Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1901 — BIRTH OF FEDERATION. [ARTICLE]

BIRTH OF FEDERATION.

Last Step in Union of British Australian Colonies. The Earl of Hopetoun was sworn in at Sydney, N. S. W., as first governor of the federated Australian colonies amidst scenes of pageantry such as never before had been attempted iu the antipodes. Scores of thousands of people participated iu the demonstration and general joy marked the occasion. The rejoicing pf the commonwealth was intensified by a message, which Queen Victoria 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 to the people of Australia her majesty’s heartfelt interest in the inauguration of the commonwealth and her earnest wish that under divine providence it mny insure increased prosperity and well-being to her loyal and beloved subjects in Australia.” 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. A salute of twenty-one guns, the playing of the national anthem liy the massed bands and rousing cheers re-echoing among the hills accompanied this act. The signature and swearing in of the first federal ministers followed.