OPENING OP FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9143, 10 May 1901, Page 3

OPENING OP FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

BRILLIANT CEREMONIAL.

DUKE OF YORK'S SPEECH.

MESSAGE FROM THE KING.

MELBOURNE, May 9. ' The coping stone of a United Austra- ) lia was laid to-day by the opening of the - Federal Parliament by His Royal Highness the Duke of York. The weather was fine and clear, with a bitter and boisterous wind.. From an early hour great crowds lined the streets ■ to witness toe Royal procession from Gov- ; eminent House to the Exhibition Build- ; ings. The streets were lined with troops, I those from New Zealand occupying the section between King and Swanston streets. The procession consisted of two escorts, with a captain's escort for His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Hopetoun), who preceded the Royal equipage. Shortly after 11 o'clock their " Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, occupying the semi-State coachsent to Australia by His Majesty the King, emerged from the Government House gates, and drove through the streets of the city, amid cheers, to the Exhibition Buildings, where the ceremony of opening the' first Parliament of United Australia took place. It could scarcely be termed the most fitting place for such an important occasion. The Exhibition Buildings lack the solidity and grandeur which one associates with a Temple of Law-makers. It is more of the character of a "house of cards." It is' fragile m appearance ; yet for the purposes of spectacular effect its utility to accommodate a huge audience was m its favor. To have opened the Parliament m the State Legislature, which is set apart for the more serious labors of the Federal Parliament, would have been to rob the occasion of much of its glitter. No vast assemblage could have gathered there. It was also appropriate that the building which twenty years ago welcomed the young midshipman ot H.M.S. Bacchante should now greet him as the heir to the British Throne. What was lacking m stateliness was made up for m -some measure "by the beautiful decorations of the fabric. Under the great dome -was situate the Royal dais. The dome itself was a .marvel of graded color. Looking upward, the eye travelled from deep blue and gold and drab tints upwards to a delicate blue bed, with gold shades. The whole color scheme was without a jarring note. On four pendant ives were beautifully-painted figures of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Hercules, typical of eloquence, love, war, and strength. On the four spangles over the arches" supporting the dome were allegorical lunettes, representing the Federation, Government, arts applied to peace and arts applied to war. The figures of all the allegories rested on clouds through which stars gleamed m the various phases ot morn, eve, and noon. The treatment was all academic. On the spacious broad, dak facing the north was a lunette of arts as applied to peace, which showed Minerva with the lion of war asleep at her feet, while literature, arts, husbandry, and agriculture were grouped as sylphs around her. Over the dais on the south side, Minerva rode a chariot through the storm clouds, flaring forth with her attendant Amazons to battle, and picturing thus art. applied to war. Over the eastern nave sat the Government, between the figures of Law and Order. Over the western nave there was a .figure of Britannia enthroned. Above the shield of a Union Jack she welcomed the six Federated States, which were blazoned with their several State coats-of-arms. On the eight panels of the four piers were two coupled schemes. One was that of the. seasons : Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The other included two pairs, Night and Morning, and Justice and Truth, half-draped figures by which these were respectively typified floating- m mid-air among finelybalanced planes of cloudland. They were very excellent works of the real, decorative and beautiful alike m the color, drawing, plasticity,, and pose of the scheme. The main hall was m strict harmony with the coloring oi the dome. The roof rang up through transparent amber to a turquoise sky, the supporting pillars be- . ing m golden brown. The avenue from the southern door, through which the Royal party approached the dais, was carpeted with royal crimson, bordered throughout by banks of living flowers and ferns, surmounted by a dado of royal blue velvet, pleated with upright panels of crimson silk dado frieze, while the enamel moulding was panelled with gold satin; and the filling of the wall was draped with flavieux rose silk, adorned with the Royal Arms m a florid setting of ample frieze above a rich plumcolored plush, with dainty festoons of real white Toses falling over it like sculptured stone m architecture. The vestibule doors were of dead white ivory enamel, panelled with rose plush of a little higher tone than the frieze on the dais. A royal red carpet, diaptred with gold and* neutral green, with crimson, felT and covered the low gallery which rose behind for the seals of the State Governors and the Royal and viceRoyal suites. The large orchestra occupied a platform opposite, and to the left of the Royal dais. . Prior to the advent of the Royal party, the Clerk of Parliament read the proclamation constituting the Parliament, to the members of the Senate. A similar ceremony was performed m the House of Representatives, which occupied an annexe. Long prior to the commencement of these initial proceedings the great building was filled to its utmost capacity. A wonderful sight presented itself. Rising m a gradual slope from the floor of the main nail opposite the Royal dais to the ■northern transept, the place was packed with people, including members and families of the various State legislators and officials, with here and there a dash of color jo. the shape of a military officer, Judges, Consols, Church dignitaries of every sect. Immediately under the Royal position sat members of the Senate, with room for members of the House when the time came for their presence being desired from the other House. On the dais to the left of the Royal party were the naval officers and staff who came out by the Ophir. On the right eat the Lieutenant-Governors of the several States, with their staff, v and Admiral Beaumont and staff. Immediately behind these again Vere the members of the press and representatives of the various States and New Zealand. At noon His Excellency Lord Hopetoun arrived, and a few minutes later a fanfare from- heralds at the southern entrance announced the arrival of the Duke .'and Duchess. As the group ascended the dais along the beautiful vestibule, the scene was magnificent. A rich effect was produced by the gorgeous uniforms of the high military and naval officers, the sight being most impressive. The Duke and Duchess advanced to the dais, accompanied by Lord and Lady Hopetoun, and the formal proceedings then commenced. The Usher of the Black Rod summoned the members of the House of Representatives to attend the Senate. When they arrived, after some delay, two verses of the "Old Hundredth" were sung .after which Lord Hppetoun read prayers on behalf of the King, thf Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, the people of the Commonwealth, and the Federal Parliament. He then recited the Lord's Prayer, and pronounced the Benediction. The reason it fell to Lord Hopetoun's lot to carry out the religious ceremony was owing to the heads of the leading denominations failing to agree amongst themselves as to whom of their number should perform the duty. The GovernorGeneral elected to perform the ceremony himself to avoid frictioci. After the reading of the letters patent by the Clerk of Parliament, the Duke addressed the members of both Houses. He said that it was the desire of vis beloved, and deeply-lamented grandmother to work for the important opening of this "first Parliament, and she manifested her special interest m all that concerned the welfare of her loyal subjects m Australia, by granting him* a special commission to open the first session. That commission had been duly signed before the sad event occurred which plunged the Empire into mourning. His Majesty the King, his dear father, fully sharing her late Majesty's wishes, decided to give effect to them. Although, a« His Majesty stated on the occasion of the opening of his first Parliament that the separation ♦om his son at such a time could not be otherwise than deeply painful to him, His Majesty had been pleased to consent to this separation, moved by tho sense of the loyalty and devotion which prompted the generous aid afforded by all the • colonies m the South African war, both m regard to its earliest stage, and by the splendid bravery of the colonial troops.. It also was His Majesty's wish to acknowledge the readiness with which the ships of the Australasian squadron were placed

