SOUTH AFRICAN UNION. ROYAL PARTY ARRIVE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 1 November 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION. ROYAL PARTY ARRIVE.

"THE BIRTH OF k NATION." OPENING CEREMONY FIXED FOR FRIDAY. BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYEIGHT CAPE TOWN, Oct. 31. The steamer Balmoral Castle, with the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia aboard, arrived at the entrance to the bay this morning during a heavy fog, and her entry was delayed until the fog cleared. The flagship Hermes has been in constant touch with the Balmoral Castle by wireless telegraphy, and the vessel reported all well. As she entered the bay the cruisers Hermes and Forte and the German cruiser Sperber. dressed in bunting, fired a Royal Salute. The yards of the British warships were manned, the band on the Hermes playing the National Anthem. The landing takes place at 11 o'clock and a public reception will be held in the City Hall. The Governor-General opens Parliament at noon for preliminary business. The Royal opening by the Duke of Connaught is fixed for Friday. The newspapers offer a most cordial welcome, referring especially to the Duke's distinguished military career and his visit to South Africa a few years ago. They emphasise the sign nificance of the presence of a member of the Royal Family and mention the ! occasion as indicating King George's sympathy with the hopes attending the I birtb of a new nation. THE ROYAL VISITORS WELCOMED A BRILLIANT~GATHERING. The member? of the Governor-Gen-eral's and Lord Methuen's staffs boarded the Balmoral Castle immediately on arrival. Subsequently Lord Methuen, -the naval and military heads and administrators, and the Mayor visited the vessel. Earl Gladstone and Lady Gladstone, Premier Botha and his wife, and other Ministers, went aboard later. When the Duke and Duchess of Connaught landed they drove to the City Hall, escorted by a body of Hussars, through dense cheering crowds. The streets were magnificently decorated. Earl Gladstone headed the procession, escorted by a company of the Gape Mounted Rifles. The Mayor welcomed the party. The hall was densely packed. Those "present included Mr Louis Botha, Lord Methuen, Dr. Jameson, Mr De la Rey, the Chief Justice, and other Ministers, administrators, Messrs Fisher, Geo. Fowlds and Lemieux (tke Canadian Postmaster-General). There was a brilliant gathering of other notabilities. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught had previously received Messrs Fisher, Fowlds and Lemieux, with a few other distinguished persons, aboard the steamer. THE CIVIC WELCOME. j DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S SPEECH, i RECEPTION EXTRAORDINARILY ' ENTHUSIASTIC. (Received Nov. 1, 9.5 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Oct. 31. The Mayor of Capetown said that the Duke of Connaught's advent proclaimed the birth of a new era foretold by our greatest statesman, striven for by the truest patriots and made possible only by splendid sacrifices. The Union would enable South Africa to take her place amongst the nations of the world in regard to industry. Numerous addresses were presented to the Duke of Connaught, who, on rising to respond, received an immense ovation. The Duke thanked the assemblage on behalf of King George for their sentiments of loyalty and devotion, and assured the many thousands of the King's subjects of European, Asiatic, and African nationalities of his Majesty's interest in their welfare. The sad event which prevented the opening of the Union Parliament being honored by the presence of the Heir Apparent was fresh in their minds. It wouM have been a fitting- culmination to the c. orts of th© statesmen and people of South Africa in the cause of unity and conciliation that the last stone in the edice should be laid by the son of a monarch whose name would be associated for all time with the love of peace and hate of discord. (Loud cheers.) The Duke said he was deeply sensible of tht; honor conferred on him by the King in choosing him to take the place which his father had intended him himself to fill. The Duke referred to the sacrifices made by Capetown and Cape Colony for the sake of the Union, adding that there was no truer indication of the soundness of the people's heart, and of their fitness and ability to take and maintain their place among the nations than the willingness of a section of the community to sacrifice their own material interests to the common ideal, which could only exert jits full influence upon the basis of material prosperity. It was contemplated that Capetown by joining in the general advance of South African commerce and industry would hold an even higher place than was doccupied by her to-day. And not Capetown only, but all the many ancient an"d honorable communities represented there of the different races and religions united by a common purpose, owing to the allegiance to a single throne. Resuming his seat the Duke met with an ovation, which was repeated after at the City Hall. The Duke of Connaught drove to Government Avenue, where amid the luxuriant oaks, thousands of children were drawn up and sang, the National Anthem and 1 the hymn "God of Bethel." Then the party went to Government House. The whole of the reception was extraordinarily enthusiastic. The foo; cleared as the Duke of Connaught landed. It is now radiantly beautiful. The Governor-General proceeded to the Senate House, where, in the presence of members of both Houses, the Royal Commission appointing the Duke of Connaught to open the first Parliament, was read in English and Dutch. Earl Gladstone then announced that the Duke of Connaught on Friday would deliver the message from the King to Parliament. The members were then sworn in, and Parliament adjourned till to-mor-row. For the pageant in the afternoon there was again glorious weather and a crowded attendance. Saturday's mao-nificent success was repeated. Today's episodes depicted the various noteworthy stirring incidents from 1813 to 1854, including the realistic defence of a laager against the Kaffir attack. Finally there was a most effective allegorical presentation indicative of the evolution of South Africa, all the performers participating. The culminating; point was groups representing the four provinces of the Union meptinq, and the entire body of performers sinaing the National Anthem and the "Te Deum."

Organs renovated, L. G. Grace, High street. «