AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12734, 1 April 1909, Page 5

AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

Opening of New Victorian Offices In Lontion , Press Association.— Telperanh .—Copyright. LONDON, March 31. In the presence of 150 persons, including Lords Ranfurly and Sfcrathcona, Sir Reginald Talbot, Mr Hall-Tones, and the Agents-General and leading merchants, shipowners, bankers, and financiers, Earl Crewe opened the new Victorian offices. He expressed the hope that the other States of the Commonwealth would build on adjoining sites, and especially referred to the good management of the Victorian railways. Earl Crewe complimented Victoria on its great prosperity. It was impossible, he said, to allude to the gift of a Dreadnought without feelings of emotion and gratitude. The Government and the country were profoundly touched by this evidence of goodwill, symapthy, and loyalty to the Empire. He was certain no sympathy could be closer than that founded on common sympathy, such as had been shown, first by New Zealand and now by Australia, in a noble contribution to the general defence of the Empire. The Telegraph, in a two-column leader dealing with tbe openin? .of the Victorian Agency, suggests that the Imperial ideal is at last finding expression in London ar- , chitecture. The Commonwealth, New Zealand, and South Africa must follow with similar edifices, being as expressive of the greatest factor of modern political life as mediaeval cathedrals were. In connection with the Dreadnought incident, the Telegraph recalls the New South Wales contingent going to the Soudan.