THE OTAGO JUBILEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6115, 23 March 1898, Page 1

THE OTAGO JUBILEE.

DUNEDIN ON THE EVE OF THE FETES. [From Ouk Correspondent.! DUNEDIN, March 22. .It is stated that . there are fifteen thousand visitors in Dunedin, to participate in the four days' rejoicings that are •' to mark the jubilee of the landing/of the first immigrants brought by the Otago Association. The appearance of the streets thi_ afternoon and evening was such as to support the statement, while the large crowd that attended the opening ceremony of the- exhibition .proved the popular enthusiasm to be thoroughly aroused. March. 23 (to-morrow) ■is the Jubilee Day, being that on which the passengers by the first ship landed, but it is to be so crowded with events . that it was found necessary tD _aye the exhibition opened tonight. This' slight- departure from the original programme, though a distinct advantage, stjll leaves a heavy list, of events for to-m'ol'F- Vv. "\ ' " 'Early settlers " — early birds they must beware. to form the central feature of.:*the'-' proceedings, j, commencing with religious' i :_eiivic.s • fat; t!3,b .in the morning. 'c-i_ai-_-.ng"'4- a. , procession at noon and llnisbin'g up with a cdnvercazione in the evening I.''1 .'' It is eminently cha.acteristio'O^ot_go■ that- the day's celebrations - should be statted^ with .'religibus meetings • lasting for -leai-y'four hb'u'rt- These include Pontifical High <Mass at St Joseph's Cathedral; thanksgiving services' in the l.ading - '■-•Presbyterian:- arid Anglican •churches arid' •« rchoral • than_sgiving at "> '-'the Jewish Synagogue.- : : After the procesuv'.h B i on eome-'athletic sports, a sailing regatta ■'■■'-. arid horse r_ces, with a -general, illumination at _.p„ri.- ■; 1 ...--!-' H •■■■■' " : - .'■ The seene 1 ' at, ■ the -.'Exhibitipri Hall to^ might was one-- of > impressiveness, there being quite three thousand persons assembled!* A very ctriking appearance •was presented- by' the Choral Society 'arid. 'theOr'cheHt-al'iSooiety.members, which, io the n uinibe^ of four huridred, w ere present, ■and. their rendering of Vth]_ various musical: ■ items on 'the i 'programme ''was -ri'^st^ masterly. The whole proceedipgs decupiedailittleovei'^^:an horir_;and- \teie ridt jnarlted; ! by anyiincident. ' ■■-'■■!■ •."• ;" . i ■' 'P : ' t The streets of the city were busy f tili: nearly midnight, and there were about a jthonßand.pei-bns at the station when the . •expr es. Srrived at a quarter past ten. The' Hon- John M'Kenzio's absence' from, 'the exhibition 'ceremony is explained by the fact that he was attending a gathering of the Gaelic Society. The weather is fine, and everything premises well for to-riiorrow's demonstrations.

fPjIK JfH&bb rt-boolA'.rOK.T ' The Jubilee Industrial. Exhibition was opened .bis evening.;. There was a very large- attemT^pce, including .the Governor (Lord Eanfurlyjy the Premier (the Bight Hon R. J . , Seddon ), a , 'number of members of both Hptises of Pai.iame_+r the captain •of H.M.S.'^aiiranga, and viiailE--_ frdm.&ll parts of the colony. As 'the Governor -entered, the assembly rose and sang the National Anthem. The Hon T. Fergus, in an address on tho objects of, .the exhibition, referred to the pluck and perseverance of the early settlers. >aaa the stepO_at had been taken by the promoters of the exhibition. Lord. Ran-, furly Hnei^called on . the : Premier, wno spoke r .r^|f J^opd qualities possessed by -the early lettt-rffiof the proyince, and said 4hat wherever they <had gone to settle in •the colony they had. : shown . the same „. characteristics, and.had proved themselves '-, good, colonists. , The Mayor said he re-gard-d* the Industrial Exhibition as a __pst " fitting ' event ,as part of the. jubilee celebrations, because, if the country was to " be a great country, it 'must be by the establishment of the' industries and arts which had made the ■Old Country great. f Lord Banfurly • expressed regret at the absence of Lady, Banfurly, who was confined to her bed, but -he hoped she would be able to take part in the next day's events. He expressed deep pleasure at being present on the bccai,;.. aion/and referred to the fact that during ■ the time he had been in the colony he'had le__nt a good deal about Otago. He paid :_. high compliment to the early 'settlers, - .and referred to the progress of the, pro r ...... yince"; in industries, especially .woollen r {.. .nanufacturesand mining. He expressed, -. ;..', the opinion that the mining industry would ; .enipljOymore and more people. He noticed" . in the' exhibition nearly every' requisite for ' ever^jinTbabitant, and nearly, everything „ waft.'.pjE home 'manufacture. He again referr^ to;'tW'energies of- the founders of the settleiaent, arid recommended the present ;._ generation to teach their _'phlldM^l;_' 'follow' in the footstep-' of . tpe old' identi-ieS, so as to make the .colony one of the foremost in her Majesty's' dominions. . He concluded by declaring the exhibition open, amidst hearty-cheers. The Choral, Society 'and •Orchestral Society during the evening rendered the 100 th Psalm, "Thanks be to God," and the Hallelujah, Chorus. ' The exhibition generally ia nearly complete. It is divided into early history, picture and art gallery, fisheries and acclimatisation, education, New Zealand manufactures, mining and metallurgical -ourts. The Manufactures Court comprises about 150 bays and is generally representative of Otago products, ' manufactures and industries. The number of outside exhibitors is limited, but there are some exhibits from Melbourne, Christ--<jhurch, Wellington, Taranaki. Nelson Westland, Auckland, Tasmania and West Australia. The Governor held a Uvee to-day which was largely attended. The weather is threatening. The town is crowded with visitors, and late arrivals are in sore straits to obtain accommodation.

The Timaru Protestant Band (twenty) went down by the express yesterday to head the Orange Societies in the Jubilee procession at Dunedin to-day. The Otago Daily Times of yesterday says:— Yesterday the resources of the local Bailway Department were tested to their utmost limits, and the number of persons that are finding their way to the city is in excess of all anticipations. Both the southern express and the north express were greatly behindhand. The former arrived after six o'clock and the latter at 10.30 p.m. In the morning some 250 passengers arrived from Clinton and intermediate stations, while 300 arrived hy the one o'clock train from Oamaru. About ICO came in from Otago Central at si. o'clock. The southern express brought ii between 600 and 700, while a late trail from Clinton had onboard about 200. Ove 500 were on board the north express.