JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 513, 23 June 1897, Page 3

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Per Press Association. Australasian Celebrations. A Magnificent Display. Some Record Reign Honors. Received this day, 8 a.m. Sydney, This Day. The weather yesterday though gloomy was \y. The darkno33 of the night greatly heightened the effects of the illuminations. Trains from ull parts of the country poured their living freights into the metropolis yesterday at a great rate. The streets were last night densely packed. It is estimated that about 300,000 people viewed the illuminations, which were of a most brilliant character, the Government offices, financial institutions and insurance companies vieing with each other in the splendour of the decorations. The towers of the Post Office and Town Hall were a brilliant spectacle. Compared with the 1887 jubilee the illuminations were perhaps not a 3 general but the effect was more gorgous than on that occasion. On Monday evening although there were great crowds in the streets there was only one fatality—a little girl was killed by a tram —but the various police offices at a late hour were converted into nurseries, over fifty small children managing to lose their parents in the crush. The scene on the harbor was very fine, searchlights playing over its waters, while the warships made a magnificent pyrotechnic display. The official programme yesterday opened with a commemoration service in St. Andrew’s Cathedral at 10 o’clock, die Governor, military and naval officers attending in official uniforms. There were crowded congregations, and the National Jubilee prayer read. Special hymns and the National Anthem were sung. At eleven o’clock the Governor reviewed the military and naval forces in the Centennial Park. A t'. ii tie. jnir of sixty guns was firod. After this the troops marched through the principal streets. In the afternoon the Govornor, in the presence of a large gathering, unveiled Governor Phillips’ statue in the Garden Palace Ground. lie eulogised him as the first Governor and the founder of the great city of Sydney. In the course of his speech lie stated that he bad received a cable from Mr Chamberlain announcing that the Queen bud conferred the order Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George upon Chief Justice Dailey. Mr Reid had been made a member of the Privy Council. The celebrations were of an extensive and varied scule throughout the country. Similar official functions took place in itrisbane and Melbourne. In the latter city hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets.