South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 11 December 1902, Page 2

South Africa.

DROUGHT IN ORANGE.RIVER

COLONY,

Drought in the Orange River Colony is causing great concern. The farmers are unable to plough the hard land. It is almost certain that the Government will be - compelled to feed the people and maintain relief works for another year.

RELIEE FUNDS

Lord Milner, at Bloemfontein, informed the burghers that all receipts would be honoured, though compensation would not be paid for stock destroyed. ' The three millions, he said, would be distributed among sufferers by the war pro rata.

LORD MILNER’S WORK,

Lord Milner’s energy surprises the burghers. He rides on horseback forty and fifty miles a day in

the blazing sun, changing horses every ten miles, and works for hours at camp in the evening. His anxiety for their welfare greatly impresses them. LABOUR PROBLEMS.

The Premier {Sir Gordon Sprigg) announced that the Italian authorities are considering a scheme recently laid before them for the importation of Italian labour into Cape Colony for horticultural purposes. Sir J. P. Fitzpatrick declares that the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines denies that the leaders of the Rand have any intention of checking the mining industry owing to coming taxation. Lord Milner found the burghers in Eastern Orange Colony satisfied with the arrangements made to teach Dutch. Few objections were raised to English being made the medium for instruction, parents are anxious for their children to learn English, IRRIGATION WORKS.

The Government of Orange River Colony is constructing an irrigation canal twelve miles long at Parys. The work affords employment to 600 “ bywoners,’’ or landless Boers.