THE JUBILEE IMPERIAL CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 8 November 1900, Page 5

THE JUBILEE IMPERIAL CARNIVAL.

(From our Christchurch correspondent).

The Canterbury Jubilee Imperial Carnival, preparations for which evtnt have occupied a number of devoted workers for well nigh a year, wan opened on Friday evening last under the most favorable auspices. Readers of the Tablet, who have noticed with interest the various reports of the progress of the gigantic undertaking, are doubtless fully acquainted with the details of the special buildings erected for what is most assuredly the finest display from a spectacular point of view as well !as the largest and most costly collection of goods for bazaar purposes yet got together in the to ony The main building, which is erected at an angle to face Colombo and Gloucester btreets, is divided into stalls or compartments named after various countries jof the Empire, and appropriately decorated. The young lady assistants, who also take part in the various performances, are costumed after the manner of the countries they represent. The decorations have been carried out so lar as the hall is concerned in a most elaborate manner and when seen in the brilliantly arranged gaslights the spectacle is magnificent Ihis work was done under the supervision cf the Very Rev father Le Menant des Chesnais, who devoted a great amount of time and care to it and who is to be oomphmented on the fine result. The lady stallholder supervised the stall decorations themselves, and right well they have accomplished the task. These have been apportioned as follows •— -ndia, Misses Murray and Brosnahan ; 'England,' MesdamesO'Connor and Whitten ; ' South Africa,' Mesdames G. Harper and J Deamer; 'West Indies,' Miss White and Mrs Burke • 'Australia' Mesdames Maher and O'Reilly ; ' Egypt,' Misses Ivess ; ' Ireland (two stalls), Mesdames P. J. Nolan, G. Hayward, Frengley, and O Donahue, and Miss Kealy ; 'Scotland,' Mrs Stratz and Miss Kearney ; • Canada,' Miss Wally ; ' New Zealand,' Mrs Lance ; refreshments, Mesdames W. and R. Hayward ; art union, Mr W Fox To describe in detail the wealth and display of each stall would entail too great a demand on your space. Where all have done so well it would be manifestly unfair to individualise, but to the convents must indeed be given a special tribute for the truly noble way they have risen to the occasion, and that, we are all aware, at no small sacrifice. The art union department, dignified by the title of Mynorama,' is devoted to an elaborate exhibition of the beautiful and artistic articles collected by hit Lordship the Bishop during his visit to Rome, and consisting of rare mosaics, valuable pictures, marble statues, rich laoe goods, etc. As the opening hour approached the street in front of the pavi. lion was paoked. The City Guards, under Lieutenant Bishop, and

hoadfd by the Garrison Band, lined up to form a guard of honor for his Excellency the Governor, who drove up punctually, attended by the Hon. C. Hill-Trevor and the Hon. C. Butlfr. The Right H«n It. J. Seddon and the Hon. J. G, Ward were also pre^nt. On hid Excellency's arrival tho Garrison Band played the National Anthem, and the Vice-Regal party wrre receivpd at thf> entrance by Ins Lordship Bishop Grimes, Sir George Clifford, and the membe-H of the Executive Committee. Passing through the building to the yrtat marquee, where the performances aro held, the party were escoried to a dais, which contained besides tbe Governor and suite, Bishop Grimes, Sir George Clifford. Rifrh fc Hon. r.hn Premier. Hon. J G. Ward, Messrs W. VV. Collins and (J. W Ru«ell, AI.H.R'h. the V-ry Rev. Fdtiher Lemenant des Chesnai?. Kuv. Fathers Marnauc, I'ncr, and Richards.

On his Excellency entering the audience rose and sang the National Anthem.

