The Opening Ceremony.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2372, 23 October 1880, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Opening Ceremony.

Very complete and perfect preparations had been made by the commissioners and the Government for the opening of the Exhibition, and, for completeness and effect, no ceremony of the kind held in Australia equalled that which took place on the Ist of October, 1880, in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the weather was not what could have been desired, but this did not prevent the people of Melbourne and the colony attending in large numbers to countenance the great industrial display. The day opened with a clouded sky and a chill wind, but at an early hour the streets were full of people in holiday attire, all wearing that pleasing, attentive, excited look that tells some great event is about to occur. Collins and Bourke streets, the two great arteries of the city, were one mass of people, the gay attire of the ladies relieving the more sombre dress of the gentle-

men. Spring-street, along which the combined procession was to pass, was densely crowded, and the flights of steps in front of the Treasury and Parliament Houses were parterres of humanity, while every balcony and window along the route were full of people, and the housetops were crowded. Above the murmur of the enormous multitude —said by some to be 100,000, by others 60,000 or 70,000 —rose the inspiring strains of the many military and trades’ bands, which were playing at the various rendezvous of the persons who were to take part in the procession. After nine, the sailors of the three British men-of-war in the bay, the Wolverine, Cormorant, and Emerald, the French man-of-war Finistere, the German man-of-war, the Nautilus, the Italian Europa, and the Austrian Polluce, and the Victorian naval forces, disembarked and marched at the head of the procession, headed by the band of the Cerberus. The various dresses of the sailors, and their splendid marching, greatly attracted the crowd. After them came the Metropolitan District Volunteers and the Permanent Artillery, and behind them again the real feature of the procession—the trade societies and firemen, the former with their many beautiful banners floating in the breeze. The extent of the procession may be judged by the numbers. There were 800 sailors, 2159 volunteers, and 3500 trades representatives and firemen—64s9 in all. Bands played at different points, and, despite the dulness of the weather, the scene was very enlivening. At a quarter to eleven the guns of the various batteries and ships announced his Excellency the Governor and the other notabilities, including all the Governors of the colonies, except New Zealand, and the captains of the men of war, had left Government House. The carriages soon joined the procession, and entered the grounds, where the sailors and volunteers formed lines on each side, the Prince of Wales Light Horse forming a guard of honour. His Excellency was received at the entrance by the Hon. W. J. Clarke and other commissioners, and the distinguished guests took their seats on a sumptuous dais, adorned with flags of all nations, and with the choicest evergreens. The scene at this moment was one never witnessed in Australia. The noble hall and the transepts were filled with the rank, wealth, and beauty of the land, and in the west transept appeared the real glory of the scene, the magnificent orchestra and chorus—

about 1000 in all—seated in rows, one above the other, the magnificently ornamented organ, picked out in crimson, gold and black, overtopping all, while the galleries were thronged with ladies, elegantly dressed. When, as his Excellency entered and took his seat, the organ pealed forth, the chorus rose like- a mass of foliage, and there was poured forth, in “ God Save the Queen,” a volume of sound that absolutely electrified the people, the great mass of whom were unaccustomed to such effects. The disposition of the singers, too, was happy. The lady altos were in a parterre on the right, distinguished by cardinal sashes, the sopranos on the left, wearing blue sashes, while above them were the tenors with blue rosettes, the baritones wearing cardinal rosettes. The effect of the disposition of the lady singers was to give the spectator an idea of two parterres, one of “ crimson tipped” daisies, the other of forget-me-nots. Very beautiful, too, were many of those singers, and the men were also really handsome. “God Save the Queen” having been finished, and all settled, the cantata, written by Mr. Meaden, and composed by M. Caron, a distinguished French musician and violinist, was sung. The following are the words: —

