Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 153, 8 May 1886, Page 5

Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

Mr George Howell., M.P., writes :— " It is admitted on all hands that there is much distress and suffering in consequence of the widespread depression in trade and the general lack of employment in most of the staple industries of the country. Efforts are being made to furnish temporary relief to the more necessitous, and to devise some means for further assisting the industrious poor by providing employment of a useful character. Will you allow me to suggest a way in which the industries of the country would receive a healthy impetus, and great good be done to the whole community ? Her Majesty the Queen came to the throne on June 20th, 1837, and, therefore, on Juno 20th next she will enter upon the 50th or jubilee year of her reign. Three previous English Sovereigns have also reigned for halt a century, and on each occasion the jubilee was held when the 50th year began On Oct 25th, ISO 9, George HI. entered upon the 50th year of his reign, and, curiously enough, the distress which existed throughout the country was almost equal to that which we are enduring to-day On the very day he commenced his 50th or jubilee year, a thanksgiving service waa held at St. Paul's, when a collection was made for the relief of the poor, and throughout the country there were public rejoicings and festivities. During the present year there is to be held at South Kensington a great exhibition of Indian and colonial products, and also an exhibition of American manufactures. Thoss will naturally attract to England our brethren from Greater Britain beyond the seas. The celebration of Her Majesty's jubilee during such a happy concurrence of circumstances would be peculiarly graceful, as our colonists and kinsmen have strong patriotic feelings, and take deep interest in everything appertaining to the monarch of this realm. The immense impetus which would be given to trade and commerce by the vast influx of visitors, foreign and colonial, would benefit all classes in a way which could not be done by donations, however handsome or general. This would give employment to an enormous number of our population, and thus relievo distress in a natural instead of an artificial manner." Mr Joseph Arch, writing subsequently to the above, says :— ' c If Her Majesty were to celebrate her jubilee year by visiting, not only the great metropolis, but cur large provincial towns in person, it would give such a stimulus to trade that would in some happy degree relieve the present distress, and no doubt help permanently to revive the drooping industries of our country. Not only myself, but thousands of our rural workmen, would be glad to learn that Ber Majesty was prepared to carry out this wise and timely suggestion. 1 feel sure Her Majesty must sympathise with the sufferings of so many of her people, and know that in I taking such a step she would consolidate for herself the affection and respect of those whose sufferings she helped to alleviate."

LosroN, May 4. -Sir Charles Dilke hus addressed a crowded meeting at Chelsea, at which he stated that he was prepared to deny on oath all the allegations made against him in the recent divorce case, and to defray the cost of the Queen's Proctor's intervention.