THE JUBILEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3964, 22 June 1887, Page 2

THE JUBILEE.

» DESCRIPTIVE. It would be interesting to calculate how mauy anxious eyes peepod out from bedroom windows, front doors, and even keyholes, yesterday morning to " discern the signs " of the day ; for the occasion was one entirely unique m colonial annals. Since 1809 when the jubilee of George the Third's reign was celebrated, no such event as this has been known. Since that time what changes have taken place — what enlargement of the British Empire ! Yesterday all loyal English subjects m all parts of the world celebrated the Jubilee of Viotoria, who to-day enters upon the fifty-first year of the most prosperous reign m English history. The spontaneity of the celebration m these distant lands has more than compensated for our paucity of means ; — we could not make such magnificent demonstrations as must have taken place at Homo, but our efforts were not the less hearty. For weeks past an energetic committee m this borough had been " working up " the celebration, and it reflects very great credit upon them that, new and formidable as was the work, they carried out the design with immense success. Jubilee is a time of rejoicing, of congratulation, of the closing of old sores ; it is the initiation of a new era, and it was fitting that the occasion should be marked by universal rejoicing. It was a convincing evidence of the depth and strength of British loyalty, that, m a comparatively obscure part of the British dominions, like Timaru, there was a hearty desire to render homage to the Head of the nation, and to tho stable and liberal constitution under which our self-government has been founded and has flourished. And that the efforts of thoio who took an active part m the affair were approved by the maBS of the people was evidenced by tho groatness of the gathering of sight-seers and the heartiueis and joviality which marked the large and orderly crowds which witnessed the procession yesterday. Such are the general impressions derived from witnessing what occurred, and the events which are now to be described. The only depressing influence was that of the weather, which, for about three weeks, had been unfavourable. On Monday there were some faint signs of a disposition on the part of the elements to be kind, but when about nine o'clock at night, the Bky suddenly became inky again, the most sanguine promoters felt their courage decline. It is safe to say that nine out of ten of those who had been preparing for the display felt their hearts sink and went to bed that night with heavy hearts. For the preparations had been very elaborate. As the day drew nigh, every one put forth tho most strenuous efforts to turn out m a manner befitting the occasion. The arrangement had been carefully considered and the programme adopted was the result of a great deal of labour. Mr Halkett-Daw-son, Rector of the High School, was the moving spirit, throughout, whatever smoothness and order thero were, were due m a great measure, to his energy and administrative ability. The liberal scale on which everything was carried out was due most of all to the example of His Worship the Mayor. Much of tho general success was due to the hearty and kindly co-operation of persons who had vehicles, and who willingly placed these at the disposal of the Committee. The expressmen, cabmen, and wagoners should first of all be thanked; the owners of private traps also deserve acknowledgment for their generous action. With the aid of these conveniences the Committee were able to place m position and suitably convey all the representative bodies. It is quite impossible to do justice to the zeal, energy, and taste which produced such a magnificent turn-out m every department, or to the foresight and admirable organisation of the whole affair. Mr Dawson, mounted on a " milk-white steed," acted as Marshal, and was the Guiding Spirit. He was attended by a phenomenally active Cadet, as A.D.C., and was most ably seconded by Mr Ferguson, Sergeant-Major Jones, and Messrs Jones and Lough. To this admirable management the success of the procession was very largely due. Mr Dawboii (a la Von Moltke) made hisjarrangements on paper with the utmost precision, and when they ware completed, and not till then, he proceeded into action. The result wa3 that a monster procession traversed a very circuitous route without a single hitch. The bifurcation at the Wrecks monument was an admirable strategic movement, the more so becanse a good many citizens were quito m the dark as to the meaning of tho term. In fact, one could see an expression of struggling comprehension steal over the faces of processionists as they approached the Wrecks monument, followed by the sudden delight of apprehension when they saw the procession divide. " Look," exclaimed one oracle to a group of admirers when this movement took place, " look at 'em. Now they're bifurcatin, d'ye see?" The only defect m the arrangements appeared to be the lack of proper accommodation for the children who were drawn up m lines m front of tho Government buildings to await tho arrival of the procession, instead of being mounted on a platform. For when the squadron of the O.Y.C. rode into the sqaro and formed up, tho children (and still more so their teachers) were kept m a foyer of dread. Although no accident happened there might easily have been many. Otherwise, from first to last, the thing was a great success,— we only wanted fino weather. The apprehensions of Monday night were realised yesterday for the morning broko hysterically ; occasional gleams of cold sunshine strove ineffectually against the dogged determination of the clouds to hang over and sulkily disperse. Drizzly rain from above, dull heavy atmosphere around, and mud— plashy, sticky, custardy, mud— under foot, prevailed all day. There was some fear lest any of tho intending processionists should "funk "at the eleventh hour, but this fear was short-lived, for by ten o'clock those who were abroad might sco on ovory hand evidences of a bright determination to make » brave show and conquer adverse circumstances. Here and there m various yards stood wagons, expresses, lorries, or carts decked out and fitted up to servo the purpose of this or that trade. The streets were soon thronged with people, and presented an unwonted spectacle of liveliness and

