THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3461, 4 January 1901, Page 2

THE COMMONWEALTH.

IJliited. Press Associaia'on—Electric Telegraph—EJopyrigUt. I Received 9 a.nuo. Jauuary 3rd. SYDNEY, December 3. Seddon, interviewed ro Federati®rb, said that in face of the Keyal Commissipn, just appointed ia Nev Zealand, he did not . deem it advisable to intrude his oyiuion. One thing; necessary above' all qi.lj.evs was to get closer steamer connects® between Australia eind Now Zealand» 'When vessels of thft Lucania and Cnmpanjlk class were secured, and when the voy«igt* across would mean perhaps only two nights on shipboard, then there would b§ an interchange of people! astounding in its magnitude. There might yet l>.s a Commonwealth and New Zealand Federal steam service, and he would not hesitate to enter into partnership to-morrow for that purpose. He was satisfied that thoro would be no reprisals as far as New Zealand was concerned, and there was no necessity for anxiety or alarm on that score, and certainly the good feeling now existing would prevent anything being done which would be especially injurious to our colony. In regard to Mr Seddon's suggestion for a faster steamship service, Mr Uarton says Mr Seddon's ideas are entirely acceptable to the Federal' Government, but he lias no doubt that private enterprise will provide all the service necessary. Members of the City Council presented Lord Hopetoun with a magnificent casket and an address of welcome. Some idea of the enormous crowds in the city may be gathered from the train

aid tram traffic. Oven half a, nullum persons were carried on. the. trains on Tuesday, 0r150,000 in excess of any other record- Yesterday it is- estimated that there were 400,000 passengers. People turner on to the footboards two deep,, and Evaded the roofs of cars to impossible places, and as the trains passed each Other numbers wfere swept- off, but as the pace was necessarily- slow no serious harm resulted. The .railway returns, show thatover 116,000 travelled "on Tuesday, against 8?,000 last New Year's Day. The steamer traffic was equally big; The North. Shore Perry Company carried 80,000 passengers in a few. hours without a single accident. so| great was the rush at the refreshment rooms that many had to close their doors. ETungry visitors took possession, stood on the tables, and flooded every nook; content 10-long as they got something to eat. " Most of the Federal Ministers leave Sydley after the celebrations, and meet again arlynext month, to complete arrangements 'or the.Federal elections.' The overturning of a Chinese lantern et fire to No. 2 City Fire-Brigade-Station, ind the engine room, and the stable were fitted. Three valuable horses were killed. An interesting .event o£ the- celebrations ras the following:—The- members of the Sty Council officially visited' Government louse and presented Lord. Hopetoun with magnificent casket, elaborately- worked a gold and silver, mounted on a stand of dished Australian blackwood,. and : an ddress of welcome. The Mayor made the mentation in-a few words of welcome. Hopetoun,-in replying, said that he adbeen touchedr.ilh: the.cordiality of his Kaption both'on landing andat the swearportion. of yesterday's Fire Brigades' emonstration'had to Ike-abandoned "owing, ji; pressure: by the crowds of people- which: festered Tound - the- steam-engines- so iickly- They persisted in obstructing the Movements of tte tinmmj who: were coindied to requisition the hose and an. bundant supply of water. - With loud loots of laughter, from the; men and irieks of - consternation from the women te crowd scattered before- the- watery ona tight like mists befoiethe rising sun, but araooner did they make-an opening in one: lace than they, worked round and hamared the firemen in another. The people vie practically unmanageable; A small ndy of wei% jpresentr, but were unite to do anything. ' . Some grievances have arisen among the; wsts of respecting' the ai-delviery of invitation. cards and armgements if or lodgings* A prominentietorian .visitor, Sir William Zeal, Presiintof the Legislative Council, considered -«« it rfigjhttd. at thepoeition allotted to iigVafc the.Stotebanquet.. When he saw a Mat he:refueedtoi take; ill Subsequently. he wrote a letter-to ii W. Lyne wniiflaiiiing of the treatment » bad received and stating that he would >t accept hospitality irom thouvenimeot. v- <. - - The Federal Ministers are getting relare matters in-order. -Mr Barton has ired to the Treasurers of tfie various' iates that Customs%-and excise revenue; nnTi^. have to; lie credited to - Gomonwiealth ffrwnjthe l-'jr: vCh»° fiie flltalrazbs weri^ela>or9t^ r . deo>rikted.-^ le popidace to &ntennial Paik. Trams - ere crowded afi bUsscavoßtaim^ MS, notfang short of gold-- could, bduce -a cab pas3engenu.to;'the" dd of action where the army of the fin-. Ere displayed itadf in rfl it 3 glory. Ac le saluthig base were of Sydney society, -.apd aistinr lushed guests. *1 Mr Seddon and Cartll occupied seats amongst on a.>ecial E- The troops'; fqniiexL: up nt, the lnfantqr in line of quaito cd; ■■; the «econS Imo eoiuisted' of .the Ingineera and departmuital y the; third, ne of the Mountod Bngade aad Field [Hacy- Other branches of the service,-* fcfc' as the" Naval Forces;? Garrison Artil*™y Sennce Corps, and-; Medical" taff Corps, were paraded as - 'fafantTy. tfe -respectiveTregimenis. [ Lord a gwit tochihg theparade groundhe was receiyed gSporal salute. Then he proceeded; mrn. : the bam. JD>d> bp, the infanttyfline from tlfe left, the Enii« playing-a slow- march. _ The-Moun— Brigade" movwl'to the saTutfiig base Wing the 'mspection of the infantry. Lord- Hopetoun." mounted '"i m a Eneral's undress uniform, was accomiaoied "by two aides. As soon as-the iovernor had finished his inspection he rebrned to the'saluting point. and the inarch feat commenced. The Royal Horse ■- ArBlery came first, -were followed by . fci T.ifa Guards. It was imposing pectacle; glancing on the. uniforms and- shining accouto?pw»f« niade up a dazzling, scene. lie pavaby passed" in dashing style,, but the Indian Cavalry displayed- finer control of bar'hones. Their- three solid coluniiis pnTwt' Klr«v" plockwork: and the men sat heir horses like statues of-brpnzel Reived :a • magnificent ieception, ancL protably raised greats enthusiasm than any tther force. "The marching of the Imlerial men was- something to be - rememmed. The Grenadiers and Rifle Brigdivided thd fionours "in this respect. El»' colonial- forces have not yet- reached-, he English/standard. There is not the rWfcgnflr precision. ' The marines. Kram the Navy, ;with the sailors, Enit-luj splendidly,' arousing the enthu-. fi«m nf the spectaors. . The Queensland 'TMiwamaTi Contingents, the latter led |y the redoubtable Major Cameron, of South African fame, raiswi enthusiasm to & high pitch. A similar effect was pror (faced as' the New Zealanders inarched put.. The New' South Wales Lancers made a brave show; while not having the stateliness of the English cavalry, they displayed sin abandon and individuality which marked their comrades on-the African veldt. The-actual-number of -troops pa parade was "'-9679, and the inarch took hn-hour to pass the Governor. The streets werer crowded with visitors and sightseers all-day - A -variety was lent to by the changes in colours wrought over night. To-day Martin Place-" and the front of tho' Post jpffice are festooned with green paper, the Kreamers of which in.- a gentle breeze Hfell like a sea promising a beautiful efKct when the electric light is turned on Ko-night. AH day long military bands Iwere playing at the bandstands which had 'been erected every few hundred yards in ithe streets. f A beautiful sight was the great display at the cricket ■ground" by "the'chlldren of the .public schools. Upwards of 10,000 .chil-dren-took jiart in the presence of 30.00 C persons. The children .were, dressed ir white,'each school being distinguished by a""particular, coloured ribbon "or. tie. . .Tht girls performed a pretty flag march, describing circles, triangles, and .other geometrical figures' with excellent precision. The boys displayed their ability in dumbbell and single-stick exercises. "Die Gov-ernor-General visited the ground during the afternoon, the children cheering and sing ing. At the commercial demonstration, in thf shape of a luncheon to commemorate th( Commonweealth and welcome to Lore Hopetoun, there were over 1000 guests. The Governor did not" appear, apologising for his absence on the ground that, he wa: tired after the military function .of thi morning. Mr Barton received a good re ception, but that accorded Mr Reid over shsdowed all. for fuliy five minutes pea on peal of cheers rant out, showing tha » l!.« leader of the freetraders was amongs his own in the commercial community k" Sir C. Kingston, wan made the first speed as Fedi'al Minister of Trade and Customs api «>led for the burial of State jealousies pni sail that he would endeavour in hi imjirfant dejKrimett to administer it i] ;the best interests of the nation. A toas Jo the memory of Sir H. Partes was drun] m silence. I To-night there is plenty- of amusements i the shape of fireworks, concerts, cyclinj carnival, and " command night" at th theatres. The Union Steam Ship Company hav placed the Mokoia at Mr Seddon's dispos; |to view the fireworks to-morrow night, j large and fashionable assemblage js invitet I including the New Zsaland Contingent; L Captain Edie, of the Navigation Company I has placed a steamer at the disposal of tl during their stay to view tl

