THE JUBILEE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2739, 1 February 1890, Page 2

THE JUBILEE.

THE CELEBRATIONS IN AUCKLAND. [fron ouh own cokuksponde.vt.] For the last few days Auckland has been rapidly filling with visitors from all directions come to town for the jubilee; every train and steam-boat hag been crowded with passengers, and hotel-keepers and boarding house proprietors have beenjput to their wits end to accommodate their guests. On any special event happening, such as tho arrival of the Waikato Maoris on Monday, and their Excellencies. Lords Onslow and Carrington on Tuesday, it has been astonishing to see the immense crowds thatgathered at the railway station and its precincts, while at the same time the number of those in Queen-street did not appear dimiuiished, and if it bo true, as some pessimists would have it, that there is no money in tho country, it was nevertheless a fact that the people were all well dressed, happy and contented looking, and possessed of sufficient of the circulating medium to keep the shopkeepers busy supplying 'their varied wants. On Sunday sermons bearing on the Jubilee were delivered from several of the city pulpits. I heard Pastor Birch at the Tabernacle, and ho with his usual boldness and straightforwardness, told his hearers plainly that he could hardly see anything to be proud of in the history of the colony for the last fifty years, but many things to be ashamed of," and in his discourse justified the assertion. Monday and Tuesday nights tho principal streets were full of traffic, and the free show to be had there kept many away from other entertainments, a grand musical tre*t provided at S. Patrick's Cathedral failing to fill that edifice (by-the-bye I saw several Waikato faces there). So many sight-seers in the city naturally afforded employment to the light-fingered gentry, and one Cambridge lady had the enjoyment of her visit to the Orlando somewhat spoiled by hav ing her pocket picked of her purse. Fortunately only some lis rewarded the thief. On the 2i)fch tho morning was dull, but the sky grew brighter as the day advanced. The harbour was alive with yachts and small sailing crafts, but there were few vessels of any sisse, except the three warships—the Orlando, Opal and Lizard, and they have a somewhat insignificant appearance from the shore, in comparison with the stately vessels of former days, though they are doubtless much more formidable as antagonists. The ferry boats were busy with human and oquine passengers for Takapuna Races, and the Salvationists, headed by a brass band, also patronised the North .Shore. The procossion of Friendly Societies was a good one, and was witnessed by an immense crowd who waited patiently at various points of vantage on the routo. Tho wharves, the flagship, and every promontory were occupied by spectators of' the regatta, in which the man-of-war's race seemed to excite the greatest popular interest. The illuminations at night were poor except in a few isolated cases, the Star offices bearing the palm, being profusely and tastefully lit up with designs in gas jets and transparencies. Next, for general effect, came the Insurance buildings, and the Herald office, Bank of Zealand, Auckland Club, Waite.mata, Albert and United Service Hotels, Hewins', Milne and Choyce's, GarrattV, White's, and other shops wore handsomely illuminated. From the top of the wharf the coup d'oeil looking up Queen-street, was effective, all the shops on tho wharf being well lit up, while the blaze of three blue lights from the Thames Hotel, together with the other illuminations higher up the street, cast a weird glare on the surging crowd bolow. Everything soemed to pass off in a pleasant and orderly mannor, and cases of drunkenness were very rare, so that it seems probable that the Jubilee of 1890 will remain a pleasant momory to those who witnessed or took part in it.