brilliancy, for many houses exhibited bunting, two flag-arches spanned the iuaiu road, and there was everywhere a display of coluur and fanciful devices. From ten o'clock the different vehicles began to make their appearance and take up their allotted positions. Down the Main Road the crowd every moment and at every step grew denser and more animated, and everyone was on the gui vive ; all windows and doors were blocked with sight-seers. A square m front of the Post Office of which the foundation atone formed the central point, was roped off and within ;seats were reserved for those intending to view the formal proceedings. These were kept by persons specially told off for the purpose and by Inspector Broham and an efficient staff. At the Strathallan street corner the butchers formed up and made a most effective show. The wagons and carts gaily and appropriately decorated were surrounded by a swarm of horsemen, all dre6sed with exceeding tasto m a sort of jockey costume, and riding well-fed, groomed and decorated horses. The group was really very fine and before the hour of starting, they were photographed. Credit is due to all for the punctuality which distinguished them ; the carriges filled up at the appointed hour, the various societies who were to march near the head of the procession walking briskly up to their stations. A squadron of fifteen troopers of the C. Y. C, under the command of Captain Wright, was placed opposite the Convent on the Town Belt awaiting the Marshal's order to proceed. At eleven o'clock this order was passed along the line, and the bugler Bounding the advance, the word of command was given, the band struck up, and the ipro:ession moved m admirable order along the Belt to College Road, thence to the Hospital corner back to the Park gates and along the Main Road to the Melville Hotel, thence round Reid and Gray's corner into Sophia Street as far as the point of bifurcation, viz., the Wrecks Monument. The spectacle, looked at at this moment was most interesting and m its way impressive. The long line stretched down the Belt round North Street, out o£ sight, and it was a line of attraction full of variety and full of interest. The uniforms, arms and accoutrements of the military force made a magnificent headdress to tho procession ; the banners and ribbons and regalia of the orders varied the scene delightfully ; and the quaint costume of the Druids was quite a striking feature of this part of the procession. One feature of the procession not specially striking m outward appearance was observed with pride and admiration by all who kuew that the handful of men who followed the military were the Veterans. Only a handful of citizens, " m the sere and yellow leaf" some of them, yet all men who had actually seen service under the Old Flag. The veterans of England are not more honoured m their native land than m these lands which have under Britain's flag grown into prosperous States. For the glorious triumphs m defence of right which British Arms have achieved, every British heart is proud. Succeeding trade representatives came on one by one, every vehicle dressed appropriately, and each exhibiting actual goods or workmanship. It was most satisfactory to see the citizens rallying first around their trade banners, and one could not help a thrill of pride at the evidences of progreßS, and of successful industry that, on occasion, could be produced eveninthis quiet townof Timaru m dull times. And as the fine band under Bandmaster Wolf, led with even more than his usual grand air by Drum-Major Elgin (the resplendent object of boyish admiration), struck up, and the steady tramp of the military, the rumble of the guns, and the rattle of arms, awakened one to the fact that the Jubilee procession had actually started, and one saw the long line of representatives of the industries which have made our race successful, and of the brotherly love which knits us together under the Old Flag, one could not but feel a rush of proud consciousnes of being a subject of that Empire whereon the sun never sets. How real a Bentiment, how all powerful, may be judged from the fact that every face was lighted up with more or less of that pride of race and country which, accompanied with benevolence and brotherly feeling towards all mankind, is one of the noblest and most powerful sentiments the human heart can entertain. The signal for the procession wa3 also the signal for the accompanying crowd on the sidewalks to move. One long massive line of sightseers kept up alongside the procession all the way. The pace excellent, not provokingly slow, as most processional paces, and the line took about fifteen minutea to pass a given point. The march was accomplished m less than an hour. The roads were very muddy, but through the foresight of Hl3 Worship the Mayor, a good deal of unpleasantnesas m town was obviated, for he had had the roads thoroughly scraped and cleaned. When the procession wa3 fairly on its way hundreds of people made all speed down to the site of the fountain where the formal proceedings were to take place. The procession continuing its way, was witnessed with delight by the hospital patients, m whose sorrowful lives the sight and sounds of Jubilee day must have been a delightful break. In a short time, as it seemed, the stirring music of the band told the people In waiting m the heart of the town that the procession was advancing, and a good deal of excitement was manifested. On it passed, and m due course the Wrecks Monument waß reached, and the procession divided. When the carriage of the Mayor had reached thePost-office thespectacle presented was one of an extraordinary and striking character. The large triangular area whose base is the Post Office, was completely blocked by the vehicles already described, now drawn up m double lines, and the open space m front of the Government Buildings was thronged with an expectant multitude, a space being kept clear by the Cavalrymen, Rifles, Navals and Aartillerymen. The children iwere well arranged m line m front of the Education Offices by their teachers, and Mr Haigh stood ready to conduct the singing. A party of the Artillery was detached and ordered up to the school ground whence, when the ceremony was over, a royal salute was fired. At one o'clock the people began to disperse, the rain coming down drearily, but so Dleasurable had been the excitement that the spirits of all the citizens as they trudged and splashed homeward chatting merrily, seemed to lift them above the depressing influence of descending rain and sloppy roads. It was the universal opinion that the event passed off successfully, and thus ended the s public formal celebration of the Jubilee m Timaru.