SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 28

SOUTH AFRICA.

INAUGURATION OF THE UNION. THE FIRST CABINET. BIRTH OF THE NEW STATE. CAPETOWN, May 31. The South African Cabinet is officially announced as follows : Mr Botha, Prime Minister and Minister of. Agriculture. „ Mr J. C. Smuts, Minister of the Interior, Mines, and Defence. **- Mr J. W. Sauer, Minister of Railways and Harbours. Mr J. B. Hertzog, Minister of Justice. Mr F. S. Malan, Minister of Education. Mr' H. C. Hull, Minister of Finance. Mr A. Fischer, Minister of Lands. Mr H. Burton, Minister of Native Affairs. Mr F. R. Moore, Minister of Commerce and-Industries. Mr D. P. de Villiers, Minister of Public Works. Mr GTaaff, Minister of Post and Telegraphs. Mr C. O'Grady Gubbins, Minister without portfolio. "-- Thanksgiving services for the birth of the Union will be held in every church in South Africa this morning, except where a combined service "has been arranged to be held in the open air. Ten thousand school children will parade in Johannesburg and sing hymns •for'the Union Jack tableau descriptive of the Union. June 1. Sir Richard Solomon, Agent-general for ttie Transvaal, has been appointed High Commissioner in London for United South Africa, and Sir J. H. De Villiers (Chief Justice in Cape Colony) has been made Chief Justice of the South African Supreme Court. King George has conferred a barony on Sir J. H. De Villiers. King George, in a message to his South African people, says his earnest hope, which is strong and confident, is that the Bew Constitution will, under Divine providence, further the highest welfare of South'. Africa and add strength to the Empire. Civic services to celebrate the Union were held in the Durban and Maritzburg Town Halls. The'Natal'Advertiser says the Union was effected by guile and deception, but British doggedness will triumph. The Natal Mercury is profoundly disappointed with Mr Botha, who, it says, lias betrayed his trust to the British. The Cape Times declares that the presence of Mr Hertzog and Mr Fischer in the Cabinet impairs that whole-hearted confidence which is desirable. PRETORIA, May 31. ' Lord and Lady Gladstone, the members Of the £abinet, and a large congregation attended, a . special -, service held in the Cathedral. Thence the Governor-general, the Ministers, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Judges proceeded to the Legislative Assembly. It was a sombre gathering, owing to the recent mourning. The commission appointing Lord GladStone " was then read in English and in Dutch, and Lord Gladstone, who on May J 9, at Capetown, was sworn in as High Commissioner, then took the oath as Governor-general. The oaths were next administered to sh© members of the Cabinet. Lord and Lady Gladstone have created a good impression. June 8. The Transvaal Leader applauds the inclusion of Messrs Sauer, Malan, and Burton in the Ministry. The Johannesburg Star condemns Messrs Fischer and Hertzog. The inclusion of the latter has intensely gratified the Free Staters. Mr Lionel Phillips, speaking at Johannesburg, welcomed the appointment of Mr Smuts. LONDON, May 31. Lord Selborne, in his message of v God -speed " to th« people of South

Africa, hopes they may never forget what they owe to Britain's command of the sea. There is always a danger, he says, of inland people losing the sea sense. If South Africa should lose this command, a hostile power only needed to occupy her ports, and the economic and political pressure thus brought to bear would prove intolerable. June 1. Some German newspapers award Mr Botha credit for the Union, but add that South Africa, though nominally bound to Great Britain, is in reality independent. June 2. The Union Government has accepted Mr Solly Joel's gift of Barnato Park, of 115 acres, with the building thereon, which hereafter will be used as a girls' high school. MELBOURNE, June 1. Mr Fisher and the State Premier (Mr Murray) have sent cable messages of congratulation to Lord Gladstone on the accomplishment of South African union.