Australia's Birth.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 January 1901, Page 3

Australia's Birth.

(Bit HLBOTIUC TELEGRAPH.—-OOPY^IQHI)

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The Nation of the Southern Seas. Sydney, January 1A red letter day in Australian history, has come and gone, and the political work of years has been consummated, while the work of the past few weeks to make Sydney a city worthy of the great function to be held within its gates resulted in a magnificent success. The handling of the street traffic was admirably conducted. Nothing of a serious character marred the proceedings on the length of route, and ample provision in the shape of stands for view of the procession prevented great pressure anywhere. The crowd was orderly in the extreme. Early Dawn Early in the morning the domain presented a brilliant and animated scene as the various contingents, imperial and Colonials arrh cc(, and squadded ready for marsWlling. Precisely at 10 30 the commenced to move, police led the way, followed by the fire brigades with the steam fire engines forming the escort to three cars filled with members of the fourth estate. The whole route throughout was lined by local. troops, who kept the passage-way clear for the procession. By the time everything was fairly under way the day was sweltering and cloudy, hut muggy in the extreme. The Procession. Following the press were two fine allegorical cars representing Italy and Canada formed and occupied by officers dressed in Italian uniforms, others in costume of Garibaldi’s men while in the centre car was a large bust of the Great Italian Liberator. After the cars came the members of the local Parliament, City Corporation, distinguished visitors. The Hon. MrSeddou occupied a carriage with Kingston, escorted by the Maori members of the Contingent. Sir Robert Stout and Judge Edwards shared the carriage of the Primate, but not a Cardinal took part. The Military. After the carriage of notable personages came what formed the chief attraction of the pageant —the Military Contingents of New South Wales.

The Lancers led the way with the South African returned men and soldiers representing the Soudan Contingent. Then came the visitors from Queensland, Tasmania, Wcstralia, South Australia, Victoria and New’ Zealand in the order named. This brigade was under the command of Colonel Fenton, New Zealand Commandant. Next followed the Indians. A most brilliant spectacle they offered with Pugaree uniforms. “TEe cavalry section showed themselves splendid horsemen. The foot regiments were big, fine looking felbws indeed. The baonzed complexioned sons of India gave a touch of splendour to the scene with their dresses and turbans.

After them came the Imperial Force under Colonel Wyndham, with his staff of officers heading the Royal Horse Artillery' with two guns, the Household Cavalry, First Life Guards, Second Life L Guards, King’s Dragoons, Seventh Husf sars, Twenty-First Lancers, Prince of ■fcWales.Own, Royal Field Artillery with guns, Royal Engineers with waggons pontoons sections, the HighGarrison Artillery, Grenadier Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards. v . the Regiments of the Bull's, Somerset Light Duke of Cornwall’s Light Northumberland Fusiliers, Y itoyal Fusiliers, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Scottish Rifles, King's Royals, Royal Irish liilles, Riiles Brigade, Pipers of the Scottish, Force, the famous Black Watch, the Highland Light Infantry, Scaforths and Caraerouian Highlanders, the Army Service : the Army Medical Corps, the Militia, Devon and ♦ v. nobh^

