The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-09
First Federal Parliament Con-
venes in Australia.
Space in the Big Building Was
Taxed to the Utmost.
THOUSANDS.
Watch the Inauguration of a
New Governmental System.
Ceremony Was Carried Out as
1t Is In England.

Melbourne. May 9.-The opening Of
the first federal parliament which took
place at noon. was a most impressive
ceremony. The capacity of the exhibit
ton building, the scene of the ceremony
Is 1000 people, but the available space
was taxed to the utmost. The decora-
tons consisted OF regimentaI 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 filled, except
the royal dais This was located beneath
the great dome. 1t held a single 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 roy
al chair was small table on which was
telegraph key, by which the Duke Of
Cornwall and York was to flash the op-
ening signal throughout the common
wealth, when the union jack was to be
simultaneously raised in every settle
ment Of the federation.
The majority of the audience was
. composed of ladies, mostly clad in
n1auve-colored costumes; but, many Of
them were dressed in white. Brilliant
scattered groups Of army and navy uni
Facing the dais was a slightly raised
platform, where seven rows of chairs
accommodated the members Of the com
monWealth parliament. The lofty north
transport was devoted to the members
OF the state parliament. East and west
or the dais were grouped the minister
lal staffs- The remainder Of the hall
and the galleries were packed with
well dressed, earnest, expectant crowd.
A great orchestra enlivened the anfe-
Fl o4~
The audience was a marvelously var
led and interesting assemblage. red
robed, white Wigged judges; speakers
Wigged and gOWned similar to the
speaker of the British house Of COM
mons; British and foreign military and
naval uniforms bishops and clergy OF
many denominations in their respective
canOnfcals and court uniforms. contras-
ted with khaki clad colonial officers.
Surrounding all was a mass of civilian
spectators Of all ages, the whole form
ing a memorable spectacle.
The formal proceedings were begun at
1:54 a. m, with the reading Of the proc
lamatiOn summOning the senate and
representatives. Noon was signa1ized by
a 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 Cornwall and York wore an admirars
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 Hope
toun and the ladies of the suits all wore
black.
The Duke. summoned the two houses
in accordance with the strict formula of
the British parliament and the members
filed in
The hundredth Psalm was sung with
all present standing and the Earl Of
Hopetoun read prayer. after which the
Duke of Cornwall and York made a
lengthy address and declared parliament
open. In the course of his remarks be
referred to the wishes Of the late queen.
who before her death signed his COM
mission to open parliament. He paid p
tribute to the 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 expressed the interest taken by
King Edward VII in the Australian
people. It was his earnest prayer that
the union, so happily achieved would
prove an instrument for the further adj
vaneing of the welfare Of the Australian
subjects Of the king and the consolida-
tion Of the empire