SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Issue 1137, 2 October 1880, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

Opening of the Melbourne Exhibition. MELBOURNE. Friday. The Exhibition was opened to-day with great eclat. A public holiday was strictly observed. An immense procession of trades, and fire brigades, &c,, with bands, paraded the streets, and then proceeded to the building with the cortege of carriages containing the Governor and Lady Normanby, Duke of Manchester, and other distinguished visitors, Ministers, Consuls, Admiral of the fleet, members of Parliament, ifcc. On the procession approaching the bands of tne societies struck up the National Anthem. The vice-regal party was then conducted to a dais under the central dome. Tbe National Antliein was sung by a quartette, and chorus with organ accompaniment. A special inaugural cantata was performed, which lasted one hour. There were one thousand performers. The chorus was excellent, j The ladies wore white dresses, with blue and red sashes. The President of Commission read an address. The Governor replied, concluding with declaring the Exhibition opened in the name of Her Majesty. The Union Jack then hoisted above the building and salutes simultaneously fired by the men-ot-war iv the harbor and batteries on shore. The Hallelujah chorus was sung, the machinery was set in motion, and the fountains commenced to play. The vice-regal party then went through all the courts, and on return the Governor dispatched a cablegram to the Queen, announcing the Exhibition opened in her name. There was a very large attendance of the public, and the scene at the opening ceremony was most brilliant and impressive. The streets were lined with large multitudes. No hitch of any kind occurred. There was a brilliant illumination in the harbor last night, there were thousands of spectators.