SYDNEY'S WELCOME TO-THE.

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 15

SYDNEY'S WELCOME TO-THE.

• The Sydney tferdld publishes a minuiqly; detailed account of the arrival of' the -Galatea at Sydney bn'the 21st "ult., and of the landing of Prince Alfred oh' the 22nd. As at Melbourne, there was a most effective parade of all the available steamers, yachts, and other vessels, co as to receive, and to' line the "way of the Galatea. There were illuminations in the evening ; and on the Bay, there was . a revival of the mythic representations which 'lent a charm to bo many water pageants in the olden days of merry Engr land. In the decorations of the city, there was also a very fanciful combination of some of the arches, so as specially to fit them for effect by night as well as by day. Altogether, Sydney seems to have been exuberantly loyal, and artistically demonstrative.

As to the reception afloat, the Herald says —

Our colonial fleet of sea-going steamers, in their appointed. order, formed a grand double line, through which the Galatea passed onward to her' destination. The vessels having been so passed, then followed two and two in the -wake of the long-expected ship — thus forming a most beautiful, imposing, and unprecedented sight. At a convenient distance from our rugged, rock-bound coast, Her Majesty's ship Galatea, with her glorious train, and ■watched by hundreds from the adjacent heights, swept onward in nearly a straight line until she came abreast of the Old Lighthouse, when, altering her course, but partially at first, she gradually swunground to the south of that bleak and forbidding promontory which is known as. the Outer North Head, and to the south also of the dreary rocks of the Middle Head, and of George's Head, thus gaining an entrance into the water of Port Jacksoa, Having reached that " coign of vantage," by making a grand semicircle round the Inner South Head, the Royal ship then swept onwards past the Lightship, past the Second Division of the expectant shipping, past the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (between Shark Point and Shark Island), past the Prince Alfred Yacht Squadron (between Shark Island and the opposite headland, to the south-westward), and so eventually and gracefully did the whole fleet, with a vast accession of numbers, enter that wide and extensive space of water, reserved for the occasion, betwe-'n a line from Knife and Fork Point and Kirribilli Point on the north, and between the western extremity of Shark Island and Macquarie Fort on the south. Continuing her course westerly the Galatea at length came proudly to her temporary resting place, taking up her position (as many thousands of good ships have done before her) betwen Garden Island and Fort Denison — whilst thousands of Her Majesty's lieges, both ashore and afloat, testified to the soundness of their lungs and to the excellence of their sentiments by saluting the Royal Duke with enthusiastic cheers. , There were torrents of rain during the evening, and the reporter of the Herald grows poetically loyal upon the possible effects of falling water. At one time the downpour was so vehement that it seemed almost fierce enough to quench not merely the flames of bonfires and lanterns, but the less quenchable sparks of loyalty which animated each Ireast. No amount of rain, however, was able to damp the ardour of the enthusiastic public. Despite the drenching rain, the chilling wind, and the other concomitant discomforts, the shores and waters of the harbour were studded with spectators. The various points were lined with people, and skiffs, and steamers, for the most part well filled with passenger?,, were plying about in all directions. Had the weather been more propitious, the illuminations would have been magnificent ; but, notwithstanding all drawbacks, the scene was most picturesque and beautiful. This is the account given of a new genus of sea-monster which was displayed on the waters of Sydney Harbor :: — _ The most novel and extraordinary ' feature in the illuminations was a huge representation of a fiery dragon. The A. S. N. Co.'s steamer Yaamba was enclosed on both sides by transparencies, ■which formed a very striking and minutely- accurate picture of the popular notion of a dragon — the eyes, scales, claws, teeth, and ears of the monster all being well-proportioned and clearly discernible even at a considerable distance. The length of the figure was 102 ft, and the height at the head) in the bows of the vessel) was 26ft. The jaws were about 16ft long, and they were distended so as to leave an aperture for the mouth of from six to seven feet.

( c©ediiigl3r: ; eff€!ctiTe./ T,hj> ti& consisted of. twenty-five,, sHpy, '.ljqati^^oyw, .eachi 'of wiiicli>^rpjni stem to stem,' rows of laiitdrn? were'fiung., " #il A. number o'fi men inside the Yaamba were stationed* at 'tjie, boWs, and as the monster moved! along it was made to spit forth a shower of, rockets and oilier descriptions oi fireworks, while the boats astern made';f an.. immense display of a similar .character. , The vessel "was towed by the Atalanta, but this was not perceivable at. a distance. "'Three or four steamships, and a large number of small boats crowded, with excursionists, escorted jtlie' serpent, and the people loudly, cheered its progress, as did also ,the occupants of the ships by which the monster glided. When the Prince landed, he was received by the Earl of Belfield, the Governor, with his Ministers,' the Reee'ption Committee, the City ' Council, &c. The Herald says — When His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh entered our harbor as Captain of the Galatea, he was welcomed by scores of thousands on the water, and tens of thousands on the shore ; but on the occasion of his public entry, yesterday, as Prince Alfred, there were all the signs of a Eoyal progress. It seemed as though each one vied with his neighbor in regard to the display of loyalty, and the masses which lined the streets through which the procession passed were, in density, not exceeded even by London crowds, when the Queen in person threads the thronged streets to Westminster. The distance was, of course, much shorter; but the city turned out en masse, the suburbs came to town, and tens of thousands from the country swelled the throng. -The streets were hung with banners, and nagged arches stretched from side to Bide, while ferns, and flowers, and. fresh green leaves were wreathed into words of welcome In Macquarie place, and all the way up Bridge street, tens of thousands of people thronged the pathways, and looked down from stands and balconies. The streets were decorated with flags and banners and various ornamental devices, that gave the utmost animation to the scene. iThe enthusiastic hurrahs and waving of handkerchiefs, kept pace with the progress of the Royal cortege. As at the beginning, so. until the close — good order was maintained by the efficient exertions of large detachments of the police and volunteers, who lined the route. Those of the spectators in George street, who could- distract theii attention for a moment from the carriage in which sat the Prince and the new Governor, and turn either to the north or to the south, could not but be deeply impressed with the exquisite coup cVw.il presented by George street — the mass oi waving flags of every hue which hung along the continuous line of perspective, and (at intervals) even across the street ; the crowds of well-dressed citizens in every ■window, both ladies and gentlemen, who were greeting the long-expected Prince : the dense crowds below on the pathways, and the long train of carriages in the well-kept line of the procession. A pleasant cheery noise, something thai was neither actual applause, nor conversation, nor even the distinct expression oi demonstrative joy, fell constantly upon the ear — the voice of contentment and goodwill of an independent, loyal, and order-loving people. Noav and then this general murmur burst into cheering, and i" ever and anon it was broken in upon bj h the clang of the joy bells of St Phillip's *" and other of the city churches, and by the le spirit-stirring strains of the bands of music !n in attendance. IS |. We must quote the description of one x of the arches, which was designed by the j[ Colonial Architect :—: — of A massive and elegant structure, des. signed after the Arch of Drusus, at Rome. c, It consists of one grand central opening rt by a depth of thirty feet, twenty-five lg feet wide, with wing openings eleven 2r feet wide, capped with three goldis painted domes on pedimeuts, Avith t- crown pediments, the central dome is rising seventy-nine feet, and the wing domes forty-feet each, with telescope w flagstafts, thirty-five and twenty-five i , feet higher. The central dome is pierced with twelve circular openings, each of which contains a letter of the name :y " Alfred" prepared for illumination. ?e The interior of the central dome ie and wings to be lighted with as three massive chandeliers. The ceils, ings of the wings consist of paper cenid treflowefs with spandrills and cornices, ar The ceiling of the centre dome rises on s, ribs enlivened with tropical foliage on a ill ground of sunset tint, a rose color, from a- a neat cornice picked out in color, c. Painted on> the interior of the central id dome are figures of Fame bearing wreaths vs of laurel on a ground of azure, dressings vs of flags artistically arranged, the groups re of Neptune and Minerva on the central re key-stones, and the busts of Captain Cook >t. i and Lord Nelson on the central niches.

floated- the. JloyalS^tano^d ? j. . and ;QYer . the, wing domes *the biue^S^wmfe'eMigns." „?;• , tuS \^l <] i} The, ■Tfteejdy, l^jpire. that,, the weather on the, day of. thjß. Prince's arrival ( was bad-rj/,' Unjcoj*\inater/th© sun made no, -appearance at; all. The. sky was.completely; ove^as^t, and a drizzling rain if ell i with lit% intermission. Thousands of men, ■women, and children were congregated on all available points on shore, and watched *;he expected arrival from hour to hour, with stoical, indifference to- the damp." » "The atmosphere was so obscured, that it was not" easy to see the fleet at any distance, or to distinguish the Prince's ship amongst them.'-' ' . . .

As to the-receptidn of the -Prince when he landed, the same paper says, "The great want of taste evinced by the Ministers in 'dressing themselves in such a way as to overshadow the Royal visitor, was the theme of. general remark, and of much banter. The simple and unobtrusive, yet dignified, bearing and. demeanor of His Royal Highness, were in striking contrast to the cocked hats, laced coats, and swords of the foremost of those who were waiting to receive him. It so happened that these gentlemen are amongst the tallest and bulkiest men in the community, and their stature and dresses made them unpleasantly conspicuousto those who desired to see the Prince without thrusting themselves forward so as to incommode him. It was easy to see that His Royal Highness was somewhat surprised at the stature of many of the gentlemen by whom he was surrounded at the arch. There were the Bishop of Sydney, the Mayor of Sydney, and Messrs Martin, Wilson, the Speaker of the Assembly, Messrs Lucas and Hannell, and many others of similar proportions. The proximity of these giants made the Prince appear a.comparatively small man, althotigh he is in reality a gentleman of very fair personal "proportions. Such- a number of large-framed men has seldom assembled together by accident as were present to meet His Royal Highness on his landing. It is worthy of note that the most gigantic of these giants are natives of the country."