CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE SYDNEY EXCHANGE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 774, 14 September 1853, Page 3

CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE SYDNEY EXCHANGE.

(From the "Sydney Herald," August 2C, 1953.) Yesterday, amidst a large concourse of the citizens, His Excellency the Governor-General laid the foundation stone of the Sydney Exchange, in the ground granted for the site of the building, in Bridge-street. Every exertion had been made by the Chairman and Committee of the Exchange ; by the Architect, Mr. J. F. Hilly : and by the Clerk of the Works, Mr. Holland, to render all the proceedings of the day worthy of the important occasion. The ground was overspread with the flags of all the great maritime powers of the world. In the ceatre was the British Ensign, and surrounding it were the flags of the seven consulates now in commercial relation with New South Wales, namely, France, the United States of America, Prussia, Hamburgh Spain, Portugal, Norway and Sweden. At the main points were displayed the flags of all nations, whose ships are now "lying in Port Jackson, whilst the numerical flags of our nautical code were so arranged around the ground, that taking the centre one for Sydney, the emblem of " Sydney, 1853,'' was seen from every point. His Excellency attended by his suite arrived shortly after two o'clock, and was received by a guard of honor from H.M. 11th Regiment, the band playing the national anthem. The royal standard was immediately hoisted, and loud and prolonged applause greeted Sir Charles Fitzroy as he passed along the ground. At this time there could scarcely have been less than 4000 persons present. Amongst Avhom were all the civil officers of the government, the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, the Auditor-General, aud other members of the Executive. Sir Charles Nicholson, the speaker of the Legislative Council and various fading members of the Legislature. Sir Robert Nickle, commander of the forces, Colonel Bloomfiield, and a number of military and naval officers ot the garrison and port. The foreign consuls Folding in Sydney, The Mayor of Sydney an

others of the municipal body. The revereni Principal of Sydney University. A very large number of the leading merchants, traders, and other citizens of Sydney ; and last, but assuredly not least, the elite of Sydney's beauty and fashion, who manifested the wannest interest in tiie proceedings of the day. The ceremony was opened by the chairman of the Exchange Committee, Mr. Alexander Campbell, presenting to His Excellency, the following coins of Queen Victoria's reign, to be deposited under the foundation stone of the New Exchange ; viz. :—Gold. 1 sovereign. Silver, 1 crown, 1 half-crown, 1 florin, 1 shilling, 1 sixpence, 1 l fourpence, 1 threepence, J twopence, 1 penny, and 1 three-halfpence. Copper, 2 halfpence,! mite, and 1 one-sixteenth of a farthing. His I Excellency having placed the coins in the cavity of the lower stone, the Secretary, Mr. Dawes, read the following- inscription : THE FIRST STONE j OK THE SYDNEY EXCHANGE, Designed for the convenience of pi rsons engaged in the pursuit of commerce, WAS LAID On the 25th day of August, A.D. 1853. and in the Seventeenth Year of the reign of HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, BY His Excellency SIR CHARLES AUGUSTUS FITZ ROY, K.C.H. Governor-General Of all Her Majesty's Australian Possessions, In the presence of The principal Civd and Military Dignitari"* of the Colony, the Members of the Sydney Exchange Company, and the assembled colonists . ARCHITECT: JOHN FREDERICK HILLY. Alexander Campbell, Chairman, ~| Benjamin Darley. Frederick Ebsworth. Thomas Chaplin Breillat. Directors John Gilchrist. of the Michael Egan filornin. I Sydney Exchange George Rees. f Company, George John Rogers. fur the Year 1853. Thomas Whistler Smith. John Walker. Joseph Scaiffe Willis. Joseph RichmondYoang. J William Dawes, Secretary, The Venerable Archdeacon of Cumberland having been requested by the Chairman of the Committee to offer up prayer for the blessing of God upon this undertaking before the foundation stone was laid by His Excellency, begged leave to offer a few prefatory remarks with reference to fie occasion on which the meeting had assembled. He said, great indeed was the contrast between the month of August, 1853, and the month of August, 1809, -when he, Archdeacon Cowper, arrived in the colony of New South Wales. Then there was a scarcity of all tilings but one which it was at this day too painful to allude. Bread could not be obtained, unless the parties requiring it would enter into an engagement with the baker to take the 21b. loaf regularly at Is. fid. Butchers' meat was Is. Gd. per lb. Other articles of subsistence and comfort were equally high in price, and many were not to be obtained at an}' rate. So unprosperous, indeed did our colonial affairs then appear, that several persons thought, and said, that the British Government must abandon the settlement of New South Wales. But it pleased the Almighty to send a Governor —a man peculiarly qualified, according to his (Archdeacon Cowpcr's) opinion, for the high and important office at that time, and under his administration, in a short period, the colony began to prosper, and from that date, with the exception of a few intervals of depression and embarassment, which occasionally happen to the most favoured nations, this colony has been progressing, and has been advanced beyond all anticipations. For, now, on this day, what do we behold ! Prosperity and plenty, and peace on every side. He (the Archdeacon) remembered when a few days after Sir Charles Pitz Hoy had assumed the Government, a deputation from the Benevolent Society waited on His Excellency, to congratulate him upon his arrival, and to solicit His Excellency to become Patron of the society, adding " Under your Excellency's auspices and administration we anticipate great prosperity and peace to this territory." But the gentleman who spoke these words, he (the Archdeacon) believed, could have no expectation of any prosperity like that with which the colonists were now favoured. And, now, he would exhort all present, as they regarded their own best interests and the general welfare of the whole community, to seek the protection and guidance, the mercy and blessing of God. His blessing only can make us truly rich, and with it he adds no sorrow. His promise is ever sure, " Them who honour me, I will honour." The holy Scriptures teach us, "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus." The Venerable Archdeacon then offered the following prayer : Almighty and merciful God, our creator and benefactor, by whose Providence this colony was established, aid ha* ben favoured with many signal proofs of Thy forbearance, beneficence, and preservation ; while we would devoutly acknowledge Thy marvellous go > lness, and praise Thee for all Thy benefits bestowed upon u*, we would unfeigned!*' confess that, on account of our great and innumerable transgressions, we aie unworthy of the least of all Thy mercies: nevertheless, Thou, 0 God, who madest the heavens and the eaith and all things therein, didst, according to Thy wisdom, hide the vast treasures of gold and other sources of wealth in this land from the early colonists, when, under the peculiar circumstances in which they wens placed, such treasures might hare been productive of many and sore evils, and beneficial to a few individuals only; but has now discovered them to us. as if thereby to exalt us, and give us a place araoHsr the nations of the world ; and seeing, that Thou, of Thy bounty, has enriched many persons, and afforded unprecedented prosperity to this whole territory , we, this day, with deeply-felt gratitude, would offer unto Thee our humble and hearty thanksgivings for Thy distinguishing favours; and, we pray that, unto those to whom Thou has given wealth, Thou wouldest also give Thy heavenly grace to enable them rightly to use the same, —to promote Thy glory, also the best interests and the highest welfare of mankind.