parencies. The windows of the, great warehouses were crowded with spectators on every floor. There was one continuous volley of cheering, increasing in volupie'as the pets 6:: the public in the ahape'of Indians, British troops and the battjeworn sons of the Colonies passed in review. The Nations of World Claim a largo share in the decorations 'of the-city, and after the wheat arch was passed the French avenue was entered by a nob le arch. The avenue was flanked with masts bearing the emblems of “La Belle France” and extends to Hunter St. One is greeted with the names of Frenchmen familiar to early Australians—La Perouse, D’Entrecasteaux, Bougainville. The coats of arms of Paris, Lyons, Marseilles and Bordeaux find places, and the names of illustrious Frenchmen in science, art, literature and engineering are inscribed, while the inscription on th) archwav extends the Republic's welcome to Australian federation. High in the air the Gallic rooster crows a greeting to a festive emu. The American Eagle. Hunter street crossed, an aggressive bird is perched on an arch beautifully decorated and bespangled. . The spread eagle is Uncle Sam’s contribution. An assurance is given that the United S;ates greet United Australia, and the American nation hails the new-born nation. Venetian in the American avenue bear the emblems of the various states, each mast being surmounted by a golden eagle. Lord Hopetoan's Colors. Entering Martin place and passing the Post Office, the scene is impressive. Thousands throng the magnificent and gaily decorated stands. The colors of Lori Hopetoun arc entwined and the masts viewed from the press association showed great intermingling of colors. The Uniforms of the Troops. As each body of troops pass it is marvellously effective. Now it is a shade of khaki, changing to brilliant scarlet as the Life Guards come into view with glittering cuirasses, and shell helmets, which in the sweltering atmosphere could scarcely be deemed a fitting costume for the Sydney climate, in fact, in the long march the Britishers must have suffered, a deal from their heavy clothing. The heat was hard enough to bear in the riding carriage and suitably attired. The Post Office Place presented a gorgeous kaleidoscopic view—brazen helmets of the Horse Guards, waving plumes, a moving mass colour thrown into relief by the black mass of people surrounding the square. Turning into George street the colour of the scheme changes. One thing that never altera is the throbbing humanity that occupies every spot where foothold or support can be obtained, A throng that cheers itself hoarse never seems weary of practice. Shades of pale blue and white intermingled with many fine mural decorations is Sydney’s main thoroughfare contribution. At the Town Hall the Melbourne City Corporation’s tribute in the shape of a floral arch is passed through into Park street. This street is A Mass of British Flags Of every design, leading up to the most beautiful arch of all. The Commonwealth arch erected by the citizens and the best talent in the City lavished on it is built across the street. At Hyde Park its fine proportions are not interfered with by the surrounding buildings, as is the case with those in the city, decorated with bronze panels emblematical of Australia’s advance in science, arts, industry, finely executed pictures showing the landing of Cook, the arrival of the first fleet, the departure of troops to South Africa. College street is entered beneath Tha German Arch. Crowned with the golden Imperial eagle, each column bearing a crown, figures representing Germania, Australia with the inscription “ United Germany greets the Commonwealth of Australia.” The city is quitted by a beautiful classical portal erected to our comrades from over the seas and to comrades of the Southern Seas, and the narrow thoroughfare of Oxford street is entered. Masses on the stands are down on the nature of

Commonwealth of Australia. A telegram of congratulation was also read from the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. A public school Choir of Ten Thousand Strong Voices sang “ Federated Australia, ” and after the Hallelujah chorus was rendered the ceremony concluded with “ God save the Queqn, ” sung by the combined choirs. His Excellency left the Park as the New South Wales Artillery fired another salute of nineteen gems. Visitors barely reached home before Nature soluted the new nation with a violent thunderstorm of an hour’s duration.

The Night Illumination

The city presents a wondrous spectacle to-night. The illuminations are in a magnificent scale and commensurate with the other functions that marked the celebrations, and far surpassing anything previously, attempted in the southern hemisphere. Enormous crowds are promenading the parks and streets, which are almost as light as day. Powerful arc burners arranged in groups of five erected on tall columns illuminated the parks and domain. The palace gardens are a Fairy Scene of great Beauty. The flower beds arc everywhere outlined with coloured incandescent lights and foundations. Round Governor Phillip’s statue, a scintillating rainbow of colors from the limelight rays forming a magnificent centre. The gardens in Macquarie Street, which, flanked as it is by Parliament houses and other leading public buildings was selected as one of the most lavish decoration. From below the entrance to Government House to the Queen’s place, at the tep of King Street, rows of largo electric lamps in artistic red frame work setting with crowns, colored lamps below span the street at short intervals. From amongst the greenery arch to the en- - trrnce to Government House the grounds sparkle with prism lights. On the opposite side of the street the Colonial Secretary’s offiea carries an immense crown on the dome with festoons of colored electric lamps. Round the • frontage of the Treasury Buildings just below is similarly decorated, The public library is festooned with colored lamps over the entrance, a large crystal crown and the letters “ V.R.” in crystal glass. At the Macquarrie street entrance to the Domain an immense star with silver points and a raised Portraits of the Queen In gold with the words “ South Africa ” encircling, the whole edged by a line of minituro electric lights and flanked by festoons of colored lamps, which hang over the main gate. Then came Parliament Houses oaves hung with festoons of ambor-eolored prismatic lamps, a large amber crown of prismatic crystal glass supported the letters “ V.R.” and flanked the British and Australian Coats of Arms. Which occupy the centre of the transparencies on each of the wings, displaying the badges of Britain and Australia with a large prismatic star above each. The front of the mint is ablaze with colored lamps. The centre piece is two large circular devices showing two forms fitting the terminal form on the centre obelisk, radiator ropes of floral wreathing bearing colored lamps to the surrounding columns. Round the base of the Queen’s statue rises a curving fountain with lights from the grouping ferns and greenery. The whole is a triumph of beautiful effects. Entering the square dingy Supreme Court building is transformed almost be* yond recognition. Diamonds of coloured lamps spring from the top facade and festoon the frontages. Frames in cut crystal glass enclose the transparencies of the five chief justices of New South Wales. One of the Gems The view at Martin Place as seen from the New Zealand’Press Association rooms is one of the gems of the display. Thg_ towering spire of the stands tr f'A'wt.