SOUTH AFRICAN PAGEANT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10604, 5 November 1910, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICAN PAGEANT.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyuight.J ; (Per Press Association.) Received November 4, at 1.55 p.m. Capetown, November 4. Renter states that at the Government official banquet to-night welcoming Messrs Fisher (Australia), Lsmieux (Canada), and Fowlds (New Zealand) there was a notable gathering, including Major-Gencral Scobell, lour Administrators. Senators, members of the Assembly and the National Convention. Mr Sauer, Minister of Railways and Harbors, presided in the absence of Mr Botha, who was indisposed. Mr Sauer proposed the health of the guests. lie pointed out that the experience of Canada and Australia had largely helped the National Convention in. drafting the Constitution. He ascribed the progress of South Africa, first, to the character of the people, and secondly to the early and adequate application of Liberal principles by the Imperial Government. Dr. Jameson, in supporting the Chairman* said he hoped that South Africa might be able to repay, ; ker debt to Australia and Canada ing those countries to advance to a complete union through the success of South Africa. ■ ■ Mr Fisher, in lcplymg, leferied to ] the wonder of people who had been at strife a tew jcars since being'able to frame an enlightened policy. The Imperial Government sanctioned subjects m all parts of the, florid'So fo'xm unions. He brought the goodwill of four and a-half millions of white people. He said the membcis of Parliament should speak their thoughts openlv, enabling a settlement of the remaining difreiences as carh. as "possible. Since his airival in South Africa he had seen a happy and contented people, with a small minority who shook thejr heads mournfully over what; had qcciirred. He did not agiee with them. Nothing had taken placjß m the woild's history in recent times which could„have a"gi eater effect on the world than the South African Union. Britain had now five nations willing to co-operate m common affairs and wider concerns affecting the interests of civilised humanity. Mi Fisher warmly suggested the idea of delegations perambulating the world fiprn one Dominion to another, -giving encouragement and peihaps cuticism. Mr Lemieux conveyed the fraternal gi actings of Canada. He alluded to tire tiansition fiom war to union as the greatest miracle of British constructive genius. He urged the application an South Africa of the_ Canadian punciples for welding the xaces as promising "the most satisfactory results. Received' November 5, at 0.20 a.m.

Capetown, November 4. The inauguration of the first -Union Parliament occuired this morning m supeib weather The Dlike and Duchess of Connaught and Lord and Lady Gladstone led the piocession from Government House through the pimcipal thoroughfares of the city to Parhamejit. The streets were lined with troops and thronged with enthusiastic 'crowds Thev reached Parliament House at noon, and were leceived by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly, and proceeded to ,the Assembly Chamber. Lord Gladstone gave the opening speech, whereafter Parliament met for business , r The Duke of Connaught,delivered a speech and the King's message. Received Novembei 5, at 8.15 a m. Capetown, November 4. The following was Lord Gladstone's speech at the opening of Parliament "The King has honoied jou bj deputing the Duke of Connaught to open the session of the fiist Pailiament of the Union in the' Mother City of South Africa, and to deliver the speech wheieto wo have just listened with keen appreciation You will no doubt desire the earliest opportunity to send a fitting and giatetul reply to his Majesty It is a matter of deep legret that the death of our beloved soveieign Edward VII pievented King Geoige fiom being heic in peison on this historic occasion. It will be ever present

in join minds that his late Majesty, who was so piofoundlj interested m the w.elfare of South Africa, assented to the Act of Union, the Act that has laid 1 the foundation of a new nationality in this great country, and under its piovisions jou are now assembled in Parliament To protect this nationality in the tiue spirit of the Act is tho hrst dutj of Pailiament." The speech pointed to the necessity for tne consolidation of the public sei- \ iceis of the colonies on a umforpi basis Lord Gladstone announced, that a commission would be appointed to make lecommendations foi the leorgamsatioti and leadjustment of the public services, and its lepoit would bo awaited beloie compiehcnsive legislation was proposed Somc^, 'changes, liowovei, wcie uigently lequned whoieloi legislation would be submitted A commission also had been appointed to eiiquiii" into and locommcnd ou a icadnistmcut of the Customs, the piomotiou of local industiics and cognate mattci s i Lord Gladstone referred to the necessity for giaduallj making unifonn laws applying to the whole of the Union He sa'id legislation would be nitioduced to deal with ccitain matters wheicm uinloimitj was~uisicnth necessaiv, and racasiuos would, <bis with audit,, naturalisation, railwaySj liaibors post and telegraphs, imnngiation and stock and plant disease The piobloms ot Spilth Ahicau deienci* weic engaging tlio"cainest attention of the Government., who wftic also considering a scheme fui the establishment of a

national South African University, which would be submitted in due couise The piopo&als would be iiamcd with a full icgaid ioi the position and interests of important institutions which for many -\eais had successfully laboied,in the held of highei education.. Lord Gladstone, continuing, pointed out thai Mmisteis acted undei the authouty of the South Africa Act Riving the Government power to meet cuiient expendituie out of the levenue of the Union from the late Union until two' months after the meeting of Parliament. The Estimates, how-ever; only cover the period to March, 1911,' and a vanation will be necessitated hj the proposal to termmate the financial veal on 31st Maich. The Estimates to 31st