Ai.d, 0 Thou benignant Lord God, we beseech Thee to continue Thy favourable kindness to the inhabitants of this colony, find especially to have always a regard unto the Building now to he erected on ilii* site, as a monument of Thy greit goodness and a manifestation of our prosperity : and grant that nil business therein tranmcted may be undertaken and conducted with truth and faithfulness, with integrity and uprightness, and in Thy holy fear; and, let Thy blessing be vouchsafed abundantly to those persons who in all their ways acknowledge Thee. O Lord, we entreat Thee likewise to preserve unte us the great privileges of our national Constitution, and suffer us not to be alienated from the United Kingdom in which our fathers were taught to know, and fear, and honour Thee; but make us faithful and steadfast in our allegiance to the British Crown; also give us all things needful for bndv and soul, and keep us in perpetual peace and godliness.—Moreover, we pray Thee, O thou King of blinds, to bless with every needed mercy and grace our Sovereign Lady, Queen Victoria, and her Royal Consort the Prince Albert, also the Prince of Wales, and all the floral Family, and all those who are in authority under Her Majesty. Now, O Lord, not unto us, not unto us, but unto Tby name be the praise for all Thy manifold and great mercies, And, O God, who delightest in mercy, we beseech Thee to forgive all our offences and to make us joyful in Thy salvation. Grant as, O Lord, Thy Holy spirit, that henc° onb, in all oor doings and proceedings, He may direct and rule our hearts, and enable us truly to serve and please Thee all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.— Amen.

