In the Australian Colonies.

Hastings Standard, Issue 354, 23 June 1897, Page 3

In the Australian Colonies.

IMMENSE GATHERINGS,

HONORS TO COLONIALS

Sydney, This day. The weather yesterday, though gloomy, was dry. The darkness at night greatly heightened the effects of the illumination. Trains from all parts of the country poured their living freight into the metropolis at a great rate. The streets were densely packed, and it is estimated that about 300,000 viewed the illuminations, which were of a most brilliant character, the Government offices, financial institutions, and insurance companies vieing with each other in their splendour of decoration. The tower of the post office and the town hall were brilliant spectacles. Compared with 1887 the Jubilee illuminations were perhaps not as general, but the effect was more gorgeous than on that occasion. On Monday evening although there were great crowds in the streets there was only one fatality, a little girl being killed by a tram, but tfte various police offices at a late hour were converted into nurseries, over fifty small children managing to lose their parents in the crush.

The scene on the harbor was very fine, searchlights playing over its waters, while the warships made a magnificent pyrotechnic display. The official programme yesterday opened with a commemoration service at St. Andrew's Cathedral at 10 o'clock, the Governor and military and naval officers attending in their official uniforms. There was a crowded congregation. The National Jubilee prayer was read, and special hymns and the National Anthem were sung.

At 11 o'clock the Governor reviewed the military naval forces at the Centennial Park. A t'eii <le joi»> of 60 guns was fired, and afterwards they marched through the principal streets of the city.

In the afternoon the Governor unveiled Governor Phillips' statute in Gordon Place grounds. He eulogised him as the first governor and the founder of the great city of Sydney. In the course of his speech he stated he had received a cable from the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain announcing that the Queen had conferred the Order of Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George upon Chief Justice Darley and that Mr George Reid has been made a member of the Privy Council. The celebrations were on an extensive and varied scale throughout the country. Similar official functions took place at Brisbane and Melbourne. In the latter city hundreds of thousands of people are in the streets. Later. Rain set in shortly after 8 o'clock last night and considerably marred the illuminations. The non-receipt of the cable announcing the commencement of the thanksgiving hymn at St. Paul's is understood to be the result of a breakdown of the arrangements in London. Everything was in readiness here for its leceipt and there was great disappointment at its non-arrival. Adelaide, This Day.

The chief events rrere the procession of 20,000 school children, the Governor's reception and the Jubilee concert. The city brilliantly illuminated. The crowds in the street were never equalled. The weather was splendid.