ICELAND MILLENARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 970, 13 May 1930, Page 9

ICELAND MILLENARY

PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY AT REYKJAVIK TOWN OF 17,000 TENTS One king, two crown princes, 40 representatives for 25 independent States, 2,000 Icelanders living in the United States, 20,000 Icelandic farmers, and at least the same number of tourists from all parts of the world are to form the population of the improvised towns of Thingvellir and Lake Reykjavik during the three days marking the culmination of the millennium celebrations of the Icelandic Alting (Parliament) this year. The original plan was to erect a town of tents round the first meeting place of the Alting on the plain of Thingvellir, but it is seen that all limits of such a temporary camp would be too narrow, and an additional "town” of tents is being formed immediately outside the capital, near the beautiful Lake Reykjavik. Many of the tourists will live on board ship during their stay, but even a small influx would cause a shortage of houses and hotels, a - fact readily understood when it is remembered that Iceland's total population is 98,000, of whom 48.000 are farmers scattered all over the island. Only a few hostel rles are necessary to meet the ordinary demands of travellers. The three royal personages to take part in the festival will, it is hoped, be King Christian, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, and Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden. King Christian will be present in any case. As king of the united Iceland-Denmark he ha-s undertaken to deliver a speech from the place where, according to tradition, the Icelandic chief a thousand years ago addressed his company of Norwegian emigrants. King Christian owns a farm on the plain of Thingvellir, and will live in the farm house during his stay in Iceland. The building is of recent date. Not so the house reserved for the Norwegian and Swedish Crown Princes, who are to live in a house which is today as it was in the Saga age. Around these houses are to be erected 27.000 tents, arranged in rows, with streets, market places, post and telegraph offices, shops, etc.