New-York tribune., 1901-05-10
A AUSIRALLA'S PARLIAMENT.
FORMAL OPENING BY THE DUKE OF
CORNWALL AND YORK.

Melbourne, May s.-The opening OF the first Fed
eral Parliament which took place noon, was
most impressive ceremony. The capacity of the
Exhibition Building the scene of the ceremony, is
twelve thousand persons. but the available space
was taxed to the utmost. The decorations con-
sisted of regimental standards, trophies of arms
and floral fcstoons.
The doors were opened to ticket holders at
o'clock this morning and by II o'clock the audi
torium filed, except the royal dais This
located beneath the great dome. 1t held single
Of chairs. the largest in the centre, being
mounted by small gold imperial crown. The
whole was overhung with the royal standard. In
front of the royal chair a small table,
which telegraph key. by which the Duke of
Cornwall and York was flash the opening signal
throughout the Commonwealth. when the union
jack TO be simultaneously raised in every set
tement Of the federation. The majority OF the
audience composed of women. mostly clad in
mauve colored costumes. but many OF them
dressed in white. Brilliant, scattered groups of
army and navy uniforms gave color to the scene.
Facing the das was a slightly raised platform,
where seven rows of chairs accommodated the
members Of the Commonwealth Parliament. The
lofty north transept devoted TO the members
Of the State parliaments East and west of the
dais grouped the ministerial STATS The
mainder of the hall and the galleries packed
with well dressed, earnest. expectant crowd a
great orchestra enlivened the ante-meridian hour
with operate airs.
The formal proceedings were begun az II "a a.
with the reading OF the proclamation summoning
the Senate and Representatives. Noon sig
nalzed by a fanfare OF trumpets from the military
band outside. The royal party then entered, and
was conducted 10 the das, the orchestra playing
the national anthem. The Duke wore an ad-
mirals uniform, with the ribbon Of the Order OF
the Garter. The Duchess and Lady Hopetoun wife
Of the Governor General the Earl of Hopetoun and
the ladies OF the suites all black.
The Duke. through the Black Rod. then
moned the two houses, in accordance with the
strict formula OF the British Parliament. and the
members filed in The hundredth psalm sung.
with all present standing, and the Earl OF Hope
toun read a prayer. after which the Duke Of Corn
wall and York made a long address and declared
Parliament open. In the OF his remarks he
referred the wishes of the late Queen who he
fore her death signed his commission to open Par
lament. He paid a tribute TO the generous aid
rendered by the colonies in the South African war.
the splendid bravery of the troops and the service
Of the squadron In China. and expressed the in
terest taken by King Edward VII in the Austria
lian people 1t was his earnest prayer that the
union, happily achieved. would prove instru-
rnent for the further advancing OF the welfare Of
the Australian subjects OF the King and the
solidation OF the empire
Prolonged cheering greeted the conclusion OF the
speech. which renewed when telegram from
King Edward read. follows;
My thoughts are with you upon this auspicious
occasion. ] wish the Commonwealth OF Australia
every happiness and prosperity.
The members then took the oath and subscribed
their to the roll. At the conclusion Of this
ceremony the Earl of Hopetoun dismissed them
their respective houses to elect officers.
The entire audience thereupon the first
bars OF the "Hallelujah Chorus played by
the orchestra, and the chorus sung by
opera company Rule Britannia" followed and
finally the whole assemblage joined in singing
God Save the King"