THE USHER HALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 8

THE USHER HALL.

THE KING LAYS THE FOUNDATION STONE.. .■ An important civic function, in which their Majesties took part during their stato visit to Edinburgh, was the laying on July 19 of the foundation stone of the. Usher flail by the King, and of a memorial stone at the sanio time by tho Queen. As long ago as IS9G, Mr. Andrew ■Xishsr, a membor of tho firm <rf Andrew. Usher and Co., distillers, Edinburgh, handed over to the city of Edinburgh the munificent gift of vEIOO.OOO, to be spent in tho erection of a public hall, where, in particular, good music at a. cheap rate might bo heard by all classes of his fellow citizens. Site difficulties have until now prevented the carrying out of his beneficent purpose, and Mr. Usher unfortunately passed away before seeing any prospect of'its fulfilment. In open competition, the design of Stockdalo, Harrison and Son, and Thomson, Leicester, , was accepted for a stately hall to hold 3500 people. When the King was approached, he graciously acceded to the request that lie should lay tho foundation stono of the Uslior Hall, and it was with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that the citizens heard that her Majesty had; also desired to bo associated with tho work. There was an extraordinary demand for tickets to sec tho interesting ceremony. Stands to hold 3000 people wero erected, and were crowded with a fashionable aseemblage, which included his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Princess Mary, the high officers of Stato in attendance on Royalty, and quite a galaxy of the members of the peerage- and county families Who had come to Edinburgh to attend tho Royal Court at Holyrood. A notable group present were members of tho family and relations of the donor of tho hall. Accompanied by a travelling escort of tho Scots Greys, their Majesties drove from Holyrood by Princes Street and the Lothian Road, through rnagni-iicontly-doeorated streets, and wore accorded, by hundreds'of thousands of people on the streets, grandstands, and at windows, a thoroughly Scottish welcome. At the site of tho hall their Majesties had also a great reception. Tho King and Queen wero received by Lord Provost Brown and Mrs. Brown. A statement was mado by tho Lord Provost concerning the munificent gift of Mr. Usher to tho city. Tho minister of St. Giles offered prayer, and the King in a workmanlike manner applied a trowel to tho mortar, and afterwards, tapping tho stono with a. malkt, said in a clear voice, "I pro'nounco this stone lo be well and truly laid." Loud cheering Wlowcd this announcement. Tho Lord Provost presented tho King with tho trowel, and tho architect handed tho mallet to tho Lord Provost as a memento of tho occasion. When tho Queen's turn came, her Majesty tapped tho memorial stono with a mallet, and she said, "I lay this memorial stono"; and as n. eouveiiir of tho occasion tho Queen was graciously pleased to accept I from the. corporation a beautiful pendant jewel. Nothing could have exceeded the genial grace of their Majesties or t.ho warmth and cordiality of the reception which they received, on the occasion of I their taking part in this memorable event ! in the history of the city.