CEREMONY AT THE FOUNTAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3964, 22 June 1887, Page 3

CEREMONY AT THE FOUNTAIN.

Long before the head of the procession reached Dr Maclntjra's old residence on Sophia street terrace dense masses of people pressed against the ropes surrounding the charmed octagon, and the first floor windows of the Government Buildings, the Assembly Rooms, Mr Sidney Wolf's music room, the Herald office, and even the top of the Town Hall, were crowdod with ladies and gentlemen, and even children, intense enthusiasm illuminating the large sea of faoes. On leaving the main body of :the procession at the corner of Church street, the military came along m gallant style to the Post-office, and formed a thin line along the main entrance and the entrance from the Lynwood corner. In the enclosure the public school children — mostly girls, by-the-bye — had already taken up their position, and as all were dressed m keeping with the occasion, and wore happy smiling faces, they formed a very pretty group. Their behaviour was most loyal, and their teachers, among whom we notioed Mr Wood (the Head Master), and Mrs Grahame (Mistress), had very easy duties to perform. As soon as the Garrison Band had taken their place m front of the children, Captain LaingMeason placed the guard of honour near the Sophia street entrance, and the guard received the clergy, the magistrates, and the other occupants of the carriages with their arm aat the shoulder. On the carriage of honour coming up, and His Worahip the Mayor handing out the Lady Mayoress, the guard presented arms, and the Mayor and Mayoress, attended by Edwin Henry Lough, Esq., Tawn Clerk, were received by AasUtant-Marshal Staff-Sergeant-Major Jonus, and conducted to their chairs near the foundation-stono. Just prior to this reserve-seat ticket-holders had taken their places and the Mayoral party wero received with proper respect. At this atago, despite the efforta of the C.V.C. , the police and some Volunteers, the British public rushed the ring, but they behaved very well, being content to take up their place outside the reserve seats. Looking round now, as soon as the agitated mass had settled down, one saw hundreds of people on all sides, their spirits m no wise cooled, or their ardour damped by the steady rain which was falling. Opposite the Garrison Band, the City Band had got their place, and grouped close by them were the Druids, Foresters, and Oddfellows. On getting to their stand this Band struck up "Rule Britannia," and continued playing until the Marshal (Mr Halkott-Dawson) had got everything m place, and the signal being given, the Band ceased playing. PKE3ENTATION OF TROWEL. Captain Belfiold Woollcombe, R.N., next rose from his chair, and advancing to the Mayor said that tho residents of Timaru, and the people of tho district had met together that day for the express purpose of celebrating Jubilee Day, on tho conclusion of the fiftieth year of Her Majoaty'a reign. It wag not than tho

