BOERS IN AMERICA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1969, 3 January 1907, Page 4

BOERS IN AMERICA

’ In an article in the Now York Evening Post it is pointed cut that quite a number of Boers have mad e America tlieir homo. It seems, however, _ that attempts at organised ; colonisation have been more oFless'u ' failure, and that where 1 lie Boer is doing well it is as an ordinary worker among Americans. The dos ; re on the part of many Boers at tlio oul of the war to leave South Airier was exploited freely by unscrupulius agents, lilowing accounts were supplied of lauds beyond the seas suit-dee for colonisation. There was one auiortunato expedition to German West Africa, and a disastrous emigration to the Argentine. Two men arranged with the Argentine Government to gcj, holdings for Boer immigrants in Die I rovinee of Cliubut, and by specious promises induced a number ol Boers to leave Cape Colony and tlio Traiisvaai; some of these had been well-to-do, and sold all their belongings to join tlie party. On their arrival in the Argentine they found Cliubut to bp one of flip most upfortilp (sections in the whole country; in summer the weather was so iiot as to dry up everything, whilp sjiow made it impossible to work in winter. Tile laiiu had previously been offered to Welsh and Cel-mail immigrants, upd had ruined them all. Some of tlio disillusioned Boors returned to South Africa while others are still in the Argentine, waiting their chance. ExGenerals Snymeu and Viljoen started a colony in Mexico, land being obI from the Mexican Govenimeiiv under special conditions hut the leaders quarrelled,' and'"Viijoeii lp% \yitf) halt a dozen families and founcfed an opposition colony in New Mexico. About the original colony there are contradictory reports, but the smaller one is said to be in a state ", disruption. But tlio individual Boeis are said to bo doing well in America, and showing a great adaptalnhty t<) pew conditions. These include several leaders in the • aiupaigu, all oi whom have taken one naturalisutton papers. Tlio company who, under Croiijc, gave exhibit'ons at St Louis, came to grief afterwards, and had to shift for themselves. ‘'There was, however, no wailing and unuew;t1 a ’T , bolllo:ulll . 1 g of their fate, hut with determination and c.-//ih- the, sought and obtained employment in various callings, and though now-sc-attered throughout the various and* the 11 , ° fc °“V S out of .employment, cUjt] the majority are doing weil.” I