THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2311, 3 May 1887, Page 3

THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE.

TO TIIK EDITOB. Sir, —It is generally acknowledged that we are all proud of being called "Englishmen." If there are any exceptions they aro very few. We are quite ready to allow other nations a certain amount of praise; we acknowledge in them noble actions, great courage, wonderful ingenuity; but we do it in a condescending kind of way, as if we felt all the time that we, being English, were still immeasurably superior. Then, if we are so proud of our nationality, why don't we show it more ? In a word, why are we not at all times more loyal in our words and actions to England and England's Queen. Let us show our pride in the dear old country, our sympathy for all her troubles, our love and respect for her Queen and our's too by joining heartily, one and all, m the Jubilee movement, so as to make the thing a success now, and something that will be a lasting memorial of one who has indeed proved herself the best Queen, the truest friend, and the noblest example as a woman England ever had. I am not clever enough to go into politics or even to put into words many of my thoughts, but to me our loyalty here always seems a selfish, lukewarm, one-sided kind of thing. Everyone) seems to think only of what particular good may accrue to himself or those belouging to him by any certain event happening; but I should like our loyalty to be more liberal and more extensive, so that our feeling may be " for England and Victoria !" And instead of ever dreaming of severance from England as an unimportant thing which would affect us but little, I think we ought to put shoulder to shoulder; and as "union is strength," so let our closer union with the mother country, " whose flag has braved a thousand years," be the means of greater prosperity and increased strength to each. As regards the best way of commemorating the Jubilee, I sincerely trust that the meeting on Tuesday will be fully attended, and some energetic steps taken at once to set the thing going. If I might be allowed to make a few suggestions. I think there are several ways of marking the event, any one of which would be of benefit to our town. Some one has suggested a public clock, which would no doubt be a capital thing if erected in a proper and suitable tower, but I fear the expense would be too great. Drinking fountains would be a great boon, but I see no possibility of such a scheme being carried out. I think some improvement to our Public Hall is required more than anything else*. We ourselves know only too well the lack of accommodation there is in it. Every performer, amateur, or professional who visits us complains bitterly of the inconvenience he has to put up with. The stage is too small, bad for sound; the waitingrooms a disgrace; the one for ladies holds about three unfortunate creatures, who have to stand or ero out one by one to let others come in. No accommodation for seats, lights or anything. At our balls no proper clock-room, no supper-room. Why not at once commence operations and enlarge the stage, extend it backwards, and add a handsome supper-room the whole length, with convenient waiting-rooms for ladies and gentlemen, to be opened on Jubilee night by a grand citizens' ball, making it a " sine quo non," that the members of all our lodges, masonic and others, attend in full uniform, and, lastly, let the new room be called the " Victoria room." —I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Cambridge Resident. Cambridge, May 2nd.