New South Wales Centenary Celebration.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1839, 27 January 1888, Page 3

New South Wales Centenary Celebration.

— ■ — — #- (PER PRESS ABSOCIATIOK.) [Beceived January 27, 1,45a,Jn,] SYDNEY, January 26. The oity is most brilliantly illuminated and decorated to-night, quite surpassing the display made on the occasion of the Jubilee festivities. George-street was lined with one hundred red Venetian anaatof supporting an endless line of

banners, heraldic shields being interspersed along tbe line, the whole being illuminated by large numbers of lanterns. Three arches spanned the roadway at intervals, and lines of bunting were flying in George, Pitt, and the other principal thoroughfares. The buildings were illuminated with must intricate devices, showing considerable expenditure of time and money, but the illuminations wore somewhat interfered with by a breeze blowing. The tower of the general post office was adorned with arc lights, placed at an elevation of 200 ft above the level of the street. The statues of Her Majesty the Queen. Prince Albert, and Captain Cook were garlanded with strings of lamps ; and thousands ot lamps were scattered among6t the trees and flowers iv the park, presenting a most attractive appearance. The Town Hall was similarly adorned, and was a perfect blaze of colored lights and devices. Wheeled traffic was stopped in the central streets, which were rendered quite impassable by the crowd. It is estimated that at least two hundred thousand people were abouo.

Between eight and nine hundred guests were present at the State banquet. About fifty notabilities were present — Lords, Governors, Premiers, and others. Sir "Wm. Jervois replied to the toast of •' The Governors," his speech being devoted entirely to tlie aspect of colonial defence. He expressed regret that the New Zealand Ministers were absolutely precluded by urgent public business from taking part in the great celebration. He referred to hia eleven years' connection with the defences of the colonies, and praised the readiness displayed by the several colonial Parliaments in passing tho Naval Defences Bill. They must not forget that it was highly essential that the commercial routes should bo guarded as well as the harbors. He spoke approvingly of the labors to that end made by the Earl of Carnarvon in bis capacity as chairman of the Defence Commission, aDd he congratulated tbe colonies on tho work they had clone and on the advanced state of their defences, which was a most important lactor in the great work of federation.

[Received Jan nary 27, 2.10 a.m.]

LONDON, January 26.

The press contains highly complimentary notice on tho centenary. The Daily News states that England's work in Australia has lefc an enduring mark for the future human race.