Page 58 - Bulletin 8 2004

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Mr. Rhodes, who was received with great cordiality, said he thanked them very
much for the manner in which the Mayor had proposed the health of the Ministry, but
he could not help thinking that they owed a kindly expression of thanks to the late
Ministry, by whom that line was undoubtedly undertaken and constructed. (Hear, Hear.)
He might perhaps add that it was done with the almost unanimous support of the Cape
Parliament. It had been their pleasing duty to open the line, but he must remind them
that the conception and the carrying out of the railway was due to the members of the
late Ministry, whom he felt sure they would join with him in thanking. (Cheers.) If he
should express to them what he thought should be the system of the government of
Sough Africa, it would be that there should be the most entire support of the system of
self-government, with, at the same time, the most cordial support of the members of Her
Majesty’s Government. (Cheers.) If there were one place in this land where he felt that
that had been thoroughly and entirely carried out it was the community of Simon’s
Town. Then, again, it was their duty as politicians, without abandoning the Cape
Colony’s position as the premier State of South Africa, to cultivate in every way the
most kindly relations with the neighbouring republics. In these three sentiments were
combined the duties of government in this land. It had been his recreation, and perhaps
his pleasure, for the last two months, to be wandering in the – he would not say deserts
– but in the unknown countries to the north. He thought it was the privilege of a
Minister to claim a holiday after four months of Parliament, and the holiday he had
claimed was the opportunity to go himself and inspect the unknown countries to the
north. Without expressing too sanguine an expectation, he could assure them that in
future that land would form a home and an occupation for our young people. (Cheers.)
It might come slowly, but he was confident, with regard to the undertaking he was
personally pledged to, that the Cape Colony would one day reap a bright reward. On his
return journey he had the good fortune to visit the President of a neighbouring Republic,
by whom he was greeted most kindly, and with whom he had a long and interesting
conversation regarding various questions mutually interesting – the Transvaal and the
Cape Colony – and he might state that they parted on the most friendly terms. (Cheers)
It was their pleasing duty that day to be celebrating the opening of the line to Simon’s
Town, but he could not forget that at the same time they were opening their line to the
north. The one was developing new land and new enterprise for our people, and
providing a home and an occupation in the future for some of those in the overcrowded
portion of the Colony. At the same time they were opening one internal railway, which
would develop one of the most beautiful parts of the Cape Peninsula. He felt bound to
say that the late Government did a great deal to develop the beauties of the Peninsula,
recognising that it was the seat of their Government, and that it was also the spot where
settled down those fortunate individuals who had been successful in amassing wealth by
exploiting the interior. The successful speculator nearly always came back to the
suburbs of Cape Town to spend his wealth, and, he thought, wisely. It was perhaps
better to do that than to hustle off to some place like Wimbledon, there to pass an
existence uneventful save for summer retreat to the sands of Margate. (Laughter.) Men
were doing better now, because they were recognising that in that chosen spot, the Cape
Peninsula, they had an unexampled climate, marvellous mountain scenery, the most
pleasant suburbs, and the most interesting watering places. In opening that railway they
were placing one more chosen spot within the reach of the citizens of Cape Town, and
also developing the wealth and the enterprise of the People of Simon’s Town. (Cheers.)