as she had died on 25 February 1891. According to Singapore Free Press, they noted that: "The rectangular building measured 210 feet long by 174 feet deep, was in the "Corinthian style of architecture" with a red tiled roof and a seventy-feet high tower in the center topped by the Sultan's symbolic star and crescent." "Among its key features were a spacious projected carriage porch, a grand staircase with ornamental iron balustrades, a grand reception room, a ball room, a billiard room – and it was fitted with electric light. The installation of electricity was hailed by the Free Press as indicative of an improvement of "domestic civilization, and a marked step in the industrial progress of the Colony." Interior-wise, the fanlights were Arabsque in design, the wood used was teak and ironwood and the building had altogether 420 doors." Opening The palace was officially declared opened on 3 December 1892 by the 13th Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Cecil Clementi Smith accompanied by Lady Teresa Newcomen, with the Sultan addressed in English and Malay in the ballroom attended by the selected company of power brokers of Singapore and Johor officials with the Sultan of Pahang Ahmad Muazzam Shah and Sultan of Riau Abdul Rahman II Muazzam Shah among them. The palace was known to be first building in Singapore to be supplied with electricity. Historic events As well as the Sultan of Johor's official residence in Singapore, the palace was also a venue to several historic events and parties. On 10 December 1892 at the palace, the Sultan received the First Class of the First Grade of the Order of the Double Dragon by the Guangxu Emperor, as conveyed by the consul general in Singapore of his care, sympathy and kindness for permitting the Chinese to settle in Johor. The presentation event was witnessed by a gathering of Chinese towkays (businessmen). On 6 April 1893, the Sultan held his reception to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his party who arrived at the palace in the evening at 5.30 pm. The Archduke and Prince Franz Ferdinand and his party was shown various rooms and items of the palace, before proceeding on the Sultan's carriages towards the direction of Tanjong Pagar. On 24 February 1894, the Sultan held a dinner reception with the 14th governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Charles Mitchell, attended by about eighty guests. On