COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 248, 17 December 1900, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS.

j LORD HOI'ETOUN'S RECEPTION. A MEMORABLE SC2NE. j ( PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION.] j (Received 15, 2.47 p.m.) • Sydney, December 15. ! The Royal Arthur with tho Governor General aboard camo on from Jervis Bay this morning. Outside the heads; the vessel was met by six warships and j a number of steamers gaily decorated, j including the " Waikare " and Zealandia," and escorted to Farm Cove, where the official landing took place at halfpast eleven. It was a magnificent [spectacle as the Flagship with her j escort passed through the lines of mail ' and other steamers and sailing vessels gay with bunting, lining each side of the harbour, to view the immense concourse ashore and afloat. On landing a salute was fired. Lord Hopetoun was conducted splendidly decorated, to the reception pavillion, where he was received and welcomed by the Premier and presented with an address by the Mayor on behalf of the procession was formed, and the Military, including a. Xew Zealanders tecently aftwßjSfroin South Africa, and \ ments, L.rd HopetoujM>fqpeded via the Domain and prineypLjilreets to the Government were dense crowds and a wealtf : el' minting along the entire route Was much en thusiasm. iJ| 1 (BecelTe||l6| 6 Am.) Snjfclj, December 15.' A typical Australian the arrival of Lord Hbp"atoun.\, Early in the morning the naval. squadron and mercantile fleet were.. ast(r, and the ocean liners took up p'ositidns;: along, the foreshores in a line, ; whilei the r intercolonial s'.earners precceeded with the fleet to sea to meet the B.O)'al Arthur, which left Jervis Bay after midnight. After the Flotilla got under weigh at eight o'clock they proceeded is two lines, led by the Admiral abcard the Porpoise and the cruiser Archer. On clearing the heads there was a fresh breeze with just sufficient sea to give movement to the scene, i though more than enough to discommode poor sailors. About nine I o'clock the Royal Arthur appeared on the horizon under a full head rf steam. The sight was impressive, »s the fleet manoeuvred to allow the Royal Arthur to pass between the lines. Whan the incoming vesael was abreast of the two warships they turned outward and fired a salute, tho succeeding vessels performing the same manoeuvre, as did the Waikare, which was the only vessel of the mercantile flotilla to fire a as lute as tho Royal Arthur csme abreast. As soon as the Pioyal Arthur ran the gauntlet, the two lines merged into one and followed tie flagship back to port, completing a noble panorama, having the Botanical Gardens and Government House grounds, blight with flowers and foliage, as a foreground, tho wooded bills on the opposite side of the harbour being the background, while there were countless thousands lining the wide sweep ef the forcsheres and crowding the flotilla dotting the waters of the Bay. Thf, flagship followed the esecrling vessel* and put a finale to the magnificent fppctacle, as she swept between the long line of tteamere and sailing ves*eh gaily decorated with buntiDg and moored on each side cf the harbour, t< her nrchorage. From the Cove tbt Governor-General was transferred by a piDrae to land. Amid a toominp Pflute from nineteen guns, fired frotr the for!g, and the eheersof the grc»l concourse, he was ef an ted to a hand seme nwp'.ion pavilion, dtcoiatftl with Australian flora, with floral shields ' bearing the tames of the f» derating colonies en tin r*of, and New Zealand and tho dependencies of the Kropire round the side, the ape bling formed by a larg» golden crown, erected in the domain c!o»e io tha Waters of the Cove. Here ho received a welcome by the Premier, who in'rodutod the Ministers, the Mayors, and the he*ds of religious bodies. After leing welcomed, ho was presented with an address by Sir Mathew Harris on behalf of the aldermen and citizens. Lord Hopetoun made short appropriate replies to the welcomes.

A procession, headed by the mounted police, and escorted by the military and naval detachments under the crm mand of Major-Gtneral French, and includitg the New Zealand tioops recently arrived from Stuth Africa, was formed. Lord Hopetoun's carriage was followed by those containing the Admiral, the Archbishop, and members of the Executive Council of tpth Houses of Parliament, lie: da of chinches and pub'ic bodies, in the order named, from the landing place, »nd proceeded through the domain to Maequaue-streetand via King, George, Pitt and Bridge streets to Government House. The route was lined with troops and bunting was everywhere, though the effect was somewhat marred by the unfinished preparations for the bigger event in January. The first street's was packed with dense crowds who exhibited great enthusiasm. Lord Hopetoun, who plainly showed the effects of the illness, looked very weary ns he entered the gates of Government Horse to the strains of " Home, Sweet Home." When the Waitaie with four bundied quests aboard returned, the health the Queen and Governor-General was drunk, the hospitality of the company being similarly honored. The ZeaInndia also participated in the procession at sea. fcoRB HOPETOTO GRATIFIED WITH HIS RECEPTION. Received 16, 4.46 p.m. . Sydset, December IC. Lord Hopetcuo is gratified with tho waimth of Lis reception. He has cuffercd no ill ffiects frtm tie exertion. Lady Hopstoun retches Sydney on Boxing Day. TUE IMPERIAL TROOPS AT PEP.IH, IiEARTY RECEI'TIOH BY THE PEOPLE. (Received 17, 1 8 a.m.) Perth, December 16. Ti.e Imperial troops by the.Britannic we e t ccoided a hearty reception, although the public were disappointed as they Appeared in khaki, their brilliant uniforms being reserved fer Sydney,