,|imuoural Cantata. ARGUMENT. Part I.—THE PAST.—Victoria, sleeping amidst the primeval solitudes, is aroused by voices which foretell the speedy discovery and settlement of the country, and presently the songs of the Mariners are heard as they make their way across the ocean to the, as yet, undiscovered land. Part lI.—THE PRESENT.—Victoria, discovered engaged in various pursuits—Pastoral, Agricultural, Industrial, etc.—is approached by a company of Nymphs, representing the various Nations of the Earth. These hail her with acclamation as the “ Queen of the South.” Victoria responds with a jubilant song of welcome, and, as she leads her guests to the banejuet, the people burst forth in a patriotic hymn, with which the Cantata concludes. Part I.—THE PAST. In slumbers deep—where branching fem-trees wave. And Austral seas the long, low beaches lave. Where, fringed with reeds, the silent, lone lagoon Reflects the starry cross and crescent moon, With garner’d sweetness in her peaceful breast The fair Victoria lies too long at rest. O summer laud of silence, O laud of beauty rare, Where solitude lies brooding O'er hills and valleys fair. Where silent streams are stealing O’er eaeh untrodden plain. And the lonely shores but echo The sigh of the surging main. On thy sweet peace intruding The old world soon will pour An army, vast and busy, Forth from its teeming shore. And to thy pleasant harbours. That now all lonely lie, “ As the doves unto the windows ” Shall the white-winged vessels fly. Then, fair South Land, no longer Thy coasts shall silent be; The merry voice of laughter Shall echo songs of glee. Then busy sounds of labour. Shall rise on the summer air. And sweetly chime the Sabbath bell. That calls to the house of prayer. The Mariners’ Song. Our northern homes we leave behind, To seek some golden strand; Our sails we trim to catch the wind. And steer for the Southern Laud. O’er glitfriug seas we gaily glide Where the sunbeams dance on the laughing tide. When storms arise their wrath we brave, Nor fear the lightning’s flash. Though madd’ning winds around us rave, And the surging billows dash. O’er unknown seas we fearless sail Where the Storm-fiend rides on the hissing gale. Part lI.—THE PRESENT. Now, on the grassy plains the browsing flocks descend. While Ceres’ toiling swains her fruitful reign extend, Deep in the gloomy mine the digger seeks his prize, ’Neath labour's sway benign the fair domed cities rise, And all around we see a power subdue the land, A power from God that nerves the toiler’s willing hand.

Chords of the Nations. From distant shores we come to greet, With loud acclaim, our sister sweet. And hail her, as with queenly grace Amidst our band she takes her place, “ Queen of the Southern Seas.” Victoria's Song of Welcome, 0 golden day of glory! 0 chrysolite of time! Now fly all shadows hoary before a dawn sublime. Now clad in golden sunlight a bride adorn’d I stand, My dowry, England’s birthright, her banner in my hand. 0, welcome! sisters gracious, and friends from every laud! My heart warms at your coming to this bright and sunny strand. My banquet-hall is furnished, my table richly spread, The grand old flag, with star-gems deck’d, gleams brightly overhead. Wave, wave your silken banners! your silver trumpets blow! Sing, sing your loud hosannas! that all the world may know This day is born a Nation, ’neath England’s banner free, That, like a constellation, flames o’er the Southern Sea. Hymn. O Thou, whose arm hath for our fathers fought. Whose guiding hand their sous hath hither brought, Lead onward, till Australia’s land shall rise A Greater Britain, ’neath these Southern skies. With bounteous hand our fields with plenty bless, Increase our flocks, our homes with peace possess; Make wise our rulers, and in righteous ways Guide Thou our feet to Thine eternal praise. The music was of a very telling character, and the colour infused into it by the composer very charming. He used all the grand resources to his hand to the utmost advantage, and the result was a great burst of cheering at the close. The most successful vocalist was Mr. Verdi, whose solo, “ On Grassy Plains, ’ was a grand effort, his voice filling the vast building. After Mr. Meader and Mr. Caron had been introduced to His Excellency, the Hon. W. J. Clarke read an address to

the Governor by the Commissioners, and His Excellency replied, and declared the Exhibition opened, after which ho visited the various courts and was to the commissioners. In the meanwhile the spectators amused themselves by scrutinising each other and the building. The Governor and his suite then returned and left the building amid the triumphal strains of ‘‘ Rule Britannia.” Visitors then disposed themselves over the building and inspected the courts. About 15,000 persons visited the Exhibition in the afternoon, and there would have been double the number but for the high price of admission. After the first day the charge was reduced to one shilling, at which it will continue to the end. So ended the greatest ceremony and the most successful that Victoria has witnessed, fit inauguration of the largest of the kind ever held south of the line, the Victorian International Exhibition of 1880, so true a confirmation of Milton’s words: “Peace hath her victories As well as war.”