THE AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1751, 27 January 1888, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY

(Per Pbebs Association.)

Loudon, January 25, Tne " Daily Telegraph " to-day, m an article on the Australian Centenary, states that the pioneers could never m their wildest dreams have conceived the wonderful progress made by Australia, and it was equally impossible to forecast the future of this, the grandest of the youthful nations .

The Press contains highly complimentary notices on the centenary. The " Daily News__ states that England's work m Australia has left an enduring mark for the future of the human race.

Syiotky, January 26. The Committee to whom was en* trusted the task of distributing tickets fof food to the deserving poor, have had a busy time of it. No fewer than eleven thousand tickets havo been distributed since ten o'clock yesterday morning. The applicants appear to be mostly of the thrifty class of the poor. At the Agricultural Show Messrs Green and Co., of Christchurch, received first prize for machine-cured and smoked hams.

The dedication of the Centennial Park was performed, by the Governor, Lord Carington. The work m the Park is so far advanced that not much remains to be performed before the laying out is completed.

The city was most brilliantly illuminated and decorated to-night, quite surpassing the display made on the occasion of tho Jubilee festivities, George street was lined with one hundred red Venetian masts, supporting, an endless line of banners, heraldic shields being interspersed along the line, the whole being illuminated by large numbers of lanterns, Three arches spanned the roadways at intervals, and lines of bunting were flying m George, Pitt, and other principal thoroughfares. The buildings were illuminated with most ; intricate devices, showing a considerable expenditure m time and money, but the illuminations were somewhat interfered with by the breeze blowing. The tower of the General Postoffice was adorned with arc lights placed at an elevation of over 200 feet above the level of the street. In Oxford street there were five more arches with continuous festoona. On each of the streets were colored glass lamps. The statues of her Majesty tho Queen, Prince Albert, and Captain Cook were garlanded with strings of lamps, and thousands of lamps were scattered among the trees and flowers m the Park, presenting a most attractive appearance. The Town Hall was similarly adorned, and was a perfect blaze of colored lights and devices. Flags were flying from every pole and from anything to whicli a flag could be tac^ec] with advantage. All wheeled trasc was stopped m the central streets, which were rendered quite impassable, the crowd filling them all the night. It was estimated that at least 200,000 people were about the streets.

Between eight and • nine hundred guests were present at the State banquet, for whom ample preparations were made, and carried out m an excellent ma-tnef. At the head of the room a raised table was placed, which was occupied by some fifty notabilities —-lords, governors, premiers and others. Sir William Jorvois replied to the toast of the Governors, hia speech being devoted entirely to the aspect < t colonial defence. He expressed regret that New Zealand Ministers were ab olutely pre* clu<Jed by urg nt public business fton} taking pju-t m tfte greaj; celebration. He referred to his eleven year,' connection with the defoncas of tlje colonies, and praised the readiness displaysd by tlie several CJohmial Parliaments fa passing the Naval Defences Bill, They must not forget that it was highly essential that commercial routes should be guarded as well a< harbors. He spoke approvingly of the labors to that and made by the Earl of Carnarvon m his position as Chairman of the Defence Commission, and congratulated the colonies on the work tbey had done, and on the advanced state of their defences, which was a most import suit factor m the great work of federation". Portions of Sir William's speech, which was not a lengthy one, were loud'y cheered.

Sour stomaoh, bad breath, indigestion, and headaohe easily oared by Hop Bitters. Take one bat Amerioan.

"Rough on Catabbh" oorreota offensive odors at once. Complete oare of worst ohronio oases ; also unequaled as gargle for diphtheria, sort throat, foul breath _

Keating 'a Powder destroys both moth«, ileal beetles, and other all inuqts while quits harmless to domestic animal.. In extar-bi-nauag. beetles, the Bucce__,i_f .this powdM^a extraordinary. It is perfeotly clean m- application. See the artiole :yon purchase is Keating a aa imitations are noxious and ineffectual. Sold ia tine, 6d, Is, and 2a 0 d eaoh, by all obmjjiat . , .