The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-09
First Federal Parliament Is
Duly Opened.
UNDER DUCAL AUSPICES
BE of Cornwall and York Presides
and Gives an Address.
APPOINTMENTS MOST sUMPTUoUS
Striking Decorations of the Hall OF
Assembly, Which Is Thronged
With Happy COIOnists.

Melbourne. May 9.-The opening OF the
arst federal parliament which took place
at noon was most impressive ceremony
The capacity of the exhibition building,
the scene of the ceremony is 10000 people
but the available space was taxed to the
utmost.
The decorations consisted of regimental
standards, trophies of arms and floral fes-
toons.
The doors were opened to ticket-holders
at o'clock this morning and by II o'clock
the auditorium was filled except the royal
dais. This was located beneath the great
dome. It held a single row of chairs,
the largest, in the center, being surmount-
ed by a small gold imperial crown The
whole was overhung with the royal stand
ard. In front of the royal chair was a
small table on which was 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 COM
posed of ladies, mostly clad in mauve-
colored costumes; but many of them we're
dressed in white.
In Brilliant Attire.
Brilliant, scattered groups Of army and
nanny uniforms gave color to the scene.
Facing the dais was slightly raised plat
form where seven rows of chairs accom-
modated the members of the common
wealth parliament The lofty north
transept was devoted to the members Of
the state Darliaments. East and west Of
the dais were grouped the ministerial
STATS. The remainder Of the hall and
the galleries were packed with a we'll
dressed, earnest, eXDectant crowd. A
great orchestra enlivened the ante-merl-
dian hour with oDeratic airs.
The audience was a marvellously varied
and interesting assemblage- Red-robed,
white-wigged judges, speakers wigged
and gowned similar tc the speaker of the
British house Of commons; British and
foreign military and naval uniforms;
bishops and clergy of many denominations
in their respective canonicals and court
uniforms, contrasted with khaki-clad CO
lonial officers. Surrounding all was
mass of civilian spectators of all ages,
the whole forming a memorable spectacle
The formal proceedings were begun at
11:54 a. m, with the reading of the proc
lamation summoning the senate and rep
resentatives Noon was signalized by a
fanfare of trumpets from the military
band outside.
Enter the Royal Ones.
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 admiral's
uniform with the ribbon Of the order of
the Garter The Duchess of Cornwall
and York and Lady Hopetoun, wife of the
governor general, the Earl of Hopetoun,
and the ladies of the suites all wore
black
The duke, through black rod. then
summoned hte two houses, in accordance
with the strict formula Of the British par
lament and the members filed in. The
hundredth psalm was sung, with all pres
ent standing, and the Earl of Hopetoun
read q prayer after which the Duke of
Cornwall and York made a lengthy ad-
dress and declared parliament open.
The Duke in his address referred to the
wishes of the late queen, who before her
death signed his commission to open par
lament. He paid tribute to the gener-
Gus 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 expressed the in
terest taken by King Edward VII. in the
Australian people. 1t was his earnest
prayer that the union, so happily achieved
would prove an instrument for the further
advancing of the welfare of the Austria
lian subjects of the king and the consoli-
dafiOn Of the pmDira.