ICELANDIC MILLENNIUM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 910, 1 March 1930, Page 8

ICELANDIC MILLENNIUM

OLDEST PARLIAMENT TO CELEBRATE FOUNDED IN 930 A.D. Exactly 1,000 years ago, in the year 930, the first Parliament of Iceland met on a lonely plain set among majestic mountains. This year, 1930, marks the millennial celebration of the Icelandic Parliament —the oldest in the world. A Canadian Pacific steamer, the Montcalm, will leave Montreal about June 16, and arrive at Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, about June 23, carrying scores of Icelanders back to the land of their forefathers for the celebrations. At “Thingvellir” (Parliamentary Plains) the old Icelanders decided to select a site for the National Parliament in 930. Their idea was to find a place, not only convenient, but also combining in the highest degree the grandeur of Icelandic scenery. A river and waterfall were lacking at “Thingvellir,” but that did not stop the Norsemen of the year 930. They diverted a river over a distance of two and a-half miles, and brought it to ‘Thingvellir.” At the old site pavements and sidestones are still visible. Eight or nine centuries have not yet obliterated the traces of hammer and chisel, and the marks of horses' hoofs can still be seen on the stones. On these plains the oldest Parliament

ef the world was convened in 930 by people who had broken away from monarchical oppression in Norway. The Icelanders here formed a republic founded on the principle of individual rights and liberty. Reykjavik, the present capital of Iceland, is a modern city, beautifully situated, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is the present seat of the Icelandic Parliament and contains the University and the National Library, consisting of more than 100,000 printed volumes and 8,000 manuscripts; th® Museum and the Art Gallerv containing the wonderful works of the Known Icelandic sculptor Einar JowV son. So little has the language of country changed that the written practically 1,000 years ago oe read easily by the school ch of the present generation. The beautiful capital of the ■—, Land dates back to 874. for i; then that the pioneer settler in Iceland, Ingolfur Arnarson, built the first nous© on this romantic island. There is a modern harbour to the city an§ not more than three-quarters of • mile away the boiling underground current has been located. This, together with the visible hot springy is of sufficient strength to heat a city bigger than Reykjavik. Arrangement are now being made to utilise the cu?*' rent and springs for heating purpose*