THE COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11539, 26 November 1900, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

LORD HOPETOUN'S HEALTH By Telegraph.—Press Association.— London, November 24. , The Britannic, with the Federal inauguration contingent, has reached Port Said. • Sydney, November 25. ' Mr. Chamberlain has cabled that Lord Hopetoun hopes to be able to land upon his arrival at Sydney, but will not be in a position to attend banquets and make speeches until his strength is restored. Sydney November 24. Queensland sends a contingent of 75 military and 25 naval men to the Commonwealth' celebrations. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dr/NEDiN, Saturday. . The Otago section of the Federal escort' comprise Lieutenant Freeman, Sergeants Morice, Campbell, Fleming, Corporals Williamson and Glen, Privates Richards, Dickson, Saunders, Lyne. Duncan, and Mitchell. The last named is an invalided member of the First Contingent. PREPARATIONS IN SYDNEY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS.

Recent Sydney papers contain long report* of the preparations made for the celebrations on the proclamation of the Common* wealth.

The Sydney Morning Herald, says : —lf the streets of Sydney through which the Commonwealth procession is to pass are decorated in accordance with the ideas entertained by the members of the Citizens' 1 Commonwealth Celebration Committee, it i» safe to say that the display will be the finest ever seen in Australia. It is proposed that the decorations shall take the form of floral devices, assisted with designs worked' out with flags, banners, and brilliant coloured bunting arranged in an artistic manner. Along the sides of the streets flag poles,gaily painted and of different shapes, will be festooned with evergreens, whilst the poles will be decorated with flowering shrubs, besides bearing shields surmounted with flags. The telephone poles will also be decorated with evergreens, so that instead of presenting a bizarre appearance amidst the surrounding embellishments, they will be made to add to the attractiveness of the scene. As a matter of fact the streets will present a mass of flowering shrubs and evergreens arranged in a tasteful manner, and set off wjth a forest of flags, banners, and bannerettes, and many thousands of yards of red, white,' and blue bunting. Some idea of the gorgeous character of the decorations of the streets through which the procession will pass may be formed from the fact that close on 7000 poles will fly the flags of the Australian colonies, Great Britain, and the Empire gcnerallyL 15,000 banners and bannerettes will be displayed, whilst it is estimated that 8000 flags will be used in working out the devices surrounding the shields that will adorn the 2000 flagpoles that have been made under the direction of Mr. Vernon,' Government Architect. These poles will be between 40ft and 50ft high, and will be joined together with festoons of evergreens, of which it is expected that about 100 tons will be used. One of the features of the display will be the arches to be erected under the direction of the Government Decoration Committee. The arches are to be most elaborate affairs, and will remain standing during the whole course of the festivities, It is the intention of Rear-Admiral Pearsen to hold a naval display at the time of the. Commonwealth celebrations. Every warship which can be present will be here to take part. A meeting of American citizens, presided over by Mr. 11. S. Chipman, was held at the United States Consulate to consider the best means of co-operating in the Commonwealtl celebrations.