The Melbourne Jubilee Illuminations.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2072, 25 May 1887, Page 2

The Melbourne Jubilee Illuminations.

The Ago of a late date says ; —On the night ofthe 21st June, the date sot apart for the general celebration ofthe Queen’s Jubilee, the city of Melbourne will present a brilliant appearance. Already illuminators are at work canvassing for commissions, aud, judging from the readiness shown by citizens to make adequate preparations for tlxe occasion, ii is probable that every place of business in the principal thoroughfares will be decorated with light in some form or another. The illuminations of the Government buildings is to cost a sum of £ISOO, the Minister for Public Works having been authorised to enter into a contract with Messrs C. T. Brooks and Co. for that amount. The arrangement is to illuminate the Government House, the Treasury buildings in Spring Street, the Parliament Houses, and Post Office. The Law Courts wore also included, but it appears these buildings are unsuitable for the customary style of treatment, aud it has therefore boon decided, at an additional cost of £IOO, to burn for five hours from the dome a mass of colored lire, which it is said will bo seen for a dis. tauco of 10 miles around. The Postmaster General has also expressed a desire to take the illumination of the Postofticu into his own hands, aud hat accordingly obtained liberty to do so. His idea is to illuminate on a design in which the electric light will play the principal part. The Treasury will be illuminated by various devices aud colored lamps. In the front it is pro[Ktscd to have afire jiortrait of the Queen, occupying a space of 1500 square feet, with letters five foot long and surrounded with stars of various sizes. The whole of the windows and principal features of the building are to be outlined with lamps of all colors, aud on the outer steps there are to be illustrations in fire of two large fern trees, and festoons of colored lanterns will be suspended from the top of the building. A representation of the British coat-of-arms, occupying a space of 1500 superficial feet, will bo the principal feature in the illumination of the Government House. The tower aud and balcony are to be festooned witli lamps, and chains of lanterns will be hung from the top of the flagstaff to the base of the tower The elevated jtositiou of the Governor’s residence will render the illumination both picturesque aud fantastic. The scaffolding in front ofthe Parliament house affords opportunity for a grand display being made there. A gigantic laurel wreath surrounding the letters V.R., and occupying 1500 sujierficial feet, with the word “ Victoria ” in immense letters on one side aud “ England ” on the other, will constitute the main device. There are also to be numbers of crowns aud stars aud distinctively Australian emblems, such as figures of kangaroos and emus in advantageous situations. Thu scaffolding from one cud to the other will be adorned with a double line of lamps, and in addition there arc to lie tour gas devices erected in suitable positions. The Custom House is to have the Australian coat-of-anus extending over a space of loOt'ft, with “God save the Queen” shown in sft letters. The windows throughout will bo adorned, and the building covered aud chained with lanterns, ]n addition there will lie also four gas devices placed in the most conspicuous positions