The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-09
FEDERATED AUSTRALIAN PAR.
LAMENT OPENED TODAY.
IS A MARVEL OF bRlLLIANCY
Duke Of Cornwall Starts the New
Island Confederation on Its Career
Cheering Thousands Welcome Royal
Rspresentatives-M Notable Cere-
monial in History of South Seas.
(By Associated Press.)

Melbourne. May 9.-The opening of the
first federal parliament which took place
at noon was a most impressive cere-
mony. The capacity of the exhibition
building, the scene of the ceremony, is
1900 people, but the available space
was taxed to the utmost. The decora-
tlons, consisted of regimental standards
trophies of arms and floral festoons.
The doors We're opened to ticket hold
ers at o'clock to-day 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, be-
ing surmounted by a small gold i'm
pei al crown. The whole was overhung
with the royal standard. 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 COM
monWealth, when the Union Jack was
to be simultaneously raised in every set
tlement of the federation.
Thousands of Ladies.
The majority of the audience was
composed of ladies'. mostly clad in
mauve colored costumes, but many of
them We're dressed in white. Brilliant,
scattered groups Of army and navy unl-
forms gave color to the scene. Facing
the dais was slightly raised platform
where seven rows of chairs accomodat-
ed the members of the commonwealth
parliament. The lofty north transept
was devoted to the members of the state
Il 10 NM IT~,
We're grouped the ministerial stats. The
remainder of the hall and the galleries
We're packed with well dressed, earn
est. expectant crowd. A great orchestra
enlivened the ante-meridian hour with
operate airs.
The audience was a maryelouslv va
riad and interesting aasembage, J.d
ROBBED, white wigged judges, speakers
W1gged and gowned similar to the speak
er of the British house of commons:
British and foreign military and naval
unlforms; bishops and clergy of many
denominations in their respective can
ohlcals and court uniforms. contrasted
with khaki clad colonial officers. Sur
rounding all was a mass of civilian
spectators of all ages, the whole forming
memorable spectacle.
Read the Proclamation.
The formal proceedings were begun at
:54 a. m. with the reading of the proc
lamat1on summoning the senate and rep
resentatoives. Noon was signalzed nv
fanfare of trumpets from the military
band outside
The royal party then entered and was
conducted to the dals, the orchestra
playing 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 Hope
toun and the ladies of the suites all
Wore black.
Duke Assemblies Parliament
2 me duke, through the black rod, then
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 pres
ent standing and the Earl of Hopetoun
READ prayer, after which the Duke oof
AofaWall and York made a lengthy ad-
dress and declared parliament open. He
referred to the wishes of the late queen,
VINO, before her death, signed his COM
mssion to open parliament He paid
a 4litOulC " lIic ala rendered Dy
the colonies in the South African war the
splendid bravery of the troops and the
services of the squadron in China and ex-
pressed the interest taken by King Ed
ward VII in the Australian people. It
was his earnest prayer, that the union
So happily achieved, would prove an in
for the further advancing of the
welfare of the Australian subjects of the
king and the consolidation of the en-
pre.
Cheer for the King.
Prolonged cheering greeted the con-
clusion of the speech which was renewed
when telegram of congratulation from
King Edward was read.
The members then took the oath and
their names to the roll
At the conclusion of this ceremony, the
carl of Hopetoun dismissed them to their
houses to elect officers.
The entire audience thereupon rose 1s
the first bars of the Hallelujah chorus
were played by the orchestra and the
chorus was sung by an opera company
rule Britannia" followed and finally
the assemblage joined in singing God
Save the King" a fresh blare of trumpets
the royal party retired and the
was over.