Bishop Grimes, who was warmly rccivel. then addressed the gathering, prefacing his speech by t-tating he had received several apologies for non-attendancp, including one from bis Worship the Mayor, who expressed his intention of alteuding with the Mayoress at a later period. A little more than 12 months ago, he paid, the clergy and Jaity of the Catholic diooese of Christchurch, resolved to do all in their powi j r to erect, instead of their present pro-Cathedral, a temple more worthy of the moat High, and more in keeping with the beauty of the City of the Plains. Though by no means richly endowed with worldly wealth, their first step was to contribute with a generosity tnat had won them universal admiration. As they embarked on this enterprise, they at once proposed to celebrate the Jubilee of the province by holding a carnival which would unite them with their fellow-colonists in praising and thanking an allbountiful Providence for the countless blessings receive.) during the las'u half century, whilst it would, they flattered themselves, furnish them with an agrepable means of considerably swelling the f nu'l the nucleus vvhoreuf they had ?o recently started. His Excellency bad douetlwn the high h'inor ol' coming to open their ftstivitie-, and words failed him ti adequately express their grateful recognition of this moat gracious act, which, they were confident, would ensure thy unqualified success of their undertakings. They deeply regrettrd the forced absence of the Countess of Ranfurly, and ventnred to ask his Excellency to convey to her their gratitude for the unexpected but tangible proof of her interest in the work they had in hand by bet gift of a beautiful landacape oil-painting. Afier loyU reference to his Excellency's vihit to Christchurch, Bishop Grimes went ou to say that the century now drawing to a clo=e had b<en great' in numberless ways, but to his mind one of ito chief claim-* ro greatness was the tact that it was the great Victorian er.t. Few there were who would not feel that the vent-Tare d mime of her Majesty should evoke sentiments of the N deepest re-pe.:t arid loving admiration. In speaking thus, he not only re-echoed the feelings innate in the broa3t of every true brn P. ion, but was following the example of a great n-viTUjro ; ore who ruled over the minds and hearts of wellnigh 300,000 000 of subjects : the illustrious Leo XIIL, who lately declared to the wor d that no monarch in modern times had done more to preM r e peace among nations, whilst fostering the prosperity of }<eopl< >*, than Queen Victoria. He had good reason to affirm, that no sovereign was held in higher esteem and affection by the Pi.pe than their own great Queen. What, from their youtb, the Catholic cleruy had been taught by their Church, they, in turn, taught those confided to their paßtoral care, loyalty to their God, loyalty to their Queen and country. Whilst claiming a share in the rights said privileges of British subjects, they would not for a moment shirk tne grave responsibilities such rights andl'privikgcs carry with them. In the hour of their country's need, no one worthy the name of Catholic British subject would, he thought, be found bjse enough to shrink from the faithful discharge of his duty, lv Ejgland'n recent call to her Empire, when an ill-advised people, who were indebted to Great Britain for the very independence they enjoyed, forced the Mother Country to take up aniis m defence «>f the rights of those who claimed their protection, the Catholics w> -re proud to see their people give unmistakable pr«> is of true loyally. Though sincerely deploring the need for th« prolonged warfare, they were proud to see young men, onco b>>yy, reare lin thpir echo >is, go forth at England's call. No less p r v I were they to find that no few of their own kith and kin di.iti!)-gui-he<i themselves during that campaign. Th. j y weie pioud lo m i o the Diii-ae of a Norfolk, a Talbot, a Clifford, a H'otayn, a d h V.mghan, and a host of others no le3S valiant, though Jess known, aaum< the first and the boldest of the brave. Proud weio they dnrirg the late national crisis to see the noble part taken by hia Excel l';ncy and his responsible advisers, the chief and foreniobt of wnoin they were glad to welcome amongst them that uight. After r<jferiing to the lead taken by New Zealand in despatching troops to South Africa, Bishop Grimes, in a few concluding remarks, thanked his Excellency, and the Premier, the Minister of Railways, and the oth^r members of Parliament, for their patronage and prc-enet too. He than ked the members of the Committee for their indeut ruVtj work during the last few weeks, and the stall-boJdcrs tor tn> \v great gooi will, and all friends, especially the clergy of houtb Can'erbury, and one of the most zealous in the North, and tho convents throughout the diocese, for their treuerous contributions. Ho then asked his Excellency to upeak to the large assembly, and declare the Jubilee Carnival opened.

Lord Ranfurly said ie gave him very great pie 'sure to be present that evening. The mass.ige of loyalty and words, t-poken i.i reference to his Most Gracious Mistress lie felt he would be bound to submit fco her. He did not iVr^et a similar message delivered o.i another occasion by his Lordnhip, With regard to t&e Colony's loyalty and readiness to a-*:!-t the Mother Country, mo.i Inn eo'ne forward nobly when calW upou. lie was sore »i:-o that their men had not gone to the fiout lor the sake of fliiby lucre, but. .tt -ay rate in ninety-nine cate.s out of the hundred, in a iine tyi ifi «a patriotism, and when they lecurntd they would imbue this tpa-.it la

the people of the places to which, they returned. He desiredßb congratulate the Bishop heartily up^n the present effort. It wWi moat fitting that on such an occasion as that of the present jubilee, such a fund sho 'Id be started. He wished the Bishop every success in his undertaking, and desired to apologise for the absence of Lady lianfurly, who. as he had explained last evening, was on her way to England. He had much pleasure in declaring the carnival open.

After tho f >rmol p •o' i p' > dings were over, Signor Borzoni introduced some r -ally iiiaguiric j nt tableaux and marches. Nothing could bu butter man the combination of colors of the dresses of the gt- is <■>;• the rapidity and preoisiaon with which they executed the mi^t complicated evolutions. 'A scherzo in black' was given by a number of boys who were described as ' our friends the Basutos.' A Highland reel was well danced by 1C Highland lassies, and a grand military march by 150 performers provided a very pretty spectacle. The greatest credit is due to Signor Borzoni for the training of the children, and his Excellency expressed himself to Signor Borzoni as being highly delighted with the performances. A number of mounted t.-oopers then enterod the tent, escorting the carriage of a lady who represented her Majesty the Queen in her carriage to review the troops. As the carriage left the tent, she was loualy applauded by the audience.

The Hon. J. G. Ward, on behalf of those assembled, congratulated Signor Borzoni on the excellence of the dißplaya he had arranged, and also the ' Acting-Queen ' on the courage she had displayed. He said he trusted that the carnival would be well patronised, and that numbers of people would come in from the country, and ao benefit the revenue of the Railway Department.

Lord Ranfurly and his party and the Hons. R. J. Seddon and J. G-. Ward thortly afterwards left the carnival.

After an interval during which the stallholders and their assistants made the most of their opportunities, the second part of the programme, comprising more dances by Signor Borzoni's pupils, was gone through. Tho orchestra was under the direction of Mr. Harry Rossiter.