SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 May 1901, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Hu£e Profits in the Meat Trade

Capetown, March 3,

It has been and is very difficult to obtain any reliable information on the subject of the trade and market prices of Now Zealand produce, hence it has not been referred to of late by me. The reason that the question was so close a one sot me thinking, and the opinions I held have been crowned with proof. It wiil bo remembered that on more than one occasion I have ventured the opinion that a good opening awaited New Zealand in this country if the producers would take command of the opportunity and secure a direct representation here. The information now before me convinces me that I was right. The South African Supply and Cold Storage Company is a concern dealing almost exclusively with frozen goods, and was formed in July, 1899, to take over a local business of some magnitude, with a capital of £502,350. The result of eleven and a half months working has fallen into my hands, and discloses a state of affairs which makes me wonder whether the consumer or the producer suffers the greater at the hands of the corporation. Perhaps both are bled equally; in any case, for a concern to turn out a profit of £432,684 17s 3d, equal to more than 20 per cent., in that short period indicates what a profitable business awaits a similar enterprise by direct trading. Presumably the stock market at end obtained its standard prices, and that being so it points to the possibility of a grand opening existing here, even if competition brought prices down a good many points. This company, after placing to reserve a quarter of a million and disposing of the balance of £363,422 in other ways, paid its shareholders a dividend of 45 per cent, in less than twelve months’ working. The Chairman, in placing this glowing state of affairs before the shareholders, referred to the presence of a large army in thy country, and said—“ We have, of course, realised a certain amount of profit from the supply of the troops, but I have not the slightest hesitation in assuring you that, if not a single additional soldier had been sent to South Africa, the terms of our prospectus, upon which your money was invited, would have been more than confirmed, and a handsome profit would have been yours. ” This company holds a monopoly of Delagoa Bay, but up to the date of the report and accounts that had not been worked, so that the result attained was assured in a free market, where any other combination is free to operate. The Peace Negotiations. In my last I mentioned, I think, that the High Commissioner had left Capetown, having relinquished the Governorship of the Cape Colony for that of the two new colonies. Practically, his early and somewhat hurried departure was made for the purpose of receiving the submission or surrender of General Botha —a matter of considerable importance, as such an event would have terminated any official opposition to us, and must necessarily have brought the other commandants, including De Wot, to their knees. Although very little information in the matter was allowed to leak through there is no doubt that the interview between Lord Kitchener and General Botha did bear promise of fruit at the time, but eventually it became a case of “as you were,” owing to the condition laid down by the Boer commandant. General Botha, it appears, offered to throw up the sponge if a guarantee were given granting freedom to Kruger and Kteyn, and promising that nothing would bo done against the rebels at present in the field. Nothing but an unconditional surrender was acceptable to m, and consequently the indaba was resultless. Progress Slow, but Sura. The war runs its weary way, the Boers hanging on to a task which every prisoner taken without exception acknowledges to be fruitless, viewed from their standpoint. That they are getting their fill of fighting is evident from thie fact that the total known Boor losses 'for February amounts to 160 killed and over 1000 prisoners and surrendered men, while the estimate is that 560 men, were kjilled and wounded. As gathered from the figures, the greater portion of these Boer losses is due to General French’s operations in Eastern Transvaal. De Wet kept Moving. Do W r et is said to have about 500 men with him, and is stated to be deranged in mind—the effect of the great trials and privations ho has undergone through many months. He has absolutely no rest under the new order of things. Lord Kitchener has arranged that each command shall cover a certain district, and as De Wet enters each he is pressed and passed on, so that he is continually harassed by fresh troops. Practically no fighting is taking place in the Orange River Colony, but wo don’t appear to make very big progress. It is certain, however, that the Boors cannot stand their continual losses; indeed, there arc several companys fighting for us composed entirely of surrendered Boers. In connection with the wrecking of a train and loss of five lives near Tadibosch Siding, three rebels were tried for high treason and murder, and sentenced by courtmartial to death. The sentence has been carried out, and two others concerned were sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.

The Plague.

Tho plague is still with us, and that in a virulent form. If we get out of it with comparative lightness it wiM be something in tho shape of a marvel. One of tho experts described Capetown as the dirtiest capital in tho British Empire, and it seems it really is a dirty one within the knowledge of the Sanitary Department of the Corporation. There would be something ludicrous in that fact if it wore not for the pathos of it. Tho other day the new Governor (Sir Walter Hely-Hutchi-son) wished to look round the town for himself, and desired to view tho dirtiest spots, and, ye gods! tho man of all men chosen to point them out was the chief of tho sanitary department. Most of tho Kaffirs have been taken out of town to a location specially built, aod since their removal tho number of daily cases has fallen. Still it appears to have got a good grip on tho place, and a fairly large proportion of Europeans have been attacked; we are in a bad way.