time for him to dilate on or to mention much about that reign, but he might -just state that the Queen had always shown herself to be most careful of the welfare of all classes of people, and of all branches of society. Many had had opportunities of seeing Her Majesty aa Queen, wife, mother and widow, and had ever known her to be kindly disposed to everybody, and at all times when administering justice, to see that it was tempered with mercy. Addressing the Mayor more particularly, Captain Woollcombe said : — I ask you, Sir, to lay tho foundation stone of this fountain m the name of this vast assembly of people, m doing so considering that you, sir, are representative of thiß town, and representative of all classes of society within and without the Borough. I have to present you with this trowel with which you will lay this stone, trusting that you will be as successful m doing so as you always are m the other duties [ you undertake. (Cheers and loud applause.) TUB JUBILEE PRAYER. His Worship the Mayor then turned to the Yen. Archdeacon Harper, and requested him to ask the Divine blessing on the ceremony. The ladies and gentlemen that were seated then rose, and the Yen. Archdeacon offered up the following prayer : — " Almighty God who rulest over all " the Kingdoms of the world, we give " Thee hearty thanks that Thou wast " pleased to place Thy servant, OUR " SOVEREIGN LADY THE QUEEN, " upon the throne of our Native Country, "and of these her far distant Dominions. " We thank Thee that Thou has preserved " her m safety through all the changes "and chances of 50 years. We pray " Thee, watch over her, and keep " her m thy good providence this " day, and all the days of her life. "Grant unto us and to OUR QUEEN " prosperity and success, that we may " serve Thee m peace and quietness. Grant " that, when this life J3 over, Queen " and People may m Thy great mercy "enter into Thy everlasting Kingdom, " through Jesus Christ Our Lord. May "God bless us and keep us ; may He lift ■ "up the light of His countenance upon "us, and give ns His blessing now and for " ever. Amen." Tho prayer was listened to with the most solemn attention, and many voices joined m the Amen. THE JUBILEE HYMN. (Words by the Von. Archdeacon Harper. Tune 6-1, Hymns Anc. and Mod.) Fifty years since all our nition, With ono voice of acclamation, Led our Sovereign to the throne : Fifty years ! m exultation, Bound the throne, with jubilation, Still wa claim her a3 our own ! Fifty years of joy and sorrow, Mid-day splendour, evening shadow, Clouds, yet ever rainbow spanned: Fifty years of royal duty, Royal burdens, over nobly Borno for our old Fatherland ! Fifty yenrs of homoly story, Better far than martial glory, Victory by land or sea ! Fifty years ! yet all have praised thee, Maiden, wife, and mothor, queenly Graoe of truth and purity ! Fifty years ! a record glorious, Venture of strong hearts, victorious, Pioneers from pole to pole ! Lonely wilderness subduing, East and west fair wealth pursuing, And where touthem waters roll! Fifty years ! a royal nation, Moring to its destination, Of world-wide Imperial sway ! May Almighty God who ruleth All things as His wisdom chooaoth, Guide and keep us on our way ! And hereafter, Lord Almighty, May wo, we who gladly praise Thee For the blessings of the past, Whatsoe'er our earthly story, Queen and people, m Thy glory, Keep our Jubilee at last ! This hymn was sung by a special choir, to an accompaniment played by the Garrison Band, Archdeacon Harper leading the singing. The rendering was very good, and as the Ceremonial Committee had the forethought to get thousands of copies printed, nearly every person m the assemblage had one. As will be seen the words of the hymn are very appropriate, and the tune being a most pleasing one, the effect was well marked. The last note of the singing had scarcely been lost on the easterly breeze, ere His Worship mounted the steps of the fountain and the Town Clerk moved forward to hand the Mayor THE JUBILEE JAR. Mr Lough Baid: — Worshipful Sir, — I have the honour to present you with this large glass jar, which contains current coins of the realm, copies of the Timaru Herald and South Canterbury Times, and of the programme of the Jubilee Day proceedings. On behalf of the burgesses of the Borough of Timaru, and the residents of Timaru and district, I have the honour to request that you will be pleased to place this jar m the recess made m the foundation stone to receive it, there to be kept as a record of the true and unbounded loyalty and respect of the people here assembled, toward our well beloved Queen and Ruler, Queen Victoria. (Loud cheers, and enthusiastic applause.) THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS. After placing the jar m the recess, His Worship turned to the people and said : — Ladies and gentlemen,— l have to most heartily thank you for the honour you have done me m calling upon me to perform a ceremony which is the most important any mayor can be called upon to do. Former mayors of this Borough have been asked at different periods to preside at the inauguration of waterworks, to lay the stone of the Town Hall, and other buildings ; matters merely of local importance, and of passing interest. But the ceremony of to-day is of far greater importance and of a vast deal more moment than any of these were, namely, to lay the foundatiou stone on which will rise a superstructure which will be an ornament to the town, and which being before all eyes, will bring to all minds, the general rejoicing that took place all over the British Dominions on the completion of the fiftieth year of Queen Victoria's reign. (Hear, hear and cheers.) On looking back and comparing the time with that3pent under other monarchs, I have pleasure m here stating that it has been fifty years of comparative peace j fifty years during which all Her subjects have enjoyed the blessings of peace, and great prosperity. (Hear, hear.) I will always remember this, and can say with feeliDg that from this day forward I will never forget the pleasures of the day when we met here. (Applause.) I now ask you to cast your minds back a very few years to tho time of King John, when people were hardly safe out of their own houses, and compare it with the peace and quietness and the great liberty the people enjoy to-day. (Applause. ) Speaking as a co-religionist, and with due respect to all denominations, I may here be allowed to mention the liberty allowed my people, and of the opportunities they have, m common with all classes of the people, to take part m municipal honours, tho affairs of the people, and to become members of Parliament. (Loud applause.) I ask you further to remember the time when people were stoned to death — not so many years ago — and once more to compare this with the things that have taken place during Her Majesty's reign, and to remember that now even the poorest of Her subjects can walk down the street alongside one of Her richest subjects, and the former be as independent every way as the latter is. (Hear, hear.) In all these circumstances we have ample reason to rejoice m the happiness of Queen Victoria's reign. (Applause.) I have agniu to thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the kindness shown me on this occasion, and m conclusion I most earnestly hope and trust that our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Victoria, will live for many years yet, and that all of ua here will also live to enjoy many more happy years, under her beneficent ruling. (Enthusiastic applause and cheering.) His Worship thon advanced, and laid the stone, as ha used the trowel, remark-

ing —"I pronounce this stone to be well and truly laid." THE ROYAL SALUTE. As soon as the ceremony was over, a rocket was sent up from the Fire Brigade Station, and this was the signal for the Artillery and their 24-pounder howitzers, stationed on the school grounds, to commence firing the salute. The boom, boom, of the big guns at once made known the fact that the signal was answered, and aa the Garrison Band struck up the National Anthem all heads were at once uncovered. The children's voices wore rather lost, but the aase.mblage soon joining m, the singing became general and very good. Loyal hearts and voices kept up a splendid tone, and the noise of tho guns, heard most distinctly during the symphony, added greatly to the grandeur of the occasion. JUBILEE CHEERS. After the singing of the Anthem His Worship the Mayor again stood forward, and said that he now had one of the most important duties of the day to perform, tjz., to call for three hearty cheers for Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Led by the Mayor the whole of the people gave three of the most hearty and loyal cheers ever given m New Zealand, and after a very joyous cheer had been given for the Mayor, the curtain was rung dawn on the " Ceremony at the Fountain." The whole was characterised with the greatest dclat and the most heart-felt verve, and will stand as an imperishable monument of the loyalty of tho Queen's subjects m this town and district. THE FOUNTAIN. As nearly everyone knows the site of the Jubilee fountain is on the triangle opposite the Government Buildings. So far the Bteps of the fountain have been erected, and the foundation stone as laid yesterday by the Mayor will carry the granite pillar, the panels of which will be suitably inscribed, and on the sides of which the several drinking basins will be placed. A very few days should see the whole structure finished as the contractor (Mr Jones) has got everything well m hand. The fonntain will be Burmounted by a very handsome circular globe-lamp of great power, and which will ahed a good light all round by the post aud telegraph offices.