West Coaster at Johannesberg.

Manawatu Herald, 30 November 1895, Page 3

West Coaster at Johannesberg.

A Westland paper publishes a latter written from Johannesberg by Mr W. Foster, who left the Coast in company with Mr W. Bnseell. Their first experience after arriving at the Gape was being called upon to pay 8&d on every pound over 251 b of luggage that they were taking per train to Johannesberg. Along the route, which occupied three days and nights, 2s 6d a meal was charged. He describes the road as a sandy waste, and says that he has not seen a tree or any signs of vegetation since he left New Zealand. Johannesberg is a very good place for tradesmen of all kinds. Russell, who is a carpenter, got work immediately at £1 a day, and bricklayers get from £1 2* 6d to £1 5s a day. Buildings are being erected everywhere, and a, section just large enough to build- a cottage on costs At leaat £200. The boom that at present prevails can be more easily oomprehended when it is understood that twelve months ago plenty of seotions could be had for £20 or £80. J. Quinn, late of Brunner, is worklog in a store for £17 a month, but the writer arid M'Cabe, who are ordinary labourers, have done nothing, and see no chance of doing anything. All the common labour is done by Kaffirs— thousands of whom are employed in the mines, and in one mfrie- over' "2ooo' are^^ employed. he is an expert a white has no chance of getting in. the mines, where alh the machinery is of the latest style* The dust is something terrible, and the day of writing it was so bad that all the shops were closed. It is not safe to walk the ! streets without a six shooter, and it is no unusual sight to see the police march 100 or more to court in the morning : as 1 a result of the previous night's depredations. A second letter says that a great Stream of people is continuously pouringjnto i Johannesberg, and it is impossible to see how they are to be kept from starvation. With the exception of the Dutch, all the labour is in the banoVo! the Kaffirs, who get from 17s 6d to £1 a week and tucker, which consists of Indian corn and" ebßte about 4s a week. Since leaving New Zealand the writer did not even get a good drink of water, 'and on the road from Gapetown they were charged 6d for havingawtißT lv Johannesberg water id very scarce, and has to be strained before being used even for washing. It is almost jmpqgsible to get drinking water, as there has been no rain fromJqße tojipw, (flOtu. Qoto*

b«). Fever and other sickness is prevalent, probably brought on to a great extent by the bad water, which resembles oil, it is so thick. Living is very dear. It oosts £1 10s a week to provide the merest necessaries, besides which it oosts 10a a week for a bed, paid in advance, and hard to get one at that price. The following are samples of charges for the various item 3: —Cabbages (size of a mug), la ; potatoes, 3d per lb ; turnips, 8d per lb ; eggs, 8d dozen ; oranges, 4d each ; apples, 6d each ; beef 8d and bacon 8s per lb. Everything else is at similar high prices.