neighbourhood of the Railway Pier, were crowded with spectators. The Prince and his suite were dressed in plain clothes, and were received on the eastern side of the Railway Pier in the presence of a military guard of honour, by his Excellency Sir J. H. Manners Sutton, the members of the Government, and of the Royal Reception Committee, the members of both Houses of Parliament, &c. At the end of the pier an address was presented by the Mayor and Town Council of Sandridge. From this point to the carriage, a distance of a quarter of a mile, hundreds of girls prettily dressed in white muslin trimmed with blue, strewed a profusion of flowers in the pathway of his Royal Highness, an attention which appeared to afford him great pleasure, and which he acknowledged at every step. A procession headed by the Friendly Societies, Odd Fellows, Foresters, and • Rechabites was then formed. The procession formed a magnificent sight, being fully two and a half miles in length and in one unbroken line. The Prince then proceeded towards Melbourne, alighted at the Treasury and after partaking of some refreshment, received the Parliamentary address, and having made a very suitable reply proceeded to Toorak.

8 p.m. — Intense excitement still prevails ; the city is crammed. The Fitzroy Gardens and the Flagstaff Reserve are about to be lighted up, and a brilliant display of fire-works takes place in the Richmond Paddock. Bonfires are being lighted all round the city. Those on Van Yean, and other conspicuous points in sight- of the city, are intensely brilliant. Tuesday, Nov. 26. Tile* illumination of the Fitzroy Gardens and the Flagstaff Eeserve last night was a magnificent sight, and the display of fire-works in the Richmond Paddock was the finest ever seen here. The immense bonfires around the city attracted a good deal of attention, particularly that on Station Peak, of which there was an unintei'rupted view across the Werribee Plains. The bonfire was composed of over 800 tons of firewood, and burned all night. ..-....• _„ # . . : The levee was held to-day in the. new Exhibition. It was very largely attended,

and many addresses were presented to his Royal Highness. Wednesday, 27th. The illuminations were perfectly successful,and the effect exceeded allexpectations. The supply of gas was abundant. Every main street in the city was crammed, and it is estimated that over 100.000 persons were in them at one time. Throughout the whole night they were densely crowded. All the illuminations were costly in the extreme, far exceeding the brilliancy and design displayed on tho marriage of the Prince of Wales.

His Royal Highness, accompanied by his Excellency Sir J. Manners Suttonand suite, drove through allthcprincipal streets of the city, and was everywhere received with the most enthusiastic cheering. The Prince says that the only two sights he lias witnessed equal to his reception in Melbourne were the entrance of the Princess Alexandra into London and the Duke of Wellington's funeral. He has expressed himself pleased with the city, and astonished at its magnitude and wonderful progress. . TREMENDOUS KIOT.— FOUit MEN SHOT. Thursday, 28th. The Governor's State Ball last night was a magnificent affair. The decorations were on the most gorgeous scale. His Royal Highness danced a quadrille, a waltz, and a Scotch reel. Two thousand persons were present. To-day a hot north wind has been blowing, and" the dust is truly awful. His Eoyal Highness attended the Agricultural Show for a short time, but was uotpresent at the Free Banquet, which was a failure. The Haymarket Theatre is rushed. The cricket match was continued to-day, and high holiday is being kept throughout the city. There is to be a display of fireworks tonight in the Richmond Paddock. A terrible scone occurred last night at the Protestant Hall. A tremendous crowd of Irish and Orangemen had collected, and commenced a riot. Four men were shot from the windows of the Protestant Hall. Four men have since been arrested, charged with the crime, and remanded for one week. Friday, 29th. His Royal Highness laid the foundation stone of the new Town Hall to-day, in the presence of an immense concourse of people. The ceremony was very imposing. The German torchlight procession takes place to-night. The Civic banquet is expected to be a very successful affair. The display of fireworks in the Richmond Paddock last night, was a magnificent affair. High holiday is being kept. The races to-morrow promise to be a great success. Relative to the above mentioned riot, the Sydney Erwpirc remarks : — lt will be seen from our Melbourne telegram that a riot had occurred in that city on Wednesday night. The particulars are at present very meagre, but it is slated that a terrible scene was witnessed. " The Irishmen and the Orangemen had collected and commenced a riot," and four men were shot from the windows of the Protestant Hall." That such an outrage on the public peace should have occurred under any circumstances would be most deplorable, but at a time when the young Prince, who is the guest of the Australian colonists, is visiting them in pure good fellowship and good-will, it is most lamentable. We shall have to wait for further news before it can be decided- who has provoked this discreditable encounter; but whoever it may be, the fact is a disgrace to the Australian colonies. We may confidently hope that a better reception will await the Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney, and that these selfish and bigoted ebullitions of feeling will be here viewed with abhorrence and disgust.