MEEBGTIRSKr January S. J i- Sir'JbKnt Madden, the- Chief Justice of■ | r Victoria,. has- been sworn in- as Lieutenantfc Governor, of- Uusseremonywa* ~ purely formal. j ADELAIDE,. January 3. f : " Lord Tennyson, in the- course of his : speech - at the swearing-in ceremony, said - that he had heard that a . closer and more t- ' intimate union between the. different States ; ■of the Commonwealth would be. better; but • he-held the. heightening of the individual s -of-each State-would promote;;the-stability, ; i Istrength.and greatness of the-whole.-There-. j ■fore,, he had perpetually, urged the-, safe- : guarding of State, rights and deprecated ! .belittling,.Adelaide.lest it. should; sink into a second or. third rate- provincial town. ; For- this reason he refrained from, attend- ! ing the--ceremonial at Sydney-To-day - was almost generally observed : as a holiday. The weather was-beauti- \ ful, the heat being tempered by- a fine ; breeze. The. pressure on the leading hos- i telries- is now relaxing. • PERTH;. January.- 35. f . The- city- celebrated thee Commonwealth • ' byyextensive.-decorations.-and illuminations. ?' The chief ceremony- was the - swearing; in: of. the Administrator ofthe-Governmentaiid; Ministers: There was great.enthusiasm; j ' V Per: Press- Association.. ;] WELLINGTON, January. 3. J V Lord Hopetoun has cabled,to the--Acting-Governor: "Please convey to the. people | of' New; Zealand-- my-- sincerest thanks- for. ' { congratulations:and-. good- wishes towards.' ; the-r prosperity- of 'the-Gomjnonwealth:'. >: jj