SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. COMING FESTIVITIES. By Elootrio Telegraph.—Copyright. CAPETOWN, Oct. 26. Router states that Capetown is rapidly filling with people who aro pouring in from all parts of the Union in anticipation of next week’s festivities. There is the greatest activity on every hand, making the final preparations. Streets will bo festooned and beflagged, and there are numberless armorial devices and triumphal arches in Adderley Street, representing each province. Ministers and departmental chiefs have arrived from Pretoria and other centres. ARRIVAL OP VISITORS. THE GREAT PAGEANT. (Received Oct. 27j 8.0 a.m.) . CAPETOWN, Oct. 20, General Botha is receiving visitors at Mr. Rhodes’ late residence, Grooto Schnnr, where he has taken mi his residence in accordance with Mr. Rhodes’ will. Dr. Jameson will arrive to-morrow and will occupy the neighbouring estate of Westbrook. The Government guests will occupy Newlands’ house, formerly the Governor’s summer residence. The Canadian representative, Mr. Loniieux, Postmaster-General, and Sir Richard Solomon, late /Agenl-Geiiernl for the Transvaal, arrived from England yesterday. Tho Medic, with Mecarc. Fisher and Fowlds aboard, has just arrived at Durban. The national pageant promises to bo a conspicuous success. Doers, Basutos, and bushmen from remote districts are arriving to participate as pc: formers, and are attracting much attention. MR. FISHER AT DURBAN. (Received Oct. 27, 0 a.m.) DURBAN, Oct. 26. Mr. Fisher arrived ami was welcomed by the duel Magistrate on behall ot the Government, the Alayor, and a deputation of the Labour Party. Reuter reports that in an interview Mr. Fisher said that he was pleased to come to South Africa on such un important occasion. 11 is only duly wa;> 10 convey a ot goodwill and the congratulation ot tho Commonwealth to iho South African Union. South Africa had boiuditcd hy the experience and mistakes made by Australia when lederatiou war, vjlabliHu-d, Mr. Fisher said he wished first to tho South African views, then perhaps 11 might be possible to arrange sowo projects to the mutual benefit oj the two OuiniiiionH. Discussing the defence of Australia, be said that the country w-ih isoiuU'd mid was at the hack door ol the Fast, thereloro it was necessary tliut Australians should be able entirety to del end themselves, i fence they were building up an Australian navy. SOUTH AFRICAN UNION. The pageant organised to celebrate tho Union of South Africa will take place at Cape Town in the first week of November nn the shores of Table Day, u here several ot the ;n Lual scenes lo l>e represenuM probably took place. Ii will probably a fortnight. .Mr, Frank Lascelles, the master ol the pageant- at Quebec two years «yo, will undertake Urn bairn* duty at Cui>o Town. The idea underlying thv pageant is to create from lim outlet ol the Union a tradition founded on the actual history of the races of which “tin? last-born nation of the British Umpire” is made' up. Not only will all the various discoveries ami colonisations of Snitii Africa be depicted, but special scenes in the history of each of the four ere at States wil) be introduced. The complete representation of the pageant will occupy two days, on each of which eight epitaxies will bo prcfc-ontod. THK FIRST DAY. In the first oeene will lx? shown the sequence of the various aboriginal races, the stronger and belter-armed gradually overcoming and driving out tlieir weaker predecessors until finally, during the triumph of tho latest of I he conquerors, tho ships of the first discoverers are seen in the distance. Affrighted at this strange apparition the natives flee from tho shore, leaving it free for the lauding of Bartolommeo Diaz, the Portuguese navigator, and tho setting up of the cross which it was tho custom of the Portuguese and the Spaniards to erect on landing on a now shore. The second scone shows the despatch of an expedition with South Africa at* its goal. It is u tableau of Vasco do Oanm starting from the Chai>cl of the Kromiia, in Rastello, accompanied bv a great ecclesiastical procession witfi special dispensations from the Tho departure is witnessed by tho King and Court. In the third scene is represented the first colonisation after tho landing of Van lliebeck, sent out by tho Dutch East India Company to establish a station on the Indian route. The fourth scene shows tho gradual growth of the white power. This is indicated hy the dipping of the castle moat, and hy the now partially subjugated savages coming to treat peacefully with the Dutch. It is further emphasised by tho settling of one of their quarrels by the Dutch authority. The rise of tho Dutch Colonial period will be represented in the fifth scone hy merrymakings on the birthday of Simon van dor Stel. During these revels tho first Oriental settlors and the Huguenot refugees will bo seen arriving and receiving fixed domiciles. Tho period of tho sixth scone is laid during the first English occupation, and the scene illustrates the friendly relations which existed at that time between the English and the Dutch. This is shown by a visit of Lady Anno Barnard to one of tho great Dutch country estates. The seventh scone—the last under tho Hollander regime—shows the granting of arms to the city of Cape Town, which, by that time, had attained such proportions as to be doomed of sufficient importance to receive this honourable mark of recognition. The eighth and last scene of the first day is a purely military spoctacic. showing tho various regiments of both tho English and Dutch forces at tho moment of tho capitulation in 1806. THE SECOND DAY. Tho episodes of tho second day are in contrast to those of tho first day in that they largely concern tho various

movements which have resulted in tho commercial prosperity of tho country at tho present time. The first scone represents tho great influx of new settlers in 1820; the second the demand for a free press after Lord Charles Somerset’s attempt at its suppression. Tho third, fourth, and fifth scenes depict incidents in tho Great Trek which opened up the northern countries. Tho sixth scene is the final assertion by tho colonists of their right to discriminate as to who should bo considered proper people to land. This is shown by the refusal to allow the convicts sent out from England to leave the ship—a protest against arbitrary external power which proved successful. Tho seventh and last historical episode shows the beginning of improved relations between tho white and tho black races. This is indicated by the presentation by President Hoffman of a plough to the black chief Mososh. The finale is allegorical, and depicts the conquest of savagery, ignorance, and unrest by the force of peace and knowledge, and tho evolution and development of the social mid commercial conditions of tho nation. It will culminate in a tableau representing United South Africa, during which tho To Deum will bo sung by the entire body of tho performers—about 5000 in number.