FIRST RAIN OF TOUR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22289, 26 March 1947, Page 5

FIRST RAIN OF TOUR

KING IN THE TRANSVAAL GIANT MAN PRESENTED (11 a.m.) CAPE TOWN. March 25. Reuter’s special correspondent with the Royal party reporting Their Majesties’ arrival in Swaziland, said it rained when they left the train at Moolman for the first time since the tour began. This is a good omen because Their Majesties, like the Swazi queen mother, “the she elephant” would be attributed with the possession of rain-making “medicine.” When the Royal train stopped for water yesterday at the small station at Codmondale, in the Transvaal, the King became interested in an abnormally tell 65-year-old farmer, Mr Cornelius Mostert. “Ridiculous, he must be more.” said the King when told that Mr Mostert was 6ft 9in tall. “Let us have him measured,” he added. A measure was produced and, to the King’s evident satisfaction Mr Mostert was found to be 7ft 3in tall. He was photographed with the King with ins outstretched hand well above the King’s head. Hundreds fainted as a crowd of 100,000 natives surged forward to see the Royal Family at a gathering in Durban last night, says Reuter’s correspondent. They broke through a native barrier round the dais. European policemen finally quietened the natives after native police had unsuccessfully used sticks in an attempt to control the crowd. It was the first time during the Royal tour that native enthusiasm has outrun its bounds.

The Royal Family attended church service in the morning. The Queen in the afternoon visited the botanical gardens, where scores of Indians recognised and applauded her.