AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VX, Issue 7108, 23 January 1901, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

IMPRESSIONS OP A VISITOR.

(special.)

Sydney had every reason to be proud of its Commonwealth inauguration. The scenes in the city on New Year's Day, when the procession passed through the streets ; at the Centennial Park, when thb Governor-General and Ministry were sworn in ; and in the evening, when gorgeous illuminations transformed night into day, will not readily pass from the memories of those who witnessed them. The complicated and elaborate arrangements necessary to the carrying out of a brilliant series of pageants were for the most part admirable. The streets and the buildings (public and private) presented a display of color the like of which was never seen before in Australia. The crowded city thoroughfares, the procession that threaded its way through the dense masses, the military display, all united to provide a pageant as remarkable as it was historically significant. What impressed the visitors most was the perfect order and good behaviour of the crowds. One had only to look along the route of the procession, to view the enormouß concourse in the Centennial Park— variously estimated at any number up to 300,000 people— and to observe she streets leading therefrom, like running streams of humanity, to form some idea of the proportions of the remarkable assemblage of the Australian people on their greatest national occasion, The crowds were eager, excited, and, as opportunity offered, highly enthusiastic, but they never parted with their selfcontrol. Nowhere was this good order better shown than in the behaviour of the tcn3 of thousands of persons of all ages who visited the Palace Gardens during the evening. It had been the custom to exclude the people at night, but during the celebrations the gardens were illuminated in the evening and thrown open to the public. The privilege was not abused, and access to the beautiful reserve, made more fairylike than over by illuminated fountains and flower-beds, was intelligently ap predated by all who availed themselves of the opportunity. The experiment of the first night proved so satisfactory that the curator had no hesitaion in throwing the garden open on succeeding evenings. The " continental," in the Domain, was similarly orderly, and throughout the proceedings the excellent tone and invariable good humour of the crowds were particularly noticeable. There was a regard for the aged, coupled with a Consideration for women and children, which was a specially gratifying feature of the enormous assemblages in the streets, and was highly creditable to the people of Sydney. At times by day and night, George street, throughout its great length, Bhowed an almost unbroken line of tram c&rs densely packed, with streams 'of vehicles where there was barely room for them

between the trams and the pavements while hundreds of thousands of pedesttians threaded their way between, under conditions which rendered immunity from accident absolutely marvellous. Probably nowhere outside of the great cities of the old world have such throngs assembled ; nowhere have they conducted themselves so well, or been so free from serious accidents.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISPLAY.

The admirable system of physical drill which obtains in tbe public schools of New South Wales rendered the school Commonwealth display on the Sydney cricket ground a brilliant success. Some 20,000 boys and girls took part in a scries of graceful marches and manoeuvres, in the presence of 60,000 spectators, not one of whom could fail to be charmed by the beautiful pictures presented. The Governor-General, who watched tbe proceedings for a couple of hours, declared that he had seen nothing like it before, and expressed himself delighted, while the Indian officers who were present appeared to be quite enraptured. The display had the appearance of a fancy dress ball, in which the diversities of hues in the costumes of the children were exhibited to the fullest effect. Each school had its distinctive colours — in the caps and sashes of the boys and in the frocks, blouses, and hats of the girls — and the variety and wealth of tints was beautifully effective. The display of the well drilled and pi'ettily dressed scholars was magnificent, and the opinion was heard on all sides that nothing approaching it had ever been seen before in any part of the world. The flag march and display was wonderfully good, and some 30 squads took part in this manoeuvres, each girl being armed with two Union Jacks suspended at the end of little poles, and as they Kept time to the music, and tripped daintily into a variety of beautifully atranged figures, the flags were simultaneously set in motion, at one time going round in circles, at another extending, while at various stages they were waving or held alofc for the breeze to keep in a state of agitation. As tbe children wheeled from one symmetrical livicg design into another, or contracted into close formation, they made a perfect blaze of color, and the vast body of spectators showed their gratification by constant applause. The Maypole dancing was the prettiest thing of the afternoon. It was an enchanting spectacle as they all emerged from one of the big pavilions to take up their positions. Their costumes were the choicest of all, there being among them a very great number of character representations. Each of the 40 squads were differently arranged. Some of the little ones wore long flowing gowns, and others accordeon-pleated skirts of every hue, which they proudly extended, in order to make tbe bravest possible display of the color. One team excited special admiration, tbe little maids being in long buttercup dresses, broad brimmed bats of a similar hue, and green sashes, while their gallant cavaliers wore pink hats and jackets, and white knickers and shoos. One of the dancers appeared as Siv Henry Pavkes, there being no mistaking the leonine mane and beard, and the well-known top hat and frock coat. England, . Ireland, and Scotland were represented by a trio who kept together, while there were little khaki- clad Australians, a warrior, a miniature Lancer, a boundary rider with a huge stockwhip. There were also a number of Queens, with train attendants, and every variety of costume that could be readily conceived. The rainbow-coloured ribbons on the poles were woven into al sorts of intricate belting again, and just as neatly unwound by the swarms of fairy-like dancers, and the spectacle was pronounced by onlookers on every hand to be the prettiest sight upon which thoy had ever looked. THE HONORED OF THE PEOPLE

Among the most striking phases of the Sydney demonstrations was the remarkable popularity of the Bight Hon G. H. Reid. Even the GovernorGeneral himself was scarcely greeted with greater enthusiasm all along the line of route of the inaugural procession than was Mr Reid. It was such a greeting as even " King Richard " might envy. Not only by the feelings given enthusiastic expression to, but by the general tenor of the allusions to Mr Reid on all sides and from different States, it was impossible to avoid the conclusion that he is at present the strongest individual force .in Australian politics. Mr Barton has a great name; Mr Reid a great personality. It is sad that Mr Barton has never yet distinguished himself in the work of initiative and constructive statesmanship. " Inclined to indolence, a life of ease and luxury, with occasional flashes of after-dinner or platform oratory, is said to be far more to his taste than one of energetic political work. There are not very many who give him credit for being a great leader, much less a fighter. It is said that Mr Reid possesses both qualifications. His star is unquestionably in the ascendant, and there are many among the shrewdest observers of the signs of the the times who confidently- predict that within six months he will have compassed the dofeat of the present Federal Ministry.