This Day in History: 1890-10-25

Proclamation Day was celebrated in Newcastle on a grand scale. With flags flying in the street, a procession numbering over 500 left the Mechanics’ Institute at 10am in the following order: “Local Brass Band, Newcastle Volunteers, Newcastle Cadets, Good Templars in Regalia, school children, Oddfellows in Regalia, Members of the Municipal Council, The Mayor and the Resident Magistrate., The General Public.”  On arriving at the Recreation Ground, the procession formed a square in front of a booth housing 200 spectators, with the Mayor William George Leeder in the centre. The band played and the children sang God save the Queen. Sports, including foot races, were then held. The event of the day, the Proclamation Handicap, was won, after a great contest, by W. J. Donegan, P.J. Lawler being second. A free lunch was provided. In the evening, fireworks on a magnificent scale took place on the Agricultural Showgrounds. On the preceding evening a free ball was held in the Mechanics’ Institute, attended by about 150 people. Mr. E. Scott undertook the management of the sports, with the assistance of John Adam, R.M., Thomas Donegan and Joseph Ablett Wroth.

Source:
West Australian, 27 Oct. 1890, p.3.