PREPARATIONS FOR THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

West Coast Times, Issue 592, 17 August 1867, Page 3

PREPARATIONS FOR THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

(from: the ARatrs.)

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edingburgh may be expected to arrive here in about two months at the farthest', and if we are to receive him in a manner due to himself, and worthy of the first of the Australian colonies, there is certainly no time to be lost. South Australia is considerably ahead of us. Already our neighbors have been operating here, and have purchased perhaps the handsomest carriage to be found in the entire colony for the use of the sailor Prince whilst he stays with them. They are evidently resolved to do the thing in style, and have voted double the sum that we propose to spend to defray the necessary expenses. There is no danger that we shall fail in our expressions of loyalty. Victorians towards Victoria's Queen have always been enthusiastic enough in this respectThere is, however, considerable danger^ unless proper preparations are made, that our loyalty may be evinced in so clumsy a manner as to render its expression anything but creditable to us, and in that case our reception of his Royal Highness might be as embarrassing to him as it would be unbecoming the position of the colony. From a few remarks made by two or three members of the Assembly on Thursday evening, when the subject was briefly referred to, there is an evident disposition in some quarters to spoil the whole concern. It was advanced, as at least a subject for deliberation, whether the sum proposed to be expended in the reception of our distinguished visitor should not be divided amongst the various municipalities and local bodies throughout the colony, instead of being spent in a truly national reception. The matter requires no consideration at all. It would be far better to throw the whole sum into the Yarra at once than to attempt to carry out any proposition so absurdly preposterous. Were any such scheme to be tolerated, there would be no limit to the petty and disgraceful jealousies Which would be aroused, and no end to the claims which would be put forward for a share in the plunder. Why, every Band of Hope and Reehabite tent in the colony, to say nothing of the borough councils and road boards, would demand to be subsidised for the extra expense they intended to incur in receiving his Royal Highness and presenting him with loyal addresses on the most expensive foolscap. We trust the great majority of members of the Assembly, whether Ministerialist or anti-Ministerialisc, will have sufficient good sense to scout any such proposition, which, if entertained, can only end in reflecting the utmost disgrace on the entire colony, and in exhibiting us in the most contemptible aspect. There is too great a disposition to look at everything done in Melbourne in simply a Melbourne light, and as merely belonging to Melbourne. A greater mistake could not be made. Melbourne is the representative of the colony, and its public institutions, as well as its public acts, are the institutions and acts of the entire country. Thus the Public Library and the University are not Melbourne but colonial institutions, and the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh will not be the act of the metropolis, although transpiring in it, but will be the enthusiastic welcome of the whole community. Regarded in this light, all petty jealousies must vanish, and all parties and all classes will unite in rendering the proceedings on the arrival of His Royal Highness such as shall indeed be a credit to Victoria. The sum of LSOOO, which the Ministry have placed on the additional

Estimates for the purpose of tKe reception, is certainly little enough, though should it be found necessary to exceed it, there will be little doubt of Parliament sanctioning the expenditure, unauthorised though it be. A portion of this amount will go for the necessary repairs and alterations to Toorak, whilst a considerable sum must of necessity be appropriated for the use of His Excellency the Governor, to defray to some extent the large additional cost to which he must be put upon the occasion of the Royal visit. It is evident that the Governor will be the chief host and entertainer of His Royal Highness, and it would ill befit the colony to allow him to bear this expeuse himself. It must be defrayed from the public revenue. The people, however, should be properly represented at the reception, and this can best be done by the appointment of a judiciously selected committee or commission, to whom should be entrusted the control of the necessary funds. Tn this commisssion all parties should be fairly recognised. Anything approaching political bias in its appoint, ment would render the whole affair a signal failure. We would suggest that it should consist of two or three of the principal men of the Ministry, an equal number of the leading men amongst tho Opposition, the Mayor of Melbourne, and some five or six of the leading citizens." There can be no difficulty in naming 'gentlemen who will command the confidence of all classes, and at the same time do credit to the colony. If a good commission be appointed,success is nearly insured. It is almost unnecessary to refer to what will have to be done on this occasion, One of the first things will, of course, be the erection of a landing stage, and the presentation of addresses. Then will come the triumphal arches and a general illumination ; the cost of the latter of which, with the exception of the public buildings, will, of course, be defrayed by the citizens themselves. His Excellency will, in all probability give a grand banquet aud a ball ; and we understand that his Royal Higuess will be invited to dine with the members of both branches of the Legislature at the Parliament Houses. This, however, will be no charge on the vote. What the Corporation of Melbourne will do is not yet determined, but we have no doubt that the members of the Council will act in a manner which shall be worthy of the wealthiest city in the Australian colonies. On such an occasion the metropolis should launch out handsomely. Whoever may happen to be Mayor at the time will require a considerable increase to his allowance, for the civic festivities of such a city as Melbourne should not be outdone even by the Governor himself. It is probable Prince Alfred will visit the three goldfields of Ballarat, Castlemaine, and Bendigo ; and on each we feel sm'e he will meet with a hearty and princely welcome. Each of these places, however, is well able to bGar the expense which it may be necessary to incur on the occasion, and we believe that each, as well as the Melbourne Corporation, will be far too proud to ask or accejit any assistance from the State. Whatever is done should be done unanimously, and with a hearty good will ; and for once let all parties forget for a time that there is such a word or such a thing as " politics '' in existence.