Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 10 September 1881, page 4


THE VISIT OF THE PRINCES.

THE Detached Squadron, with Admiral Clanwilliam and the royal princes on board, anchored in Moreton Bay on Tuesday, the 16th ultimo. On the evening of the same day the royal visitors

came up to town in the Kate, s., and took up their abode at Government House. Although the landing was announoed to be a private one, and occurred at 8.30 p.m., large crowds of loyal subject* assembled and testified their satisfaction by bonfires, rockets, and other demonstrations. The princes joined in a riding party to the eastern Buburbs on the morning of the following day, and in the afternoon were present at a largely-attended reception at Government House. On the next day (Thursday), a public holiday in honour of the princes having been proclaimed, it was observed by all classes of the community. PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES. At about 11 o'olook on Thursday morning the addresses previously adopted by the Legislative Council, the Assembly, and the Corporation of Brisbane, were presented to the prinoes at Government House. The representatives from each of these bodies were received by Prince Edward and Prince George, with his excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy, the Rev. J. N. Dalton (the princes' tutor), Captain O'Callaghan (the Go. vernor's private secretary), and Major Moore (acting aide-de-camp). The Legislative Council were the first to make the presentation. The Upper Chamber was largely represented by its members and officers, and their address was presented by the President, the Hon. Joshua Peter BelL A large number of members of the Assembly, with the officers of the House, next entered and presented their address, which was read by the Hon. H. E. King, Speaker. The members of the Municipal Council then presented their address to the princes, whioh was read by the Town Clerk (Mr. W. H. G. Marshall). Prince Edward, on behalf of his brother and himself, read a suitable reply in each case. VISIT TO ONI-TRKK HILL. In the afternoon of the same day the princes, accompanied by the Earl of Clanwilliam, his excellency the Governor, Miss Kennedy, several other ladies, a number of officers of the Bquadron, and the Premier, rode out to One-tree HiU. Nearly the whole of the party went to the summit of the hill, the Vice* Admiral being driven up the rugged track leading thither by Mr. M'llwraith in his buggy—this being probably the first instance in which a buggy has been taken to the top of the hilL Unfortunately, the day was too dull to admit of a good view from the summit, but, nevertheless, the city and suburbs, as well as the squadron at anchor in the Bay, could be plainly seen. The party returned to Government House shortly before 6 o'clock. THE "AT HOME" AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. The " At Home," given at Government House at night in honour of the princes and the visit of the squadron, was very largely attended. It was estimated that there were over 600 people present—the largest number that have ever assembled at Government House. Prince Edward and Prince George were of course amongst the guests, and danced nearly every dance. The Earl of Clanwilliam, Prince Louis of Battenberg, and a great many officers of the squadron, were also among the company, and appeared to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The first quadrille was headed by his excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy, with Prince Edward and Miss Kennedy as vit-A-vis. A sumptuous supper was provided

