Year: 1879




[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.


OTTAWA Feb. H. 1879.


The formal opening of the first session of the
Parliament passed off to-day with more than
usually loud flourish of trumpets. The event had
been looked forward to by many with pleasure and
by others with anxious curiosity. The first class it
will readily be guessed included those distinguished
ladies who fortunate enough to secure cards
for the floor of the House. and the army of sight
seers and thecurious the great of thinking
who eager to know what's to result from the
profuse promises of the national policy party.
that they have been placed in power The advent of
Parliament is generally the signal for some
Improvement. and, perhaps, slight alteration in the
internal arrangements of the great halls Of wisdom
but this year has witnessed more than usual
amount of change. The first and most marked is in
the Senate Chamber. Here the crimson drapery
which formerly adorned the walls from the floor to
the gallery has been removed, and onehan the
wall now appears decorated with tasteful but
very unpretending frescoing the lower half
still retaining its garb of crimson rep
correspond with the carpet and seats of the Cham
Der. This innovation made at the suggestion Of
His Excellepcy the Governor General. who also sug
gested very desirable alteration in the throne from
which the annual speech Is delivered. The canopy
which covers the chair Of state has been moved
back in such way to render it possible to
the occupant from any point in the gallery,
whereas previously it was impossible to do so unless
almost Immediately in front. 1t was impossible
to carry out the whole of the embellishments
proposed by His Excellency before the opening of
Parliament but even now vast improvement has
been effected. the delicate colorng of the walls
blending harInoniously with the drapery and other
surroundings. When lighted up the Senate Cham
Der has always been noted for its brilliant appear
ance, but it was admitted by those present at the
Drawing Room last night that it had never been
to such advantage before The work yet to be done.
which will be commenced Immediately on the closing
of Parliament is the frescoing of the walls and pill
lars of the gallery and when all is COM
pete the ensemble will be that His
Excelency might well be proud of
originating. In the Commons the changes are not
many beyond the laying of new oilcloth In the
spacious corridors. work of no small proportion
and the customary chair for the Speaker. it
being the ruo for each Speaker to take his chair with
him on vacating office. The chairs there is
for the Speaker of the Senate well) splendid
specimens of workmanship, being handsomely carved
and upholstered and costing in the neighborhood of
5000 each. A new chair has also been provided for
the throne in the Senate Chamber. and, while the
others are certainly exceedingly fine specimens Of



every way.


CRUSH AND THE CEREMONIES.


Tho demand on the Gentleman Usher of the Black
Rod for cards of admission to the gallery for the
opening ceremony has not been ss great since the
first opening Of the Dominion Parliament; and
while last year when there unusual attrac-


ton in the fact that 1t to be the last time the
Earl of Dufferin would ofiicate over two thousand


tickets were issued, this year the number


reached nearly three thousand. It will, doubt


less; seem absurd % tha, suen hnmoer or or
only seating capacity for about nine hundred, al


though rule nearly twice that number manage
TO crush in. But pressing the Senators and


members In their demands that the Gentleman Usher
in order escape absolute persecution, obtains the
larger number and the holders have to their
chances OF obtaining standing room. The at
tendance of strangers who came from all parts Of


and some parts of the United States to witness
the opening very large, and soon as the
Parliament Buildings were opened IN the morning


the spectators began to file i'll and take seats In the
gallery bringing books and Others OF the fair
their tatting needework. As the hour for the
ceremony three O'Clock. approached, the crush at


the doors of the Senate was terrific and the Doinn
ion police. who were out in full force, had the ut


most difficulty to prevent accidents.


POPULAR GREETING


AT a quarter to three the Princess Louise arrived
at the Parliament buildings, accompanied by Lady


Mac Namara, Hon. Mr.. Moreton, Mrs. DcWinton and
the aide -decamp IN waiting. The guard of honor
composed Of 100 men of the Governor Generals
Foot Guards presented arms, and royal salute
was fred from tho Nepean Point battery the band
playing "Cod Save the Queen" and the assembled
multitude cheering Justify. At three o'clock the


Governor General arrived in carriage drawn by
four handsome horses and escorted by the Princess
Louise Dragoon Guards. Aviceregal salute fired
on His Excciency's arrival, the band again playing
the national anthem amid the continued cheering OF
the people.


THE vTcFRfGAI ADDRESS.


The Marquis having taken his seat on the throne
where the Princess already seated. the Usher
of the Black Rod was instructed to summon the
Commons. upon whose arrival the Governor General
read the following speech from the thronc:-
HONORABLE
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS


In meeting the Parliament of Canada for the ii rst
time desire to express the qualification feel at hav
ing been selected by Her Majesty for the high and
important office now NIL and TO assure you OF tho
great satisfaction with which now seek your aid and
cooperation in acknowledged with profound graft


tude, the reception which has been accorded to my


commanded by the Queen to convey through
you to the people of Canada her thanks
or 10 tSsy have welcomed her dauSbter TSe
contribution Of Canadian products and manufactures
70 the great International Exhibition NJ Paris last
year attracted much attention. and IL is believed It
will have beneficial effect on the trade of the
Dominion with Ehrope. congratulate You on tho
success, which must. in small degree, be attrib-


utablc to the kind and unceasing cxertions of His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales president of
thc Rritish section The report of the Canadian


Commissioners will be laid before you when received
am pleased to inform You that the amount awarded


for the fishery claims under the Washington Treaty
| has been paid by the United States and that Her


Majesty's government has arranged with Canada and
| Newfoundland for their respective shares of the
award. The papers on the subjects shall bc sub
mttcd to you.


CATTLE EMBARGO.


| The important and rapidly increasing trade be-
tween Canada and England in live cattle has been
seriously threatened by the appearance in various


parts of the United States of pcurO-pne umonia. In
order TO prevent the contagion from spreading to
Canada and the consequent interruption OF trade


have caused order to be issued under the Animal


Contagious Diseases act of 1862 prohibiting the i'm
portation or introduction into tho Dominion of
American cattle for short period. n is hoped that


the disease will pe. long. cxtinguishcd in the
|
prohibition removed. Your attention will be in
| ytcd to an amendment of tho act have Just
| fcrrcd to.


FOREIGN TRADE.


Tho government commenced negotiations with


Her Macsty's sanction. for tho development of tho
| trade of Canada with France and Spain and with
their respective colonies. hope to be able to lay
| before you the result of these negotiations during
| tho present session.