OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5913, 27 April 1887, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

[Pkb Press Association.] "WELLINGTON, Apeil 2G. Just before two o'clock a Bharp shower fell, and the look of the weather portended ; a repetition of last year's experience at the ! ceremony of the opening of Parliament, i Before, however, His Excellency arrived, j the rain had ceased, but the atmosphere : remained bleak and cloudy. The Perma- j nent Militia and the Volunteer Artillery I turned out as usual to form a guard of j honour and fire the ealute, but there was j no band to enliven the proceedings, and j its absence was much commented on. Sir j William entered the Council Chamber, j attended by the Hon Fortescue and : Captain Medley, A.D.C/s. Major- General ; "Whitinore, Colonels Bayley and Butts, j Major Jervois, and the French, German, j. and Danish Consuls. There were 17 ! Councillors in their seats, and at the summons of the Clerk, 59 members of the j Lower House made their appearance. | The Ministers present were the Premier, j Mr KichardoOQ, Mr Tole, and Mr Ballance. [ There were a large number of ladies, j both on the floor of the Chamber and in j the galleries. The public gallery was full to overflowing, and the muster of Press representatives was also unusually large. His Excellency read the Speech in a firm, clear voice, and as soon as it was over, both Houses applied themselves to brief formal business.