FIELDS. Letters From a ThamesHc.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 4

FIELDS. Letters From a ThamesHc.

Thamls, Aug. 23. Mh H. C, Lawlok, who left the Thames some time ago en 'ionic to the South African goldfields, writes as follows from Durban, Port Natal, where he had armed from Mauritius on 3rd June :— " The party consisted of 30 from the Australian colonies, who left Fort Louis on 21st May, touching at Tamatave (Madagascar) on the 24th. 1 did not go ashore at Tauatave, the harbour of which is protected by a coral reef. We saw the wreck of a French man-of-war that was cairied up on the beach inside the harbour by a typhoon. The French scum to be in occupation of only a small pait of the inland of Madagascar, afttn all the eos.t in money and lives which ha\e been expended in their campaign. It. Kan immense it-lond, a<« it took us tour days' coasting to get dear of it. Theie are millions of acres of i oiling country, apparently arable land. The population is about five millions, and the nathcb mine for gold in a small way for the (lovcmmcnt, but no white man is allowed to do so ; some who ha\ c ti ied Inning, it is said been poisoned. Thoie h a gieat diffeionee of opinion at Duiban as to which is the best route to Barboiton. The Ladyship route i^ not at present practicable, it being the winter season, as the frosts destroy the grass &c. The Delasroa Bay ioute is said Lo be the shortest and the cheapest. The new & from the gold Held is very conflicting. Speculation has been running not, little real work having been done, and consequently the returns have been small. Nothing but systematic working will put things light, and bring about a better state ot aflaiis. James Russell and I were looking at tome machinery that is now heieon its way to the fields, and weie very much surprised to see such primitive-looking arrangements as they aie sending out from Home. If they have not better and lighter machinery on the field, thcie would be a good opening for Price Bros, and Judd to send over some of the modem gold-saving appliances. . . June sth. Weauived at Ladysmith to-day-- John Houston, Tom Ritchie, Thomas Dodd, and myself. The repoits aie so contiadictory that it is impossible to give any advice to any who might wish to follow us from the Thames till we see for ourselves. The route by Mauritius is not advisable now, as tii 3 subsidy hat (.Icon taken off the steamer, and only ocea-ional «teameis take a inn across. \\ o are starting for Barberton to-monow. The weather is awfully cold, there having been some \eiy se\eie frosts." Another letter, dated July 10th, states as follows :—": — " I am now at Moodie's, about 7 miles from Barberton. I got a letter of introduction fiom Alex. Smith to J. Crampton, who some ten years was employed at the Kuranui batteiy, Thames, and who is now manager and a large shareholder in the Union CJ.M. Co., Hoodie's. Hewn? full-handed when I arrived, but made an opening for me, as he pi ef erred our New Zealand style of treating of the ore to the rough manner usually adopted here. There is a great ' set ' getting up against Aui-tialasians in general, as the people heie have had so little chance of knowing or learning anything about mining. They, of couise, are in the great majority, while the Australasians, though few in number, seem to be holding their own fairly. William Johnstone and John Moore got jobs first, as they came part of the way on the coach. I got work just a week after my ariival ; then John Houston, Thomas Ritchie, and Thomas Dodd leceived employment, all at Moodie's. James Russell is prospecting somewhere. We are all in good health, and rind the climate veiy agreeable. The field is in a very depressed state just now, and the people looking for work are numerous. Mosb of the mining is done by Kaffirs, with a European as foreman over each shift. Their wages are 30s a month, and three pints of " mealie meal ' (ground maize) per day. I am only getting Ll4 a month. Mr Crampton said he was ashamed to offer me so little, but the very great expenses he had been put to prevented him from giving more. I of course accepted the offer in the meantime, thouch it seems a great •come down' from my last job at L2O a month. Provisions aie veiy dear here, the 21b loaf being Is, potatoes 6d per pound, and beef 8d a pound. The Union Co.'c battery ie only ten head of Btampera, five of which are working. It is diiven by a Pelton wheel, with a fall of 700 or 800 feet ; aj| inch nozzle drives the live head. The whole of the management, directorate., appears to be at Natal, Port Elizabeth, and other places, only managers and servants heing on the fields."