THE EXODOUS TO SOUTH AFRICA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2296, 27 July 1880, Page 3

THE EXODOUS TO SOUTH AFRICA.

South Africa as a field for settlement continues to engross a large amount of attention. On Saturday night a meeting of intending emigrants was held in Dunedin. Mr Isaac Canning occupied the chair, and there were about 10 present. The Chairman, who was at the Cape in 1850 and remained there for four years, spoke in favorable terms of the Colony and its climate. During his stay there he employed th e natives « deal, ancr louncf tnem good workers whom he could trust. Mi Thompson stated that he was at the Cape in 18C2. A drawback to the place at that time was the disposition of the natives to do whatever they liked. No matter what treatment the received from their employers they would go home to “ see their mother every three months, oftentimes travelling long distances to accomplish their object. When he first arrived a Kaffir would walk in the middle of the road and touch his haute a European, but before he (Mr Thompson) left, a native, on account probably of the influence of the missionaries, would jostle anyone off the footpath. The country was a healthy one and had been the means of the’recovery of several invalids who had gone there. The chief article of food produced was mealy meal, which was very nutritous. The rate of wages for natives was Is per day. Europeans were working for 2s bd a day in 1866, and skilled labor commanded Ss per day. Carpenters working in the country could obtain 10s or 12s a day. All flour was imported, attempts to grow wheat rn Durban have failed. Among the drasvbacks of the country were the disease know n as “Natal sores,” and the existence of locusts, mosquitoes, snakes,, frogs and crickets.

The speaker was satisfied that any man with colonial experience willing to woik. could get on in the country. It was decided by those present to form a committee t.) obtain information regarding the ininducements the Government of Natal would offer to emigrants from Dunedin, and other matters concerning the country an 1 to again meet in the course of a week or so.