OPENING OF THE INDIAN AND COLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1415, 6 May 1886, Page 2

OPENING OF THE INDIAN AND COLONIAL EXHIBITION.

[reuteb’s telegrams —copyright.] London, May 5. The Indian and Colonial Exhibition at South Kensington was formally opened this morning by the Queen, the members of the Executive Commission being presented to her Majesty on her entrance'to the building, the vestibule of which was panelled with views of Australian scenery. A procession was then formed, which traversed the Indian, Australian, and Canadian Courts to the Albeit Hall, where an imposing’ inaugural ceremony took place. The Prince ---f Wales, then in the capacity of President of the Executive Commissioners, read an address to Her Majesty, stating that the display made by the British colonies at the Paris Exposition, 1878, had led him to express the hope that Her Majesty’s subjects in England might be enabled to witness the marvellous development which had taken p’ace among their colonial brethren. His Royal Highness dwelt with emphasis on the hearty response which had been accorded throughout the Empire to the invitations issued to take pare in the display, and the enthusiastic and successful preparations which had everywhere been set afoot. He specially commended to the Queen’s notice the hearty co operation of the various Colonial Governments, and the deep obligation that the promoters of the Exhibition were under to the colonial commissions and executive commissionets. Hie Royal Highness concluded with the hope that the Exhibition would prove a means of stimulating the commercial interests of all portions of the British dominions. Her Majesty in reply stated that she was sincerely gratified to witness the successful result which had attended the exertions of the Prince of Wales, and she shared his expectations as to the benefits which would accrue from the undertaking. She hoped it would also have the effect of strengthening the bond of union now existing between every portion of her empire. Special stands were provided for the accommodation of colonists. Along the route taken by the procession there was an immense concourse of {people, and the pageant was of the most brilliant nature, splendid weather greatly enhancing its success. Sydney, May 5.

Telegrams of congratulation have been despatched to the Queen and the Prince of Wales by the Governor,Lord Oarington, and the New South Wales Government on the occasion of the opening of the Indian and Gotouial Exhibition. .

By the courtesy of the Government we have reo ived the following telegram from Wellington:— Wellington, Last Night. His Excellency has tnia day received the following telegram from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales:—“ la forwarding the proceedings of the opening ceremony of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition by Her Majesty this day, I should be glad if you would publish them in a special issue of your Gazette. ” The address by His Royal Highness, the Executive President, to Her Majesty the Q teen, on the occasion of the opening of the Exhibition, was as follows:

“ May it please Your Majesty,—As Executive President of the Koyal Commissioners appointed by your Majesty’s royal warrant of November 8, for the promotion of an Exhibition of the British, Colonial, and Indian Umpire, subsequently incorporated by Her Majesty’s Koyal Charter of September 10,1885, I humbly beg leave to lay before you a brief statement of our proceedings np to the present time. The general interest manifested in the display made by Your Majesty’s Colonial and Indian Empire at the Paris Exhibition of 1878 led me, as President of the British Commission, to express a hope that an opportunity might soon occur by which Your Majesty's subjects in England would be enabled to witness the marvellous development which, under your beneficent rule, their brethren and fellow subjects had attained throughout so many portions of the globe. It was, therefore, with the highest gratification , that I accepted Your Majesty’s gracious , invitation to assume the Executive ( Presidency of this Commission, the ( appointment of which by Your Majesty , has been the means of making this hope € a reality. The invitations which we were empowered by Your Majesty to issue to the Colonial Governments and to the

Government of India, were forwarded towards the close of the year 1884-, and, from the answers received, it at once became apparent that this undertaking had obtained warm and hearty sympathy throughout Your Majesty’s dominions; and throughout your Australasian, African, West Indian, and Eastern Colonies, in your Mediterranean possessions and elsewhere, grants were voted, Commissions formed, and Executives appoin ted, and that the worjf of preparation was undertaken with enthusiasm, attended j with success, is evident from the complete and varied collections which at present fill the bqilding throughout which Your | Majesty has just passed. The response received from the Government of India was also of the most cordial character. His Excellency the Viceroy caused instructions to be issued to every district of Your Majesty’s Indian Empire for ihe collection of objects illustrative of the art, manufactures, and resources ofthat great realm Thosj collections, which now adorn a large section of the Exhibition, have been supplemented by generous cnntiibntions trom their Highnesses the Princes of India, by collections, the formation of which we ourselves have authorised, end by the contributions of.

private Native exhibitors. We in desirous of bringing under Your Majesty* notice oar deep appreciation of the hearty interest manifested by the respective Colonial Governments in the Exhibition, and of taking this opportunity of stating how greatly we are indebted to the Commissioners appointed by those Governments, and to the Executive Commissioners, on whom the superintendence of the entire work of installation has devolved. We farther desire to mention the valuable assistance which we have received from Your Majesty Wioeroy, from the Gove amenta of lodia, and from the various officials wbo have so ably and thoroughly earned out their instructions. Our grateful thanks are also due to the