The Chairman of tiir Committee then presenting to the Governor-General a gold trowel, addressed his Excellency as follows:—"It becomes my duty to open the proceedings of the day by addressing a few observations to your Excellency, explanatory of the objects for which we have assembled. The want of a place of public resort for the transaction of mercantile business has long been felt, not only by the commercial and trading community of this city, but by residents in the interior and strangers from foreign countries and the neighbouring parts who have occasion to visit this metropolis for commercial purposes. About two years ago

( a public company was formed for the purpose I J of providing the cit3 r with a suitable building as ! I a commercial exchange, and the gift from the j Crown of this valuable block of land as a site for the proposed building supplies the best evi- | dence that the importance of the undertaking is I fully recognized and appreciated by your Ex- ! cellency's Government, while, Sir, you pieside jon this occasion to lay the foundation stone affords to the shareholders a gratifying proof of the personal interest your Excellency feels in the success of their enterprise and of your desire to promote it. The directors have spared neither pains nor expence in procuring the plan of a building that will combine elegance and taste with public utility. The one selected is now exhibited on the ground, and when the structure is completed in accordance with that design the "Sydney Exchange" will be worthy of being dedicated to the commerce of this great country, and prove adequate to the future requirements of" its extending trade. Moreover, sir, I trust that the beauty of its architectural proportions will not only render it an ornament to this city, but the edifice of which your Excellency is this day to Jay the foundation-stone will stand a prominent and enduring monument to the taste and public spirit of the commercial community-who raised it. The trowel I have now the honor to hand to your Excellency has been manufactured from Australian gold, and bears on the face a suitable inscription commemmorative of this event. On the reverse there is a chased perspective of the proposed building. In the name of the Directors and shareholders, I beg to offer it for your acceptance as an acknowledgmeent of your Excellency's patronage of their operations, and to mark their sense of the judicious liberality of your government in granting to the Exchange Company this eligible and valuable site. This mallet has been formed out of a piece of iron bark timber found embedded in this site during the excavations. Although submersed for more than 30 years, it shows no sign of decaj'. It is now presented to your Excellency as a specimen of the durability of the hardwood of this country." To this address his Excellency made the following reply :—" Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: 1 feel highly honored in accepting this handsome and valuable memorial of the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Sydney Exchange, and at having been requested to take a prominent part in the proceedings of the day. I trust that the building, which is now commenced, will speedily arise, and long continue an ornament to this great commercial city, and facilitate the transaction of business among its enterprising merchants "

His Excellency then spread the mortar along the surface of the lower stone, and the upper stone was lowered into its place. With the mallet made of colonial ironbark, which had been submerged for thirty years in the site of the Exchange (the handle being of native tulip wood, and the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle carved round the base,) His Excellency then struck the stone at each of its four corners. Three cheers were then given for Queen Victoria; three cheers for the prosperity of the Sydney Exchange ; three cheers for Sir Charles Augus'tus Fitzßoy ; and amidst the strains of the band of the 11th Regiment who performed the Australian Anthem in magnificent style, the ceremonies of the day concluded. Of Mr. Hilly's design for the Sydney Exchange it may not be out of place to say a few words here, without pretending to oiler any critical remarks as to its merits. The entire building is to be of Australian stone; the style is to be that usually known as Roman Corinthian. The principal front will be towards Bridgestreet, presenting six columns of the Corinthian order, with pilasters at the angles, continued along each flank in Gresham and Pitt streets ; the Whole surmounted with the appropriate entablature and balustrade. Over the centre columns of the principal front will be sculptured figures, emblematical of Commerce, Peace, Plant}', Agriculture. The accommodations proposed" in the .comprehensive design are, first a basement story to run under the whole of the building; the ground floor being raised about five feet above the level of the footway, so that the great considerations of light, air, and easy access will be afforded to the lessees of the stores, offices, &c, the rent of which it is expected will yield a large revenue. The ground floor it is intended shall consist of a public hall, 80 feet by 40 feet in the clear; to be entered from Bridge-street by a flight of easy steps through three arched openings. It will be subdivided on each side by six lonic columns; a corridor thus being formed, eight feet wide, for promedade on public occasions, when the thronged centre may he the scene of busy attraction for the day. At each end of the hall there are to be five "arched openings, which will give the idea of a corridor all round the room, but which, in fact, will enclose two commodious staircases, by which to ascend to the first floor. Opposite to the front entrance will be three arched openings, of the same size and character; two of which will afford access to the " Merchants' Room," 00 feet by 00 feet; and on the east and west sides of this, entered at either end of the great hall, will be two rooms each 3G feet by 36, which may, if required, be subdivided into 4 rooms, each 18 feet by 18. These are intended for committee rooms, or to be let to public companies, &c. On the first floor will be a large room, 45 feet by 30, to be appropriated to the Chamber of commerce ; and ten rooms of various demensions for committee rooms, offices, &c, &c. The cost of this building when the plans were fust called for, was estimated by Mr. Hilly, in January last, at £20,000. In the vacillating state of our labour market, it would be idle to predict at this moment what the cost will actually be; but from the spirit and liberrlity with which this great public undertaking lias betm begun, there is little fear of it being delayed from narrow pecuniary considerations.

A Dinner, at which His Excellency the Governor-General was present, took place in the evening at the Exchange Hotel.