in a temporary annexe, and before the party tom from it bin excellency briefly proposed the toasts of " the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," and " the Earl of Clanwilliam and other Officers of the Squadron," thelatter being responded to in a short humorous speech by the Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Palmer, having obtained permission to propose a toast, gave "the health of his Excellency the Governor," which was briefly responded to by Sir Arthur Kennedy. The company broke up about 2 o'clock. THB MINISTERIAL PICM«. The Ministerial pionio at Enoggera on Friday, the 19fch, was a very enjoyable outing. His excellency the Governor, with Miss Kennedy, accompanied by Admiral Clanwilliam, the princeß, and many other of our distinguished visitors, and alao by a number of ladies and gentlemen resident in the colony, left town at half-past eleven, the princes leading with a riding party, and the remaining visitors following in about thirty vehicles. After a pleasant though rather dusty journey the party reached Enoggera about 1 o'clock, and after spending ajpleanant day, returned to town about 5 p.m. THE MAYOR'S BALL. The Mayor's ball at the Exhibition building was certainly the most successful of the demonstrations in honour of the visit of the royal princes, and was in every way a fitting close to the festivities attendant upon their short stay amongst us. Never before in the Booial annals of Queensland did so large, dazzling, and thoroughly representative an assemblage gather together at one time. When all the guests had assembled there were no less than 1500 people present, and the bright uniforms of the officers of the squadron, the fascinating costumes of the ladies, with a sufficient number of fancy dresses to give variety and charm to the general effect, formed a spectacle never before witnessed in Brisbane, and one which will serve to keep in lasting remembrance the visit of the two grandsons of our beloved Queen. A few minuteß after 9 o'clock his excellency the Governor and Miss Kennedy and suite, their royal highneßaes Prince Edward and Prince George, together with Prince Louis of Batten* berg, Lord Charles Scott, aad a large number of officers of the squadron, arrived on the ground, where they were saluted by a guard of honour consisting of 100 of the Ist Queenslanders, with their band, under the command of Captain Thynne. They were met at the entrance to the building by his worship the Mayor and the aldermen, together with the Town Clerk (Mr. W. H. G. Marshall) and other officers of the Municipal Council, and on their entering the band struck up the National Anthem. No time was lost in forming the first set, which was headed by bib Excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy and Mrs. S. W. Griffith, with Prince Edward and Miss Sinclair as vifd-vis, Prince George dancing with Mrs. M'llwraith. From this time forward dancing, although attended with «on* siderable difficulty owing to the large numbers present, was entered into with the greatest rest, the princes and officers of the squadron being as energetic as any in this ever popular exercise. At 11 o'clock the company partook of supper, the guests who sat at the tables numbering over 1100. At the head of course was his worship the Mayor, having on his right, amongst others, his excellency the Governor, Miss Kennedy, Lady Palmer, Prince Edward, Miss Sinclair, and Sir Arthur Palmer; and on his left the Hon. T. M'llwraith (Premier), Lord Charles Scott, Prince George, Mrs. M'llwraitb, Hon. B. D. Morehead (Postmaster-General), and Mrs. Finlay. After the supper Mr. Sinclair briefly proposed the toasts of "The Queen," and 11 The Prince and Princess of Wales and royal family," which were most heartily responded to. The Governor and royal princes left about halfpast 12 o'clock. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SQUADRON. Not much rest was allowed to the prinoes and the officers of the squadron after their severe work in the way of picnicking and attending the Mayor's ball, for the order was given for embarkation at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. The Government steamer Kate lay alongside the temporary jetty in the gardens at that hour, and at about a quarter to 9 the princes, accompanied by his excellency the Governor, Miss Kennedy, the Earl of Clanwilliam, the officers of the fleet, the hons. the Premier and the Colonial Secretary, and a select party left the jetty. A number of spectators had assembled to witness the departure, and three hearty cheers were given for the princes as the Kate steamed away. The steamers Boko, Francis Cadell, Kalara, Ipswich, Settler, and Emma had all been chartered for a trip to the Bay in order to allow excursionists the opportunity of witnessing the squadron's departure. A pleasant and speedy run was made to the anchorage, and the Kate was seen to go alongside the flagship, the Inconstant, at a quarter to 11 o'clock. It was at once apparent to nautical men that everything was being made ready for a speedy weighing of the anchors on the men-of-war, steam being up, and other preparations in progress. At twenty minutes to 12 the signal was run up to the masthead of the flagship to "man the yards," and in a minute or two all the ships had each yard fully manned. At the same moment the marines were drawn up on the quarter deck, and the admiral, captains, and officers of the Bquadron were all in their appointed places. At noon precisely the Governor and his party returned to the Kate, and as she left tbe Inconstant a salute of seventeen guns was fired in honour of his excellency, and the band also played. Immediately afterwards the signal was given to weigh anchor, and the sailors were very quickly down and out of the rigging. Each anchor was hoisted in about a quarter of an hour, and at twenty minutes past 12 the admiral signalled to steam ahead. The vesselß were at once underway, going at the rate of about four knots aa hour. The order of the line of five vessels was—first, the Inconstant; second, the Cleopatra ; third, the Tourmaline; fourth, the Bacchante ; and fifth, the Carysfort. The distance between each ship was as nearly as possible uniform, and the regularity of the line was well kept.