Opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1829, 7 May 1886, Page 2

Opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.

On Wednesday a most important event took place in London—the formal opening by her Majesty the Queen of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. The inaugural ceremony was of the most imposing character. The Prince of Wales, as President of the Executive Commission, read an address to her Majesty, stating that the display made by British Colonies at the Paris Exposition of 1878 bad led him to express the hope that her Majesty’s subjects in England might be enabled to witness the marvellous development which had taken place in their colonial brethren. He specially commended to the Queen’s notice the hearty co-operation of the various Colonial Governments and the deep obligations the promoters of the Exhibition were under to the Colonial Commissions and the Executive Commissioners. In reply her Majesty expressed the hope that the Exhibition would also have the effect of strengthening the bond of union now existing between every portion of her Empire. The Poet Laureate, Lord Tennyson, has written an Ode ia honor of the occasion. The verses possess a heart stirring and genuine ring, more especially the concluding one, which thus refers to all British colonists :

Sharers of our glorious past, Brothers, must we part at last ? Shall not we, through cold and ill, Cleave to one another still ? Britain’s myriad voices call, Sons, be welded each and all Into one Imperial whole ; One with Britain heart and soul. One life, one flag, one fleet, one throne, Britains hold your own And God guard all!