March 1912, would"also be submitted. He said,: "The establishment of the Union has removed fiom the path of South Africa many of the obstacles which retarded progress and development in the past, and the new ( eij. now opening ,before you is rich m possibilities of great industrial and agncultural expansion. It is our fervent prayer that m attaining peace, security, and material piosperity >our aspiration also will, be constantly directed toward the consummation of the complete national unity essential to the high place that South Africa is destined to take among the selftgoverniug Dominions oi the British Empire, and that m and with a spirit of moderation, forbearance, and wisdrrai you will render great?,work m, the Union, blessing yourselves and your posterity and forming an enduung basis for the future of the political, moral, and national welfore of South Afuca, and may the blessing of the Almightj > t God rest on jour labors." ; „ Reuter reports that the following is« the text of the Duke of Connaught's speech. "Gentlemen of the Senate!and gentlemen of the House of Assemblj —' and!j deeply lamented brother, King*, Edward, r in a speech in the Imperial* Parliament dwelt on the establishment" of union in South Africa, and his desir& thatf jus t son, then Prince of Wales, make an extended tour through the Dominion, and open m his namo the first session ot the new Parliament, but by the nisciutable otdeimg of cients J that puipose was changed, t,o deep in interest and meaning for all his subieets both heie and at Home was not to be fulfilled The sudden calamit\ which within a few weeks bereaved the Einpite of a revered soveieign thus fell with paiticulai on South Africa hersell It bioke the chain of close and abiding (oiethoughfj which had linked my illustfous brother to the welfare of this great territory, and effaced at one ' blow air those well-placed arrangements for doing high honor to the birth of the Union Parliament, which held a prominent place in his thoughts even during the closing hours of his life. I have it in command from the Kins to convey to South Africa the.expression of his keen and profound regret that he for the present has been deprived of the gratification of coming amongstyou in person. To have been her*? on this great historic occasion-would h:r.-c----been to his Majesty and also the Queen inestimable pleasure, but imperative •

pressing duties and labors which at this time a*re crowded upon his Majesty, make it impossible for the King to be absent from the Mother Country. His Majestv therefore conferred on me the honor of representing him to-day:' tie has bidden me to assure you that lie has heartfelt gratitude for the warm svmpathv extended by the whole ot South Africa to himself and family m the irreparable loss they sustained. Ihe King, as you -are well aware, is no stranger to the Dominions beyond the seas ° His association with them are lifelong, and they hold a large place in his heart. His Majesty well knows vou passed through the lire of sorrow, trouble, and misunderstanding m a conflict that brought calamity upon the land- but all this was now peacefullyburied with the past. He recognises that hero, as elsewhere, there must al-v.-avs exist a marked divergence of politic!'l opinion : such divisions indeed or thought and'action are of the essence of full free and responsible government—the government which you now euiov. The King rejoices m the knowledge that the auspicious iimon or. the South Airman dominions has already made for the social and material pro- ■ gress of his people, and he feels as- : luWd that■•all" South Africans will work steadfastly and honorably for the welfare of their great and beautiful counts. His Majesty's earnest praj er is that tho Uniou so happily achieved raav, -under God's guidance, prove a lasting blessing to \ou all, and that it tend to the evei-increasing advantage *&fl South Africa- and the 'British 'Empire» Gentlemen of the Senate and gentlemen of the.House ot Assomblv, it affoids mo much plcasmo to convey to jou this message horn the Kin« -I-now, in his name, on hisibp-hahCdeclaie-this Parliament open. -,'Aitci dcliveung'tho Duke (.rConuaught leacVtho followmg tele-o-ram tiom the King .—"Although it has been oi darned that I should not bo vitii you on this great occasion, my Hioughts and piayeis aie to-day tor f'-tith AJnca and for hei lasting union. ' t'cainestly'tiust'tbat for the, sake ot the people* as a whole .your gieat counti v may, by God's blessing, undei (vis» <uudance and statesmanship, progiesslrom >eai to c-icimcieas-ing in wisdom, happiness, and prosperity." Received Novcmbei 5, at 8 45 a.m.

Capetown, November 4. When the Duke of Connaught, accompanied bv an escort of hussars, reached Parliament" House, the sl Assembly Cliamber, , where.-the ceremony took place, was thronged, with a brilliant representative gathering, including Senators, members of the Assembly provincial councillors, judges, the Consular body, and the heads of the educational and ecclesiastical worlds. , f As the Duke, ..accompanied by the Duchess, Princess Patricia, and Lord and Lady Gladstone ascended the dins the Castle battery fired a salute of 21 guns and the band played the National. Anthem. The proceedings opened with prayers, in .English by the Archbishop oi Capetown and iu Dutch by the Moderator of the' Dutch Heformed Church. The colonial visitors "were the centre ot attraction. . , The arrangements were most elaborate.

Received November 5, at 9.5 a.m. London, November 4. The Daily Mai/publishes the following message from Mr Fisher, Premier oi the Australian Commonwealth.:— l\v this happy turn in her political affairs South, Africa has found ,thc only possible way out of her difficulties, and a way which, perhaps after a struggle, will ultimately solve them all. Mr Fowlds, the New Zealand representative, sends the following message— "LJdiink that, despite the ripples on the surface, the prospects of South Africa are full of. promise.

Received November 5, at 10.15 a.m. Capetown, November 4. The Assembly adopted, unopposed, a motion conveying an address to the King expressing the heartfelt sympathy of the people of §outh at the death ot King Edward, which plunged, the, country, into the most profound sorrow and regret. The gathering also sent congratulations and dutiful homage on the accession of the King and also thanked him for the Duke.pt Connaught undertaking so arduous a journey to South Africa on so auspicious an occasion. Mr Botha received messages of greeting and congratulation' from Australia and New Zealand, and a resolution was adopted thanking those Dominions. Messages were received also from Canada, New Foundland and Mozambique. The ;T)uke of Connaught in the. afternoon attended the pageant. Lord and Lady Gladstone, m the evening,, gave ail official reception at Government House. There, was', a very largo attendance of prominent people.