Colonial Governments, to the Governnient of lodia, to the Corporation of the City of London, to manv city comps ios, and to the firms and individuals who have contributed to the guarantee funis. The fact that the list of subscribers not only Includes those whose interests are likely to be specially affected by the Exhibition, but also comprehends every class of the community, supplies gratifying proof of th ®, operas! sympathy and interoat which this undertaking has aroused. We venture to avail ourselves of this oppor- *} u y *° convey to Your Majesty our dutiful and lovai acknowledgment of the interest which Your Majesty has been pleased to take in our labours, proved, as it is, by Your Majesty’s presence here to-day ; nor can I resist making reference * B, S’- Oere, nonial presided over by Your Majesty a few Dacea from this> thirty-five years ago. On that mentorable occasion, the first of its kind, the Prince Consort, my beloved and revered father, filled the position which I, following m his footsteps at however great a distance, now have the honour and gratification of occupying. Your Majesty alone can fnlly realise with what deep interest my beloved father would. had he been spared, have watched,!* their origination, the developments the exhibitions, both in this country and abroad, and with what especial pleasure he would have remembered, as having tor its objects the prosperity of Your Majesty s Empire, the interests of which 5,® , 8 ° “ich at heart. In the great Exhibition of 1851, Your Majesty’s. Colomal and Indian possessions were indeed represented, but their importance was then but lute realised, and their present greatness was at that time unforeseen. During the years that have elapsed since 1851, tar greater changes have been wrought u the - marvellous development of the outlying portions of your Majesty’s itn P lr j e ’ It is our heartfelt prayer that an undertaking, intended to illustrate and record this development, may give • stimulus to the commercial interests and intercourse of all parts of your Majesty’s dominion, that it may be the means of augmenting that warm affection and brotherly sympathy which is reciprocated by all your Majesty’s subjects, and that It may still further deepen that steadfast loyalty which we, who dwell in the Mother Country, share with our kindred who have elsewhere so nobly done honor to their name.” Her Majesty’s speech in reply was sa fojlows;— “ I receive with the greatest satisfaction the Address which you have presented to me on the op.ening of this Exhibition. I have observed with a warm and increasing interest the progress of your proceedings in the execution of the duties entrusted to you by the Royal Commission, and it affords me sincere gratification to witness the successful results of your judiciousand unremitting exertions—the magnificent Exhibition which has been gathered together here to-day. lam deeply moved by yonr reference to the circumstances under which the ceremony of 1851 took place, and I heartily concur in the belief you have expressed that the Prince Consort, my beloved hnsband, had he been spared, would have witnessed with intense interest the development of his idea, and would, 1 may add, have seen with pleasure Ido son taking the lead in the movement of which he was the originator. I cordially concur with you in the prajeri thatthis undertaking may be the means of imparting a stimulus to the commercial interests and intercourse'of all parts of my dominions, by encouraging the arts of peace and industry, and strengthening the bonds of union which now exist in every portion of my Empire.” The following Ode by Lord Tennyson was sung at the opening of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition “ Welcome, welcome, with one voice In your welfare we rejoice. Sons and brothers that have sent. From Isle and Cape and Continent, Produce of your held and flood Mount and mine and primal wood, Works of subtle brain and hand. Splendours of the morning land. Gifts from every British zone, Britons, hold your own ! May we find, as ages run. The Mother featured in the son. And may yours for ever be That old strength and constancy Which have made your Mother great In our ancient island State. And where’er her flag may fly Glorying between sun. and sky. Make the might of Britain known, Britons, hold your own ! Britain fought her sons of yore, Britain failed, and never more, Careless of our growing kin. Shall we sin our fathers sin . Men th U in a narrower day Unprophetic rulers they—--1 ’rove from out the mother’s nest That young eagle of the West To forage for herself alone, Britons, hold your own ! Sharers of our glorious past, Brothers, we must part at last ? Shall we not, through cold and ill Cleave to one another still ? Britain’s myriad voices call, Sons 1 be welded, one and a'l, Into one Imperial whole ; One with Britain heart and soul. One life, o ;e flag, one fleet, and throne, Britons, hold your own, and God guard ail !• His Excellency the Governor has replied as follows : “ Royal Highness the Prince of Wales London. Sew Zealand, on behalf of the colony, acknowledge with respectful thanks the eceipt of your telegram. They heartily ongratulate your Royal Highness on the penmg of the Exhibition, the success of rhich is greatly duo to your gracious xertions,

A special Gazetf* will be issued forthwitji, and his Excellency has forwarded to Her Majesty the Queen the following telegram;—“ Her Majesty the Queen,— The Governor and Government of New Zealand, on behalf of the colony most humbly tender to your Majesty their respectful thanks for the great honor conferred on the Colonies by your Majesty’s gracious presence at the opening of the Exhibition.”