THE CENTENARY. NEW SOUTH WALES. The Celebration of the Centenary. .Sydney, January 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 3

THE CENTENARY. NEW SOUTH WALES. The Celebration of the Centenary. .Sydney, January 26.

To-day in every nook and corner of New South Wales, from populous Sydney ■with its teeming thousands to the smallest bush township in the interior, the celebration of the tirst centenary of the colony is in progress. The celebration really commenced yesterday with a monster Agricultural Show and a Press Banquet, afc which representative journalists from the sister colonies were prosent to partako of the princely hospitality of the proprietors of the " Sydney Evening News " and "Town and Country Journal." There are dozens of notabilities in Sydney j to assist at the festivities, including the ' Duke of Manchester; Sir W. D. Jervois, ! Governor of New Zealand ; Sir F. N. Broome, Governor of Western Australia; Sir H. Loch, Governor of Victoria ; Sir W. C. F. Robinson, Governor of South Australia ; Sir Anthony Musgrave, Governor of Queensland ; Sir G. R. C. Hamilton, Governor of Tasmania, and a host of other notabilities, including several Russian noblemen ■who arrived just in time to take part in the rejoicings. To-day's programme includes the opening of the Centennial park, which will be dedicated with much ceremony by Lord Carrington, Governor of the colony. The poor have nob been forfotten and a free distribution of food to 0,000 persons will be one of the features of the day's proceedings. The State banquet will be held in the Exhibition Buildings, Prince Alfred Park. The building has been recently painted and renovated, and will be lighted by electricity. It is expected that fully 1,000 guests will be present, including the Governors and representative statesmen of the other colonies. It will probably be the most important gathering of the intellect and wealth of Australasia that ha? ever taken place. To-day also the newsboys, factory boys, and other lads will be treated to a picuic at the National Park. To night Sydney will be beautifully illuminated. The tender of Mr James Pain for illuminating the Town Hall for £260 has been accepted by the Sydney Municipal Council. It is also proposed to illuminate Hyde Park with electric lights and coloured lanterns, <to be supplied by Mr Pain. The Aborigines' Protection Board haa Completed arrangements for extending: the centennial rejoicings to the poor blackfellows ; and it is proposed to supply materials for building comfortable huts for them in Yass, Brungie, and Singleton. In some cases boats will be supplied, and all the blacks will receive food and clothing, and -«ach man a pipe and half-a-pound of tobacco. On Friday a regatta will be held in the harbour. The sailing races are expected to attract intercolonial competition, and the liberal prizes for the 6culling and rowing contests have already drawn entries from oarsmen in the other colonies. The regatta committee will entertain a large number of guests on the flagship in the morning, and in the afternoon Admiral Fairfax will give a luncheon either at the Admiralty or on board one of the -warships. The festivities will be continued in the evening at Government House, where a dinner party is to be held. On Saturday, the foundation-stone of the Trades Hall will be laid by Lord Carrington, and there will be races at Rand wick, and other Sports, gatherings, picnics and outings to suit those whose tastes do not run in the direction of horse racing. On Sunday a Service of Praise will be given in the Exhibition Building, which has been kindly lent by the Mayor, Mr John Harris. The choir will consist of 300 voices, and addresses will be delivered by the Primate and the Revs. Drs. Steel, Jefferies and KelynacU. On Monday the foundation-stone of the new Parliament Houses, to be erected on the site adjoining that of the present legislative buildings, will be laid, and on the same day the Centennial Cantata will be sung by nearly 2,000 voices in the Exhibition Building. The orchestral accompaniments will be rendered by military and other bands. The Roman Catholics have made elaborate arrangements for the celebration of the centenary. To-day the Cardinal and the visiting prelates will bo entertained at a picnic by the Catholic laity. On the 26th the foundation stone of the Home for the Aged Poor will be laid at Randwick. On the 27th the new Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart at Rose Bay will be opened. On the 28bh the visiting prelates will visit St. Ignatius's College. On the 29th a solemn religious centennial celebration will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral, when the Provincial Synod will be closed. It is expected that, in addition to the Cardinal, i the Archbishops of Melbourne, Brisbane, j Adelaide, and Wellington, with a large ] number of bishops, will be present. On the 30th the Australian Jubilee of the Marist Fathers will be celebrated in St. Patrick's church. Other features of the celebration will be a race meeting,the principal event of which will be the Anniversary Handicap of 2,000 soys. , and the Centennial' meeting of the New South Wales Rifle Association.