THE MELBOURNE JUBILEE ILLUMINATIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 793, 13 May 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE MELBOURNE JUBILEE ILLUMINATIONS.

The Age of April 19 says : —On the night of the 21st June, the date set apart for the general celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, the city of Melbourne will present a brilliant appearance. Already illuminators are at work canvassing for commissions, and, judging from the readiness shown by citizens to make adequate preparations for the occasion, it is probable that every place of business in. the principal thoroughfares will be decorated with light in some form or another. The illuminations of the Government buildings is to cost a sum of £ISOO, the Minister for Public Works having been authorised to enter into a contract with Messrs C. T. Brock and Co., for that amount. The arrangement is to illuminate the Government House, the Treasury-building in Spring-street, the Parliament Houses, and the Fost-office. The Law Courts were also included, but it appears these buildings are unsuitable for the customary style of treatment, and it has therefore been decided, at an additional cost of £IOO,. to burn for five hours from the dome a mass of colored fire, which it is said will be seen for a distance of 10 miles around. The Postmaster - General has also expressed a desire to take the illumination of the Post-office into his own hands, and has accordingly obtained liberty to do so. His idea is to illuminate on a design in which the electric light will play the principal part. The Treasury will be illuminated by various devices and colored lamps. In the front it is proposed to have a fire portrait of the Queen, occupying a space of 1500 squarefeet, with letters five feet long and surrounded with stars of various sizes. The whole of the windows and principal features of the building are to be outlined with lamps of all colors, and on the outer steps there are. to be illustrations in fire of two large fern trees, whilst the gas standards will be ■ hung with lamps, and festoons of colored lanterns will be suspended from the top of the building. A representation of the British coat-of-arms, occupying a space of 1500superficial feet, will be the principal feature in the illumination of Government House.. The tower and balcony are to be festooned with lamps, and chains of lanterns will behung from the top of the flagstaff to the base of the tower. The elevated position of theGovernor’s residence will render the= illumination both picturesque and fantastic. The scaffolding in front of the ParliamentHouses affords opportunity for a grand display being made there. A gigantic laurel wreath surrounding the letters V.R, and occupying 1500 superficial feet, with theword “Victoria” in immense letters on one? side and “ England ” on the other, will constitute the main device. There are also to be numbers of crowns and stars and distinctively Australian emblems, such as figures of kangaroos and emus in advantageous situations. The scaffolding fromoneendtotheotheir will be adorned with a double line of lamps, and in addition there are to be four gas devices erected in suitable positions. The Custom House is to have the Australian coat-of-arms extending over a space of 1500 ft, with “-God save the Queen ” shown in sft letters. The windows throughout will be adorned, and the building covered and chained with lanterns. In addition there will be also four gas devices placed in the most conspicuous positions.