THE ROYAL VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA.

GAPE TOWN PREPARATIONS. FOUR DAYS' PAGEANT. As at present arranged, the Prince and Princess of "Wales are expected to arrivo in South Africa early m September, making direct for Durban, and thence.-proeeeding up-country to' the Victoria Falls. While the Prince goes big-game shooting in Central Africa, the Princess of Wales, it is understood, will remain at Livingstone for ten dayf or so.- The opening of the Union Parlia< ment, which, needless to say, is the real mission of the Prince of Wales, will in all "probability not take place until neat the end of October or beginning of November. Port Elizabeth and othei towns,'on the coast and inland,'. are : most anxious to have themselves included in tho royal itinerary, and are using all their influence in officialquarters to secure their objecj;. Mean-, while the larger centres, which are sure of figuring in the programme, arc preparing to give their royal visitors'awelcome worthy of the occasion. Gape Town Preparations. In. Capo Town the programme \of festivities is rapidly. taking .definite shape. The various committees . ia. charge of the arrangements in connection with the historical pageant of South Africa are , busily engaged in raising a enarantee 'fund, enrolling volunteers, and drawing up .a list of episodes and incidents for representation. Thanks to.the financial co-opera-tion of all four South African Governments and the liberality of local business and public men, there seems no reason, to fear that lack of funds will stand in the way of a great and. successful pageant. ." " ■ ' : . The provisional list of scenes and tableaux seems somewhat lengthy and over-ambitious, perhaps, but this may very well be remedied by the master of the pageant, ■Mγ. Frank Laseelles, who is coming out from England after the Festival of Empire at the Crystal is over in order to superintend the final rehearsals in. person: His chief assistant is already on his way out to South Africa, and it only remains, to find and train the large company : of; actors who will -be required. Here, 'again, .there' seems., no cause to. anticipate anything but success. Pageants are a novelty, as yet in this country, and the Cape Peninsula, which is often accused of being out of touch with the rest of South Africa, will gladly seize this opportunity of proving its appreciation of South African: history and romance. ! ' ■ ,"J- ---: Makers'.,of .'History. . '■ '• It has been decided to make- th« pageant a four days' performance.. The' first day will be devoted to the Portuguese period—showing the discovery l of the Cape of Good Hope,-and •■ the • departure of Da Gama's fleet. The second day will be given over to,.the century and a-half of Dutch settlement and rule, beginning with.. Van Riebeecfa landing in 1652. The third day will" be taken up with the-British- period-cover-ing the nineteenth ■ century, but for obvious-reasons not coming ' down to events of.too recent occurrence. The fourth day will present a grand historical procession, embracing, all periods: Portuguese characters, Dutch.. characters, British characters, the German Legion, Rhodesian pioneers. In the' procession, will be introduced- alLuthe; chief characters in .Cape history, : the' whole concluding with; a great tabfeaw representing the • consummation of Union. • • - . ■'•■.-' !

THe pageant will depict not'only outstanding historical personages like Bax- 1 ■; tholomew Dias and Vascoda Gataa,Vaa Riebeeck, ■ the Van • der Stels, and v ; General Baird, arid' actual historical events like the building of the Castle . and the Great Trek; in adddtionj ariv- ;- attempt will be made each day'in one or more episodes to reproduce' the social life of 'these picturesque bygone days. All' races—-coloured as well as white —inhabiting South Africa will have their share in the pageant, the . ; descendants of_ the French Huguenots will see the arrival of their forefathers t the Portuguese will see the grand old voyagers of their.native country; the ' Germans will see the;landing of the ; German settlers; Natalians will see. Dick King's heroic ride; Free Staters : will see the Orange River Sovereignty proclaimed free, and Rhodesians will see their own pioneers. The natives ' will also figure in many episodes, and : the Malay community will ■represent the arrival of Sheik Joseph and his followers. ... ■■ , Assistance from Holland. Every effort is ..being made to.secura ■_ historical accuracy. Dr. Peringuey, of; - ; the South African Muneniri, is in com- ■ " : munication with the Portuguese scieh- ; tific societies with a view to obtaining '■; the loan of armour, clothing,' charts, and other.relics of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries for exhibition: and. for guidance in the pageant. There vriH:be an exhibition of antiquities and paintings representing the arts at the time of the establishment of Cape Colony' by, Van Riebeeck.. In' Holland.sympathy ' has been enlisted and readily secured ■.'■' for the purpose of reviving some of-the, old Dutch country dances. Another fea- . ture of the celebrations, apart from the -' . pageant, will be'a representation of the j ■ evolution of. locomotion »nd of the- ■.; A mining industry in South Africa., The city council have set aside several thou- .-'" sands of pounds so, that Cape Town. : may rise fittingly to the occasion. The , extension of the Parliament Buildings is being rapidly pushed ahead and everything gives promise of a memorable month when the Prince of Wales opens the first Union Parliament. ;'■-■..'