OTAGO’S JUBILEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11536, 24 March 1898, Page 5

OTAGO’S JUBILEE.

A GREAT AND SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION.

EXHIBITION, PROCESSION AND OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS.

IFeom Our Special Cobkespondent,] DUNEDIN Mabch 23.

Jubilee Day broke fair and bright in Dunedin and the earliest dawn disclosed the fact that something extraordinary was in progress. The whole city was gay with flags and bunting, while at an early hour people wereastir preparing to make high holiday. Including the residents of the city and surrounding districts, along with the thousands who had come from Christchurch in the north, Invercargill in the south and from intervening districts, all converging for the occasion in Dunedin, there could not have been fewer than seventy thousand people taking part in the demonstration of to-day. Some estimates, indeed, add fifty per cent to that figure. By ten o’clock the whole city was in a ferment of music and merry crowds, and volunteers marching and countermarching, and men in all kinds of uniforms, and with every description of flag and banner marshalling for the jubilee procession. Prior to that hour, however, there had been religious services in nearly all the churches. The Presbyterian Churches made the occasion a celebration of the jubilee of the Synod. There were crowded audiences at the thanksgiving services in the First Church, and also in Knox Church. It is worth noting that at both gatherings the members thought it appropriate to quote Kipling’s fine ode beginning, “God of pur fathers, known of old,” and having tlie now well-known refrain :

“ Lord God of Hosts, he with us yet. Lest we forget, lest we-forget."

The dominant note in the Presbyterian services was the work and worth of Presbyterianism. Bishop Nevill, who is nothing if not militant, rather discounted the Presbyterian claims in the coots® of his services at St Paul’s Cathadral. He

reminded his hearers that they were met in “the oldest ecclesiastical building in Dunedin still used for divino worship;” and he pointed out to the Presbyterians the fact that episcopal government had been universal in the Church for 1500 years, and that Presbyterianism had its origin in “ political turmoil and arrogance and pride.” He had also a rather bitter reference to hindrances which, he said, had in the past been designedly placed in the way of the Anglican Church in this district, but he rejoiced that all such rancour was now dead. .1 • . ■ , '

This -attack on ■ the Presbyterians was compensated for by tho very generous remarks of the Rev I. Jolly at the Trinity Wesleyan Church. This gentleman spoke of . .the free catholic spirit” of th<*■ l -baidy'• -Presbyterian leader- in this district,' as; shown ' by' Dr; Burns and ■'..Mr.'.’Creed, the Wesleyan missionary, holding joint services. The preacher thanked God that neither of these early clergymen was a high churchman “ready to disgrace the occasion with schismatic sectarianism.” Father O’Neill was ; particularly happy in his jubilee sermon, at St Joseph’s Cathedral, and he did not fail to extol the “supple muscles and subtle brains ” of the Irish Catholics who had helped to produce the. grand results now witnessed in Otago. At the 'synagogue service a special prayer for'the occasion was read.

, So much for ecclesiastical aspects of the jubilee, which would hardly be worth recording but for the fact that in Otago •religion takes the first place and patriotism is quite a.subsidiary matter. ; While the clergy were fulminating and 'eulogising I was devoting myself to the ipractical business of strolling-through the jubilee exhibition, and noting what fruits it had to show as the. material results of Otago’s progress. I found the secretaries, Messrs Dnthie and Cogan most obliging, and .though work was going on in a number of the courts, and the public were.excluded, I was allowed to .'inspect theexhibits. The exhibition is a most Attractive ope through not extensive, and is housed partly in the AgricultoralHall building, but chiefly in a temporary building alongside. Matters were in such a forward state that one could get a good idea 'of the appearance that would be presented when all was complete, and the, brilliant , electric, lighting added a glitter to the scene. Beyond a doubt the interior of/the main exhibition building has a .very Esthetic tout■ ensemble. Nearly every exhibit .is tastefully .arranged, and many are artistic and striking, while in a corneris a beautiful cool fernery with fish ponds and a miniature waterfall.

r An exhibit that at once attracts notice ia the Kaitangata Goal Company’s realistic representation of a coal-mine with miners at work. •

