SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13883, 7 November 1910, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

j OPENING OK THE FIRST PARLP- | MENT. A MESSAGE FROM. THE KING. United i'r«» At*ocijit:oc_B- Electrio ..l.eraph—CVf.yngj,^ . APETOWN. November •!. The Duke of Connn/urdit was a«-cr>mjianicd by an escort of Hussars to Parliament House. Tiie Assemble Chamber, where the cerenionv to.k place. vias thronged hy a brilliant t;,.thorin_; of representative men, including .senators, members of the Assembly, provincial councillors, judges, Consular bodies, and tho heads of the educational and ecclesiastical worlds. As the Duke, accompanied by the Ditcher, Princess Patricia, and Viscount and Viscountess Gladstone, ascended the dais, thc Castle battery fired a salute oi 21 guns, and the band played the National Anthem. The proceedings were opened by prayers in English by the Archbishop of Capetown, and in Dutch by tho Moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church. The colonial visitors were assembled in tho centre of tho Chamber. The i arrangements were most elaborate, and the scene one of unprecedented brilliance. The following was the continuation of the Duke of Connaiicjlit's speech:— '•His Majesty well knows how you have passed through tho firo of sorrow and trouble. Misunderstanding and conflict havo brought calamity upon the land. Rut all this has now heen peacefully buried with tho past. Ho recognises, 'too, that here, as elsewhere, there must always exist a marked divergence of political opinion. Such divisions, indeed, of thought and action aro the essence of full, free, and responsible government, which you now enjoy. Tho King rejoices in the knowledge that under the auspices of the Union the t.-uth African Dominion has already made for the social and material progress of his people. He feels assured that all South Africans will work steadfastly and honourably for the welfaro of their great and beautiful country. His Majesty's earnest prayer is that tho union, so happily achieved, may, under God's guidance, prove a lasting blessing to you all, and that it will tend to tho ever-increasing advantage and prosperity of South Africa and thc British. Empire." "Gentlemen of tho Senato and gentlemen of the Houso of Assembly,—lt afford*? mo much pleasure to convey to you this message from the King. I now, in his name and on his behalf, declare this Parliament open." After delivering his speech, the Duko of Connaught read the following telegram from the King:—"Although it has heen ordained that I should not he with you on this great occasion, 1113----thoughts and prayers are to-day for South Africa, and for her lasting union. I earnestly trust that, for tho sake of tho people as a whole, your great country may, by God's blessing, ' under wise guidance and statesmanship, progress from year to year, ever increasing in wisdom, happiness, and prosperity."