A TOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Star, Issue 19050, 19 September 1925, Page 14

A TOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA

THE TRANSVAAL {Written for tho ‘ f?lnr ’ by Fiu'MKTiick Nruniis, F.R.G.S.J From the beautiful province of Natal T. passed into the Transvaal (literally across the Vanl), and ns one of the principal objects of these articles is to give information that may bo useful concerning .the various - countries I spend my life in visiting, I hope the reader will bear with me whilst 1 give some description of this wealthy region. The area is 110,450 square miles, somewhat larger than New Zealand, and twice as largo as England and Wales. The population is 2,100,000, of whom 550,000 are Europeans. Much of it is from 5,000 ft to G,oooft above sea level; dry, sunny, cold in winter, hot in summer, less beautiful than some of the other provinces, healthy. At the lower elevations it is wet, Joggy, and less healthy. Fruit and tobacco are grown freely, and herds of cattle. But tho natural wealth of the Transvaal lies, of course, chiefly in its marvellous mineral deposits, especially its gold, which 1 shall describe in my next article. The Transvaal came to be occupied by Europeans owing to the dissatisfaction of the Boers (not without justification) with the British Government of Cape Colony. Hence began tho Great Trek of 1837, which gave the impetus, continued many years, until at last it took tho trokkers across the Vaal, and led to the foundation of Pretoria. The old-time Boers were often ignorant, obstinate, bigoted men, difficult to manage; but they were hardy, brave, enterprising, great hunters, with a passion for liberty, loving solitude and wild spaces. And so they trekked with their ox wagons and cattle, year after year, fighting wild men and- wild beasts, and fire and flood, until they secured the conditions that promised freedom and prosperity. With the death in 1853 of Andries Pretorius, last of the famous lenders of the Great Trek, the long migration came to an end, and in 1856 the South African Republic was proclaimed, with M. W. Pretorius, son of the old leader, as President. PRETORIA. In 1860 it was decided to build a new capital, and so, a thousand miles from Capo Town, Pretoria, called after the President of the Republic, arose. Pretorius was succeeded some years later by his lieutenant, Paul Kruger, who, though an uneducated man, yet by native -ability and force of character, ruled his people with wisdom and moderation for twenty years, right up to the time of the great Boor war. After the war the Transvaal became a British possession, and in 1910, on the union of the four provinces, Pretoria was established as the administrative capital of the Union. It is one of the most beautiful cities I know, with fine, well-paved thoroughfares, splendid buildings, lovely parks, beautiful gardens, and suburbs, and excellent climate. It is situated at an altitude of 4,471 ft, and occupies a long narrow valley situated between two low ranges of bills. The population is 63,000, of whom more than half are Europeans. Most of the streets are laid out in regular paralellograras, and many of them have been planted with avenues of oak, willow, jaenranda, nd piano trees. Indeed, one of tho streets I drove through presented an avenue of color more glorious, I think, than I have ever seen elsewhere. There are a number of fine buildings in Pretoria, including the residence of the GovernorGeneral, but THE UNION BUILDINGS of the Administration are probably the most beautiful in the world. Two million five hundred pounds have been spent upon them. _ They are situated a mile outside the city ; and the site consists of a series of wide terraces, rising higher and higher, and forming a worthy approach to the main buildings. These are of classic style, and consist of a great range of buildings built in cream and red free-stone on a base of granite, stretching along tho side of the hill, in part like a. splendid Italian palace, with loggias and stately columns, and fountains playing; elsewhere in n semi-circular colonnade that forms a -wide Greek amphitheatre, the crescent points of which are marked by domed towers, each surmounted by a bronze statue of Atlas holding aloit tho world. The viewy from these buildings is magnificent, including as it docs the whole city with its miles or tree-bordered streets, its pretty residences, its public parks, its buddings, and squares, and, away to tho west, a long range of mountains. Another unforgettable visit T paid was to tho Zoological Gardens, with their spacious wcll-laid-out gardens, their semi-tropical vegetation, and fine collection of animals—one of the prettiest zoological gardens I know of, though certainly not equal to that of Sydney. The aviary is said to be the second largest in the world, that of New York being first. KRUGER’S COTTAGE. Kruger’s house also proved quite interesting. It is really only a good sized cottage. A large number of Kruger mementoes are kept there, including the chair on which the old man sat each morning on the Stoop (verandah), and received all and sundry. Many years ago, Queen Victoria sent Kruger a gift or two stone lions, but the President hated everything English, so the lions were purposely dumped on the veldt and lost. To-day, however, those same British lions stand on either side of the three stops, leading to tho Stoep. There must ,-havo been much that was lovable about the old man, for his memory is still held in veneration by the Boers, and a fine monument has been placed in Princess Park. On the Sunday I visited both tho Cathedral and the very fine Presbyterian Church. The latter is built in cathedral style, has an exceptionally fine organ and choir, and the service itself is more ornate than any Presbyterian service I have seen outside Scotland. I was interested and pleased to learn that tho able minister sometimes conducts tho sendee in the Episcopal Cathedral, while tho Bishop or Pretoria leads the worship of the Presbyterians—a most sensible and Christian procedure.