. The exhibition is an epitome of the industrial life of Otago. There are Otago clothing and boots, meat and food stuffs, minerals, ironwork and woodwork, carriages, agricultural implements, engines and other machinery. Dunedin beer is re-sponsible-for three attractive exhibits. The Milton potteries send samples of their wares; Eosiyn and Mosgiel Woollen fac-'toriea-show their products; Oamaru sends ‘wire, varnish and horseshoes; Invercargill a fine exhibit of billhooks and axes. From Mataura is an exhibit of paper, one sample .capable of bearing a strain of fifteen hundredweight. ■ Then we have Otago leather and brushware, Otago ropes, lime and-cement, Otago wire and other blinds, Otago soap,,candles, and even patent medicines, Nor are educational matters overlooked, for the Dunedin School of Art and the Girton College have interesting exhibits. All the available space could have been taken times over for Otago produce and' manufactures, but several outsiders have managed, nevertheless, to obtain places. Thus Christchurch is represented by ranges from Scott Bros.’ foundry, and by ’Flag Brand pickles.- Auckland sends a fine collection ■of locally-made shirts. Collars andcuffs.- The Wellington'Woollen Company makes a show not inferior to that of the Otago concerns. Miss Wrightson, of Napier,' has - a large exhibit of lace curtains' and other fancy work, while a Melbourne firm, Stokes and-Son, show art jewellery and sell jubilee medals produced on the spot by a machine capable of a pressure of fifteen tons. Among the features in the exhibition. are tea-rooms, the phonograph, a type-writing demonstration and a phrenologist. The Art. Society's collection, displayed.’ in a separate ropin, is well worth inspection, as is ,the early history room, which has.miany interesting pictures, including a collection of clever cartoon drawings, in which public men of ihe early times are mercilessly caricatured. When I regained, the street after my rnaander through the exhibition, I found dense crowds of gaily-dressed people everywhere, from the pavement to the verandah and roofs of the buildings. The crowd was large where the procession was being marshalled, near the railway station; it was larger still at the Cargill memorial, dense as you went along Princes Street (either way), and densest of all at the Octagon. It was an occasion such as Dunedin ‘had ’ never • before witnessed, and Dunedin rose to the occasion.’ The perfervid Scot was everywhere in evidence, most aggressively in the matter of costume. TTnlf the population seemed to be clad in tartan, and a large proportion wore “ the garb of old Gaul,” which is the distinctive mark of the Scottish Highlander in modern days.' Tartan plaids, tartan shawls, tartan "ribbons, tartan neckties, tartain favours—it was toujours tartan ; also bagpipes. Here comes a whole hand, of pipers, led by a pipe-major ‘of , gigantic proportions. Then another’ band of pipers, with a different pattern., of tartan and a milder specimen of genus pipe-major, and every piper is blowing .as though he Would blow his lastj and is strutting as proudly as beseems a man who feels that he is a ; potential r “ Piper ;-off ;Dai;gai.” Then We have a corps of-kilted volunteers, with tartan plaids and glittering arms, but instead of blue bonnets they; have bearskin helmets. It is the veritable apotheosis of tartan, and pipes. It is not the Jubilee of Otago, • but of the Highlands. ;

There is little need that I should, describe, the procession, 'which was in other respects very much like a procession- anywhere in the colony. Its most prominent feature was the large number.'of “old identities,” who were heartily cheered, by the “ new.iniquities,” who lined,the route. To make, the ranks of the pioneers complete,- Captain ' Jackson'Barry' had been specially imported from. Wellington,, and he was conspicuous on a fiery steed, that must have given the veteran a,s comfortable a ride as. a more or less mythical whale didr. at an earlier stage of his career. Vfihe; demonstration was a complete success, . and . the • display of the Friendly- and... Trade .’ Societies' far superiority, the ordinary -turnout*, -It was wonderful,' ;tqo, : jhowj the J crowds.’cheered and w^eshss-/jan<l^ Excellency ■ acrapwledged ;‘these, 'greetings by boy Sag until: at ’ last, viceregal fatigue got thd'better, of viceregal politeness. The Premier; top, was repeatedly cheered, showing the pehple to be loyal’ not only ta,tho Queen, but also to tbeir own chosen leader in the government of the country. It was about one o’clock when the procession. ended at the corner of High and Princes Streets. The scene at this time was one of a most striking character. As far as the eye could reach every street was an animated mass of people. The buildings were alive with -them, and amid music and waving of flags repeated cheers were given for the Governor, the Premier and the Mayor. Then off the people streamed in different directions, some thousands to the racecourse, seven or eight thousand to the Caledonian Grounds, others to the regatta in the harbour—the majority probably to eujoy a hearty meal 'and : to 'talk over the memorable demonstration in which they had taken part. The firing of guns at eight in the even.ing ushered in a new phase-of the jubilee. It was the signal for the general iilumination, of the city to take place, and also for the - opening to the outsider of the Old Identity Conversazione at the Agricultural ’HAH. ~ Although there wore some two thousand people atthis function, beside? an equai.nam]»er.:in" the exhibition, and thouotherajiiaeesiof *■ entertain^

xnent, the crowd in the streets did not seem one whit lessened. The illuminations were pretty general, and electricity, gas and fairy lamps all lent their aid to convert the night into day. It was noticeable, however, that the shopkeepers, though on jubilation.bent, were like John Gilpin of a frugal mind. There were hardly any special devices, and in some 'cases the Record Reign illuminations were made to do duty again. The exceptions were the Union Steamship Company’s display, , a brilliant, electrically-lit device, “ Otago’s 'Jubilee 1848-1898 the Otago Club, which was copiously adorned with fairy lamps; the National Insurance Company, with a bold illumination, “ Advance, Otagp;” and Sargood’s, with a special'jubilee device. In most cases the shops were simply lighted, and no attempt at special display wp-s made.

