THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 703, 25 December 1867, Page 2

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

(PEOM THE ABGUS SPECIAIi BHOBTBB.)

After eleven days' absence the Prince has returned, having taken a loop lino from Geelong to the Western district, and so back to Ballarat and Melbourne via Geelong. His progress has been, 'one series of triumphant receptions, according to the manners and fashions of the residents of the various districts. The best beyond comparison has been that afforded by Ballarat, from the people of which we hope not one word of complaint will be heard when the bill comes in and the piper has to be paid. There, one magnificent piece of festivity has followed close on the heels of another, the last surpassing its predecessor, till the mind becomes almost fatigued by the recollection of the brilliant occasions which camo so often and were so splendid while they lasted. Meanwhile, business was odious in the nostrils of the tradesman, the miner, and even the sharebroker. A fine hall, in decoration and size the second in the colony, has risen- like an exhalation to stand complete after six weeks' work, and that handsome building — erected, to suit local jealousies, half in Ballarat and half in Ballarat EastAhas witnessed assemblages which the metropolis could scarcely surpass. Perhaps the best of them was that which occurred yesterday, when the children of the district gave the Prince a welcome quite their own, and one which goes near to excel in effect all that had gone before. But to state events in order, I must continue my narration from the point at which it broke off on Wednesday, when, after the dismal failure of the Lake Learmonth regatta, the Royal party— choked with dust, vexed with blinding winds, and naturally disappointed at the disastrous muddle— returned to Craig's Hotel to prepare for the evening's ball. It is all very well for a Melbourne man to be continually remembering the fine coup d'ceil afforded at the great balls which have takon place in our own Exhibition building, but unless he is blinded by prejudice, the ball at tho Alfred Hall, at Ballarat, on Wednesday night, presented an aspect very little inferior. In the eyes of the people of Ballarat it was a scene of enchantment and the local mind, never very unsusceptible to its own merits,, rejoiced accordingly. I have already taken occasion to point out 'a few

