flashing, gleaming
mass of light and fire and varied brightness. A state dinner was given
at Government House by Lord Hopetoun in the evening and, on the
succeeding day, a great Levee was held and addresses received. All the
leaders of Australian life and society were presented and every form or
phase of loyalty was embodied in the addresses presented from public
institutions. Another state dinner followed at Government House and on
May 8th the University of Melbourne was visited and an honorary degree
conferred upon His Royal Highness. A great procession of various trade
and labour associations was then witnessed and the third day of the
visit concluded with a well-managed and stately Royal reception at
Government House.

OPENING OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT

On May 9th the central ceremony of the tour was performed and a new
British Commonwealth started upon its national course. The streets
through which the Royal progress was made were packed with enthusiastic
masses of people; the great Exhibition Building in which the Parliament
of Australia was to be formally inaugurated was filled with twelve
thousand persons, representative of every form of Australian life and
character and achievement; the scheme of decoration--blue and golden
yellow and chocolate--was effective and bright, the black and white and
purple of the universal mourning was brightened here and there amongst
the people by scattering bits of uniform in blue and scarlet and gold.
At noon, the distant sound of cheers and the blare of trumpets announced
the approach of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Amidst the
strains of the National Anthem, and accompanied by the Governor-General
and Countess of Hopetoun, they took their places upon the dais. Around
the King's son and his wife were all the leaders of Australia; in front
of them, the Parliament, the classes and a substantial section of the
masses. The Earl of Hopetoun read some formal prayers and then gave
place to His Royal Highness who, in clear and distinct tones read his
speech to Parliament and the people. In it he spoke of himself as
fulfilling the wish of the late Queen Victoria and his father, the King,
and as representing their deep interest in Australia and warm
appreciation of Australian help in the war and loyalty to the Crown. Of
the future, His Majesty felt assured.

"The King is satisfied that the wisdom and patriotism which have
characterized the exercise of th