The exhibition under the electric light did not come up to anticipations, for in 'some parts the light was fitful and dim; but this defect will doubtless be remedied.

The gathering of early settlers at the Agricultural Hall represented the secular side of the jubilee sentiment. The principal addresses were those of Mr Burns (one of the original settlers) and of the Hon William Rolleston. Standing, as he was, amidst a large number of the original settlers, Mr Burns, though he spoke with rare spirit andfprce,was several times overcome by his emotions, and was •hardly able to proceed. It was noticeable ■ even at this-meeting that any reference to - the religious aspect of the Otago settlement called forth the most vociferous ■ applause. When Mr Rolleston rose to 'speak he was received with plaudits loud »and long-continued, which had the appearance of a political demonstration. Nor was the speaker over careful to dissipate the impression. Ho found occasion to refer to the true basis of government as being one that gave freedom to all and favour to none, and that taught men not rto look for aid from the State or from their fellows. He also seized the opportunity to eulogise local patriotism, and .-to declare his unwavering faith in provincialism, not necessarily the provincialism of the past, but a system of local fgovernment that should give the fullest freedom for the development of the power of the democracy. His address, on the whole, however, was excellent in matter and in tone. He was most interesting when pointing out the parallelisms between the settlement of Otago and that of Canterbury, and when remarking how the friendly rivalry between these two provincial districts had proved beneficial by stimulating the life and progress of each. He placed himself on good terms with his audience by remarking, at the outset, that, though he was not Scotch and could not help being English, yet if he -could not be English and had his choice of nationality, he would be Scotch. Mr Rolleston also supplied an interesting titbit of autobiography, which establishedi a connection between himself and Otago. He stated that when he first came to New Zealand he landed at Port Chalmers, and the first sixpence that he invested after his arrival was spent in buying a box of matches from a store kept by “ Johnny Jones.” “ A very good investment it proved too,” he added, though inwbat way was not made quite plain. A further item of interest was his description of how he slept, or rather did not sleep, on the first night after his arrival in the dense bush between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, and how in the morning’ he was charmed by the singing of thousands of native birds. His allusions to the approaching jubilee of ■ Canterbury and to the services Tendered by the public men of that province were in excellent taste, and. were sympathetically received by the audience. ' • ■ ' '

The [crowjls in .the. streets,, augmented by the outflow of thousands from the various entertainments,"continued to perambulate till near midnight. A Dunedin crowd is rather more lively than a Christchurch one, but the utmost • sobriety, order and good humour prevailed, and the day closed as happily’as it had opened. ~ .

[Per Press Association.!

The’sports he)d after, the procession were very largely attended, the number on the ground being from 10,000 to 12,000. The events were, pf no great importance. The jubilee regatta was held in the upper harbour and was well attended. A nice breeze made the yachting events very interesting. The first-class yacht race was won by Thelma, with Leader second, Carina third. White Wings won the handicap yacht race and Ragu the third-class yacht race, with the Dream second. An early settlers’ conversazione was held in the Agricultural Hall to-night, about 3000 persons being present. The Hon T. Fergus presided, and addresses were given by the Governor,'the Hon W. Eolleston, Messrs Donald Reid, A. J. Burns and C. Cowan. .All .the speakers referred in highly complimentary terms to the founders of the province, and special tributes of praise were accorded to Captain Cargill and Dr Burns. Before the gathering broke up, at the request of the Governor a great many early settlers were introduced to him.

AUCKLAND, March 23.

The following telegram was sent this morning by- the Mayor of Auckland to the Mayor of Dunedin Heartiest congratulations from the citizens of Auckland to the citizens of Dunedin. May you all live to celebrate the Dunedin centenary.” WELLINGTON, March 23.

The Otago residents in Wellington held a “ social ’’ to-night in sympathy with the Jubilee celebration in Dunedin. Some capital speeches ' were delivered by Sir Robert Stout, Mr H. D. Bell, Mr Hislop, Mr Ashcroft and others. Mr Ashcroft read an. tode composed for - the ■ occasion, which was registered in the ■ graphophone. Sir Robert Stout will deliver an address tomorrow in a similar way, and both records will be sent down to Dunedin.