NEW ZEALANDER SPEAKS OF LIFE IN RHODESIA

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1947, Page 2

NEW ZEALANDER SPEAKS OF LIFE IN RHODESIA

A New Zealander who for ten years has lived in tlie township of Luanchya, uieaiiing ' ' vailey of death," in Northern lihodesia, arrived at Auckland by tlie Danish motor vcssel Relandia yesterday. ^ ILa ia Mr. A. B. llayivard, for1 uier'fy sanitar'y engiiieer for .tlie lioah Antelope Copper Mines in Northcrn Rliodesia, who is going to settle at Ashhurst, near Palmerston North, wliere he has bought a busiuess. llis vife and two children are aecoiupaiiying liim. About 40 New Zealanders lived in the neighbourhood of Luanchya, calied the "vailey of death" by the natives because its large tracts of swamps had been a breetling grouiul for millions of deadly nialaria-carrying mosquitoes, said Mr. Hayward. The danger of inhabitants contracting the disease had reccded since a drainage sclieme was underlaken aboiit 15 years ago. Although they were so far from home tlie New Zealanders and Australians in tlie district — who togother numbered ubout 81) — always foregatlicred to cele brale Anzae Day on April 25. The New Zealanders were from all paris of the Dominion from Auckland to Invercargill and they were tliought a lot of by their emplovers. Mr. Hayward said the output of New Zealand workiuen employed in the eopper mjncs was considerably greater than that of Routli Africans, who as a rule were spoiled l'rom au early age through being waiteti on by native servauts. The. maiiager of the mines stated that if he had another 200 New Zealanders he would be able to do witliout the rest of the staif, which consistod of 1200 Europeans. Eloin 300 to 400 tons of copper were produced daily. • The Government supplied the rnine cmplovees witli excellent liouses, completo with eleclric light, sewerage and frcsli water, in spitc of the faot that Luanchya was about 850 miles away from Bulawayo, the nearest big ceutre. It was uot a white man's country, but it was attractive to siugle meu who came with the idea of accummulating a few pounds and tlien getting out. During his stay in lihodesia, contiuued Mr. Hayward, he made big game, hunting his liobby and he had sliot specimcns of almost every kind of animal in Routh Africa, with the exeeption of zebras and rhinoceros. Hunters obtained game permits from the Northern llliodesian Government at a cost of £20 entitling them to slioot 60 liead of game, including one elephant and one hippopotamus. For every elejiliant shot over and above the first they were required to pay £5. Among the hunt boys hired in the villages were native deteetives who reported hunters exceeding the limit to the autliorities. In spite of the cost of the licence, liig game hunting was a prolitable pastime. Ivory today was worth £1 per lb and there. was 801b on the average elephant. A hippopotamus^yielded 24 gallons of fat, which was excellent for eooking and was worth 30s a 4-gallon tin. In addition the liides brought as much as £10 each. There was a keen demand from Ohina for rhinoceros horns which were used for medicinal purposes.