Early days - 1906 Lord Selborne (the high commissioner) visited Rhodesia
In February 1906 Lord Selborne (the high
commissioner) visited Rhodesia. He inquired into the various grievances
of the settlers against the Chartered Company; held an indaba with
Matabele indunas in the Matoppo Hills, and at Bulawayo had a conference
with Lewanika, the paramount chief of the Barotse.
In the following year the Selborne Memorandum
was published, advocating integration of Rhodesia into a British-led
South Africa. What had been Seventh Avenue was changed to Selborne for
the occasion.
Discontent with the Chartered Company
Government had been growing stronger and the visit of Lord Selborne, the
British High Commissioner, provided the people with an opportunity for
airing their grievances. When his train arrived at 8.30 a.m. the
Southern Rhodesia Volunteers under Capt. Boggie formed a guard of
honour. Lord Selborne and his wife were driven in a motor car to the
Court House via Livingstone Avenue which had been colourfully decorated
with streamers, overhead and between the gum trees. At the Court House
P. G. Smith presented the large Reception Committee before Grace Hurrell
presented Lady Selborne with a bouquet. Lord Selborne met many
deputations throughout the morning and afternoon. At a banquet that
night, the High Commissioner made a long speech and the dinner finished
at 11 p.m. The Police had engaged an extra 300 natives to hold burning
torches, lighting the route for the visitors to the station on their
departure after the banquet. Nothing was recorded of the outcome of the
deputations.
The Selborne Hotel was originally built in the
1930’s on Selborne Ave, Bulawayo and is one of the oldest hotels still
in business.
