The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-02
THE QUEENS MESSAGE
Commonwealth Welcomed to Place
I Among Nations.
GENERAL Joy MARKS THE OCCASION
The Inauguration of the Governor is Attended
by Scenes Of Psgeantry Such as Have
Never Before Been Witness
ed in Australia.
ed in Australia.
(By the Associated Press

Sydney, n. S. W, Jan. 1.-The Earl of
Hopetoun was today sworn in as the first
Governor of the Federated Australian
Colonies, amidst scenes of pageantry such
as never before had been attempted in
the antipodes. Scores of thousands of
people participated in the demonstration
and general joy marked the occasion. The
rejoicing of the commonwealth was in
tensified by message which Queen Vic
toria sent through the colonial secretary,
Joseph Chamberlain, and which was read
by the Earl of Hopetoun, as follows:
THE Queen commands me to express
through you 10 the people of Australia
Her Majesty's heartfelt interest in the
Inauguration of the commonwealth and
her earnest wish that under Divine Prov
ince it may insure increased prosperity
and well being to her loyal and beloved
subjects in Australia
A procession moved at 10 o'clock down
the troop-lined route toward the Govern
ment House. AS the centre of the pro-
cession halted at the Government House,
the Earl of Hopetoun in full Windsor
uniform, and wearing his orders, emerged
from the grounds in the State carriages
with positions and out-rders, all in
state liveries. Escorted by the new
South Wales Lancers, the Governor Cen
eral drove past the remainder of the pro-
cession and took up a position in the
rear
The Governors arrival at the pavilion
was announced by artillery salutes and
the pealing of cathedral and other bells.
The various chief justices and Cabinet
officers were awaiting him. and as soon as
the Earl of Hopetoun took up his position
a choir of a thousand voices sang 20,
God Our Help in Ages Past"
A special prayer was made by the
archbishop. After his commission had
been read the Earl of Hopetoun took the
oath of office and signed it at a table
which had been presented by the Queen.
salute of Il guns, the playing of the
national anthem by the bands, and rous-
ing cheers e-echoing among the hills,
accompanied this act. The signature and
swearing in of the first Federal ministers
followed
The Earl of Hopetoun briefly congratu-
lated the members of the Cabinet and
then read the Queens message, given
above. which evoked prolonged cheering.
This was followed by a second message,
as follows:
Her Majesty's Government send cordial
greeting to the Commonwealth of Aus
tralia. They welcome her to her place
among the nations united under Her Ma
jesty's sovereignty and confidently anti
cipate for the new federation future of
ever increasing prosperity and influence.
They recognize in the long desired con-
summation of the hopes of patriotic Aus
tralians further step in the direction of
permanent unity of the British empire,
they are satisfied that the wider powers
and responsibilities henceforth secured 10
Australia will give a fresh opportunity
for a display of that generous loyalty and
devotion to the throne of the empire
which has characterized the action in
the past of its several states
Three cheers were given for the Gov
ernor General and another salute was
fired. Ten thousand pupils of the public
schools sang the hymn Australia Fair
and the proceedings were concluded by
the choir singing a TIE Dunn, the Halle
jah and God Save the Queen
Queen