Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-05-10
kUSPICIOUS EVENT
FOR AUSTRALIANS
Opening of the First Federal
Parliament.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES

Duke of Cornwall and York, Repre-
senting the British Crown, Opens
| the Parliament In Person and De-
| hvers Felicitous Address.
MELBOURNE, May 9.-The opening of
the first federal parliament. which took
place at noon, was q most impressive
ceremony. The capacity of the exposi-
ton building, the scene of the cere-
mony, is $4,000 people. but the availa-
BILE space was taxed to its utmost. The
decorations consisted of regimental
standards, trophies of arms and floral
| festoons.
The doors were opened to ticket hold
ers at o'clock this morning, and by II
o'clock the auditorium was filed, ex-
cept the royal dias This was located
beneath the great dome. 1t held sim
gle row of chairs, the largest, in the
center, being surmounted by small
gold imperial crown. The whole was
overhung with the royal standard. In
front of the royal chair was a small ta-
BILE on which was a telegraph key, by
was to fash the opening signal through
out the commonwealth, when the Union
Jack was to be simultaneously raised in
every settlement of the federation.
Brilliant Scene.
The majority of the audience was
composed of ladies, mostly clad in
mauve co1ored costumes, but many of
them were dressed in white. Brilliant,
scattered groups of army and navy uni
forms gave color to the scene.
Facing the dias was slightly raised
platform, where seven rows of chairs
accommodated the members of the COM
monwealth parliament. The lofty north
transept was devoted to the members of
the state parliaments. East and west
of the dias were grouped the ministerial
stats.
The remainder of the hall and the
galleries were packed with well dress
ed, earnest, expectant crowd.
A great orchestra enlivened the ante
meridian hour with operatic airs.
The audience was a marvellously
varied and intense assembly. white
| wigged judges, the speakers wigged and
gowned similar to the house of COM
mons; local and foreign military and
naval uniforms. Bishops and clergy of
many denominations in their respective
canonicals and court uniforms contrast
ed with the khaki-clad colonial officers.
| Surrounding all was mass of civilian
spectators of all ages. the whole forming
a memorable spectacle.
Proceedings Opened.
The formal proceedings were begun
at I1:54 a m., with the reading of the
proclamation summoniRg the senate
and house of representatives, which was
signalized by fanfare of trumpets from
the military band outside. The royal
party then entered and was conducted
to the dais, the orchestra playing the
national anthem. The Duke of Corn.
wall and York wore an admiral's uni
form, with the ribbon of the Order of
the Garter. The Duchess of Cornwall
and York and Lady Hopetoun, General
Hopetoun and ladies of the suites all
| wore black.
The duke, through the Black Rod,
then summoned the two houses, in ac-
cordance with the strict formula of the
British parliament, and the members
fled in. Psalm 100 was sung, with all
present standing, and the Earl of Hope
toun read a prayer, after which the
Duke of Cornwall and York made
lengthy address and declared the par
lament open.
Remarks of the Duke.
In the course of his remarks the duke
referred to the wishes of the late queen.
who before her death signed his COM
mission to open parliament 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 expressed interest taken by King
Edward VII in the Australian people.
1t was his earnest prayer that the union,
SO happily achieved, would prove an in
strument for the further advancing of
the welfare of the Australian subjects
of the king and the consolidation of the
empire.
End OF the Ceremony.
The members then took the oath and
subscribed their names to the roll At
the conclusion of this ceremony, the
Earl of Hopetoun dismissed them to the
respective houses to elect officers.
''Rule Britannica" followed, and f.
nally the whole assemblage joined in
singing 'God Save the KingP
A blare of trumpets followed, the roy.
al party retired, and the ceremony was