at disposal for service m China, and of the valuable assistance rendered there by the Naval Contingents of the several colonies. His Majesty further desired m ' this way to testify his heartfelt gratitude i for the warm sympathy extended by j every part of his dominions to himself and family m the irreparable loss they' sustained by the death of his beloved mother. His Majesty had watched with ; the greatest interest the social • and ! material progress made by his people m | Australia. It had been with thankful- ', ness and heartfelt satisfaction that he had ■ noted the completion of that political union of which this Parliament was the ' embodiment. The King was satisfied that the wisdom and patriotism which characterised the exercise of the wide powers of self-government hitherto en- , joyed by the colonies would continue to be displayed m the exercise of the still wider powers with which united Australia would be endowed. His Majesty ; felt assured that the enjoyment of those powers would, if possible, enhance that ; loyalty and devotion to the Throne and . Empire of which the people of Australia ' had already given such signal proofs. It was His Majesty's earnest prayer that the union so happily achieved ' might, under God's blessing, prove the instrument for still further promoting the welfare and advancement of his subjects m Australia, and for the strengthening of his Empire. "Gentlemen of the Senate and House," concluded the Duke, "It affords me much pleasure to convey to you this message from the King. I now, m his name, and on his behalf, declare the Parliament open." His Excellency tire Governor-General informed the members of the Senate and House that the Duke desired him to. acquaint them that so soon as the President : and Speaker were elected he and Lord Hopetoun would declare as to the causes of Parliament being called. The following cable was received from the King: "My thoughts are with you on the day of this important ceremony.v Most fervently do I wish Australia prosperity and happiness." The members of the Federal Parliament were then sworn- m by the GovernorGeneral. v ;■•■■■ The orchestra played the "Hallelujah Chorus," the "National AntHeni," and "Rule Britannia," the great audience joining m the chorus of the latter with inspiriting effect. r The Royalties withdrew amidst a fanfare of trumpets. . The battery of artillery at Carlton Gardens fired a Royal salute when Parliament was declared open. The Duke was dressed m an Admiral's uniform. The Duchess wore black, with a white sash of the Royal Victorian order. At the conclusion of the opening ceremony the Duke repjied as follows to the King's cable-: "I have just read your message to the first Commonwealth Parliament, which I have just opened. I also read your kindly-worded telegram, which was received with immense enthusiasm by our loving subjects m Australia. The opening of Parliament was splendid and a complete success. Twelve thousand people filled the great hall." In the afternoon. the first sitting of the Federal Parliament was held at the State Parliamentary Buildings. Mr Holder was elected Speaker of the House unopposed. A contest took place for the Presidency of the Senate, with the following result : Sir Richard Baker 21 Sir Frederick Sargood ... 12 Sir William Zeal . ... ... 3 Both Houses adjourned till to-morrow for the Governor's speech. LONDON, May 9. The Times says that the* opening of the Federal Parliament is one of the chief constitutional incidents of history, and that the development of the Commonwealth will be watched with pride and hope. It added that autonomy and Imperialism m partnership are compatible and mutually helpful. SYDNEY, May 10. There was a considerable display of bunting m the city and country yesterday m honor of the opening of the Federal Parliament. ADELAIDE u May 10. Simultaneous with the opening of the Federal Parliament, a salute of twentyone guns was fired, the Town Hall bells .were rung, and Union Jacks were hoisted m the city and country at a given signal. At niffht bonfires were lighted. BRISBANE, May 10. The Presbyterian Assembly at the hour fixed for the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament, offered a prayer for divine power to guide the deliberations of the Federal Legislature. A prominent feature of the decorations at the Duke of York's reception will be an immense four-sided «*ch, composed of wool and other productions of the State.