Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-09
FIRST PARLIAME
An Impressive Ceremony at Mel
bourne.
DUKE OF Y0RK'S ADDRESS
Telegram Read From King Ed
ward VII.
A B RIL Mt AUDIENC CE

MELBOURNE, May e.-The opening Of
the first federal parliament, which took
place at noon, was q most impressive ceres
mony. The capacity OF the exhibition
building, the scene Of the ceremony, is 12,s
600 persons. but the available space was
taxed to the utmost The decorations con-
sisted Of regimental standards, trophies Of
arms and floral festoons
The doors We're opened to ticket holders az
O'Clock this morning. and by il o'oIock
the auditorium was filed. except the royal
dais. This was located beneath the great
dome. 1t held single row of chairs the
largest. In the center. hTiTBU Surmounted by
a small gold imperial crouu
The whole was overhung with the royal
standard. In front of the royal chair WAS
a small table, on which was a telegraph
Key, by which the Duke OF Cornwall and
York was to flash the opening signal
throughout the commonwealth. when the
union jack was to be simultaneously raised
in every settlement of the federation
The majority of the audience was conn
posed OF ladies, mostly clad in mauyk.
colored costumes: but many OF them were
dressed in white. Brilliant, scattered
groups of army and navy uniforms gave
color to the scene.
Facing the dais was o slightly raised
platform, where seven rows of chairs ao-
commodated the members of the common.
wealth parliament. The lofty north tram
sept was devoted to the members Of tho
state parliamentS. East and west of the
dais were grouped the ministerial stafrs.
The remainder of the hall and the galleries
We're packed with a well-dressed, earnest.
eXpectant crowd. A great orchestra en-
livened the ante-meridian hour with oper.
attic airs.
Varied and Interesting AssembIage
The audience was a marvelously varied
and interesting assemblage, red-robed,
white-wigged judges; speakers wigged and
gowned similar to the speaker of the
British house OF commons; British and forr
eign military and naval uniforms; bishops
and clergy of many denominations in their
respective canonicals and court uniforms
contrasted with khaki-clad colonial offi-
GERS Surrounding all was mass of civil.
ian spectators Of all ages, the whole forms
Ing a memorable spectacle
The formal proceedings were begun at
IL :o4 a m, with the reading Of the proclaa
nation summoning the senate and repre-
sentatives Noon was signalized by q FAM
fare OF trumpets from the military band
outside.
The royal party then entered and was
conducted to the dais, the orchestra play.
ing the national anthem. The Duke Of
Cornwall and York wore an admirars unis
form. with the ribbon OF the Order of the
Garter. The Duchess Of Cornwall ana
York and Lady Hopetoun, wife Of the govz
ernor general; the Earl, OF Hopetoun, and
the ladies OF the suites all wore black.
moned the two houses. in accordance with
the strict formula Of the British parliGA
ment and the members filed in. The hun,
dredth psalm was sung. with all present.
standing, and the Earl Of Hopetoun read
a prayer, after which the Duke OF Corn-
wall and York made a lengthy address and
declared the parliament open.
Telegram From King Edward.
In the course Of his remarks he re.
ferred to the wishes of the late Queens
and read the following telegram from King
Edward VII:
MY thoughts are with you upon this au.
gust occasion. wish the commonwealth
Of Australia every happiness and prospefs
ity"
The Duke Of Cornwall and York In his
address, referred TO the wishes OF the late
queen, who, before her death. signed his
commission to open parliament. de paid
a tribute to generous aid rendered by the
colonies in the South African war the
splendid bravery OF the troops and the
services of the squadron in China, and exc
pressed the interest taken by King Edward
VII in the australian .ndt people; T. vas E hls
achieved, would prove an instrument for
the further advancing Of the welfare Of thd
Australian subjects of the king and tho
consolidation OF the empire.
Members Take the Oath.
The members then took the oath and sub.
scribed their names to the roll. At tho
conclusion Of this ceremony the Earl o1
Hopetoun dismissed them to their respect.
i've houses to elect otT1cers. The entire aus
dience thereupon rose as the first bars Of
the Hallelujah chorus were played by tho
orchestra and the chorus was sung by an
opera company. ''Rule Britannia" fol-
lowed. and finally the whole assemblagA
Joined in singing God Save the King" 4
fresh blare of trumpets followed, the royal
party retired and the ceremony was over.