ABSTRACT
[…] Monday the 4th of March will always figure as a red letter day in the annals of the history of the Colony, owing to the unique ceremony in connection with the opening of the Lagos-Ibadan section of the railway which took place on that date The announcement made previously that the ceremony would take place, and that the day would be observed as a public holiday, tended to enhance public interest, and expectation was at its highest. Although the ceremony was fixed to take place at 10 a.m., from early morning the population began to gravitate towards Iddo Island, and as the morning advanced the stir increased and both by land and water there was a continuous stream of people making their way to the Island. The opening for use of the Carter and Denton bridges, while affording great facility to the public, served to impart additional interest and 4attraction, and by 10 a.m., an immense concourse of people had collected on the Island. The terminus and station were gaily adorned with flags, the long carriage shed being tastefully decorated with flags and palms and converted into a huge salle a mange. for the entertainment of the people. At 10.30 a.m., a train gaily decorated steamed in from Abeokuta with the Alake and Council of that country as passengers. A guard of honour of Hausa 2 soldiers was drawn up at the entrance to the shed and the distinguished guests having alighted, were conducted by the Hon’ble Acting Colonial Secretary, through the opening made by the cordon of soldiers into the spacious refreshment hall where they were received by the / company which numbered thousands and represented every section of the community. A few minutes later, His Excellency the Governor accompanied by the Hon. Acting Colonial Secretary and the Private Secretary and Aid-de-Camp, entered the hall, while the guard presented arms, and the band played the National Anthem. Shortly after Prince Eleko and the White Cap Chiefs of Lagos entered the hall. The whole company then sat down to luncheon, the Alake and Egba 3 Chiefs being accommodated with seats on the right of the Governor, and over four hundred persons did justice to the good things provided, while thousands of others were entertained under booths elsewhere. After dining, His Excellency in a felicitous speech proposed the toast of ‘His Majesty King EDWARD the VII.’ His Excellency said:–