faults in the building, but when the Prince made his formal entry, and found the area relieved of its bareness by some 600 or 700 dancers, and the other objectionable features hiddenby fresh decorations, there was everything to please and nothing to offend. The starlights of the ceiling kept the roof from being seen, festoons of roses — artificial, of course, and of paper — were hung to and twisted round the rafters, and instead of the ugly uprights was a grove of fern trees, fresh from the bed of tKe Moorabool, and lending to the -whole spectacle a touch of beauty not easily to be described in | prose. Other items in the decorations I must not pass unnoticed, The various entrances were gracefully draped, flowering plants and fragrant shrubs were in profusion, against the sides of the hall were rows of crimson-covered seats, and the effect of these, heightened by gay flags and tha gorgeous dresses of the ladie?, might well make those who had a share in the success of the thing a little proud. The ball began shortly after ten o'clock, when the Prince and suite were received by the mayors of the two boroughs, and conducted to the dais. All formality, however, ceased after the National Anthem had been played, and His Royal Highne.ss was allowed to enjoy himself without in the least being made a showof . In the opening quadrille he danced with Mrs Davey, the wife of the mayor of Ballarat; subsequently, he waltzed with Mrs Steinfeld, the wife of the mayor of Ballarat East, and also with Mrs Cliseold, the wife of the local police magistrate. - trate. As the evening proceeded, the /.enjoyment reached a high point, and may :be said to have culminated when the Boyal piper was introduced, and a fourBorn- reel was arranged. The Prince's partner was Miss Williamson; and, desirous as I am not to be supposed to notice his proceedings beyond the point of good manners, I shall not go far wrong in doubting if any one in the room footed through the changes of this bewildering dance so well. He did not go in to supper, so the little speeches usually made at that period of the evening were omitted, and lie left at one o'clock. But the festivity was prolonged for hours afterwards, and the dawn of a disagreeable rainy day . brought to a close the best ball ever • known at Ballarat, or, I take leave to say, in the country altogether, save two ■ or three given in Melbourne within the hist fifteen months. The refreshments and supper were provided by Mr R. U. • Miller, of Melbourne, and were certainly " very good — an enormous improvement on his achievements in this line. THE CHILDREN'S "WELCOME. The first business of yesterday was the tc children's welcome to the Prince ;" and it left similar attempts made at Melbourne and Emerald-hill hopelessly behind. Per- - haps the Ballarat folks were keen enough ' to see what was the chief fault in the juvenile element of our metropolitan cele- ■ orations, but it is greatly to be doubted " if we could have ever done so well, and certainly not better, than was effected by Messrs Doane and James, the two members of the Local Reception Committee to whom was delegated the task of carrying out this portion of the programme. The idea was to bring tke Prince before the -* children in a way they would never forget. This could not bo done well in the ] open air, and so it was arranged to take place in the Alfred Hall, at eleven * o'clock yesterday morning. There was to be no distinction made in the matter, and all children — so long as they W-gre children — were invited to come and see the son of Queen Victoria, who 1 willingly consented to play his part. It was well the congaegation took place C under a roof, for the weather was very showery and threatening. From quite an early hour in the forenoon troops of children, marshalled in procession by i their teachers, wended through the streets and by eleven the vast iall was densely "w packed with boys and girls varying from G six to thirteen years of age, their fresh looks and neat dresses speaking volumes for the salubrity and prosperity of the district. During the minutes of waiting the fidgettiness of the little things may be imagined ; and in their momentary 1. expectation of the Prince they could not — be restrained from much preliminary r cheering. But expostulation, the van- '\ ous methods known to teachers of r estrain- ~ ing the ardour of the little ones, and the remonstrances of the Hon. Mr Vale and -r Councillor M'Dowall— both possessing voices of unusual power — gradually reduced the hubbub, and when the corttge of the Prince was seen approaching, the vast mass of children were hushed into a wonderful silence. Then the Prince entered, and with his suite was led by the managers towards the dais. The silence was maintained till he was half way down the hall, and had ample time to look around, when the signal was given, and the juveniles burst into cheers, which promised never to stop. I have already alluded to the hearty cheering of the Ballarat men, but the hurrahs of these small folks were almost deafening, and the windows must have shivered as the storm of voices rose and fell. The scene was of a most interesting kind. The Prince stood almost alone on the dais, his suit grouped round but not near him, and before him ] as far as he could see were little hats, caps, and handkerchiefs, waving with astonishing fervour of action. At last ] came a lull, then a hush, and then complete silence reigned as fifteen little girls, each representing a different reli- ] gious denomination, and each dressed in white and blue, with blue sashes, and white and blue wreaths on their heads, came up with their address, which this time, at least, was not unwelcome. It i was a real address, fairly engrossed on vellum, and contained in a scroll of red morocco, gilt up to the orthodox pitch of splendour. Whether there had been a previous rehearsal I cannot say, but all these girls marched up to the Prince, curtseyed, and ranged themselves in a row round the foot of the dais with in- ] imitable gravity, Mr Davey, Mayor of Ballarat, next introduced the heroine of the occasion, Miss Ainly, a little black- J haired, sloe-eyed mite, who, because of her scholastic triumphs, had been chosen to present the address ; and she did it quite easily, as though used to it all her ] life. She scarcely reached the bottom button of His Royal Highness's waistcoat, but she never faltered nor fidgetted as she composedly 'read out the following :—: — '•' May it please your Royal Highness — ■« "We, the children of Ballarat, are greatly pleased at being permitted to /^welcome your Royal Highness to this our town and country, and we feel sure that you will accept this address, though presented by children, as graciously as if it I were from our parents. f " We have been taught by our parents and teachers to love and revere yournoble mother, Our Most Gracious Queen, a and we thank you for coming to this dis- o tant part of her empire to assure us of Her Majesty's favor and affection. ("Continued in page 4.J

Duke. — Continued from Page 3. W> ".Of ' Albert the Good,' your lamented ■fether, we have also heard much, and we B^snre you that we shall never cease to Remember the great honor we have had Bfi^hing and addressing the son of such parents. j^^H^e shall never forget this visit of Royal Highness, and we venture to that, wherever Providence may lead you in future life, you will sometimes remember the children of Ballarat. . In conclusion, we pray that God may grant to you a safe and prosperous voyage home again, and that, with the other members of the Royal Family, your Royal Highness may long be spared to fulfil with honor the high duties entrusted to you." (Signed by the fifteen girls presenting This she then handed to the Prince, •• My young Friends— l thank you for your address, which will be to me one of the most interesting I have ever received. I will not detain you by saying much, but at once wish you every enjoyment during to-day's holiday. Should you think oi my visit to you on this occasion at any time hereafter, pray remember that I shall never cease to take the liveliest interest in your welfare and in that of your parents, who have so heartily welcomed me here, and by whose industry and perseverance the colony has reached its present prosperity, and whose example I trust you will follow." Then the cheering broke out again as loud as ever, and Miss Ainly presented a little bouquet to the Prince, who received it with marked pleasure. Silence being again restored, the children sang two verses of the National Anthem, under the direction of Mr Austin T. Turner, a musician of much repute in the district, where he has long resided. I suppose the fact that singing took place in a room was a great advantage, but it was amazingly well done, and reflected prodigious" credit on the conductor. The children kept time and tune perfectly, and " God save the Queen " was never better performed by any other children in the world. Their sweet voices proved too much for several of the ladies present, who, overcome by a sympathy which opened the lachrymal glands, were affected to tears. The Prince was evidently touched, and must have felt, as he walked down the room amid renewed cheering, that to be received like that was something worth living for.