The Victoria Centenary Celebrations were inaugurated here to-day by the Duke of Gloucester, who arrived this morning from Adelaide following a tour of South Australia, 'A message from His Majesty the King was delivered by the Duke in inaugurating the celebrations. was received in Parliament House by the Governor-General, Sir Isaze Alred Isaacs, who delivered greetings on behalf of the whole Commonwealth fof Australia to His Royal Highness, and then read the message The message declared that the ocasian must stir the hearts of all incrested in the British Empire and reminded them of the debt duet? those Whose foresight, statesmanship and courage had built up the great ity of Melbourne. "They. had creat-fed in the state of Victoria a great heritage which it was the duty of the present generation to conserve and develop, the message added:
The Duke arrived here on board URNS. Sussex, As the 10,000+ton cruiser berthed alongside the wharf, he royal guest was given a rousing welcome by the huge crowd of people who had gathered to greet him, A function held in Australia House, London, synchronizing with the opening of the celebrations in Australia, was attended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and Mr. J. H, Thomas, Secretary of State for the Dominions, who, with the Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Stanley M, Bruce, helped kindle hundred candles on a special birthday cake decorated with the fags
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.