DISTRESS ON THE RAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8022, 8 January 1906, Page 3

DISTRESS ON THE RAND.

The following letter, received from a man occupying a responsible position on an important Hand mine, was recently sent to the "Daily Chronicle" by a correspondent:— "The country is practically, in a state of de:' "-ition, which is the more eitraordiiv',, in that the output of gold on til'-- Band during the last few months has broken all previous records.! f'Tho importation of Chinese to this country has been an absolute failure, and a very expensive experiment, The old reason adduced—that enough native labour could not be obtained—was a mere bit of blarney. The supply has always been more than the demand, and at the present moment nearly all over the country the natives are starving owhg to tke shortage of water, which makes it impossible for them to cultivate their farms. Even granted a good supply of rain and a good sc.ison it will be six months before they feel any benefit from it. "In former years the remittance of mine coolies carried them over such times of stress. Now that there are over 45,000 Chinese on the Rand, it a world of difference, Thousands of Kaffirs, Changans, Besutos, and other natives were discharged to make room for them, Chinese cost more than six times as much as the natives in wages and food, and they are ten times m-.tre difficult to handle.

" It is almost laughable, were it not SO tr.i■;:■•, to see the way they are panilirrc i to, I don't know if you see much in the papers about our troubles with them, but they occur daily, " Only a short time ago there was a great plot among them to rise all over the Band and burn and massacre. ; Luckily the intent leaked out somehow, and the police (military), were in strength all over the reef. They were to start at midnight; however, forewarned was forearmed. As the stroke of midnight sounded, they all burst out of their quarter and made for the compound police, who at once sounded the alarm. The S.A.C. charged down from all sides, where they had been waiting in hiding. When the Chinese saw them they gave it up at once, and returned to their quarters. "Well, what was done? Nothing. The whole affair was hushed up. The authorities were too frightened to take, any severe measures. Do you think leniency appeals to these fellows ? No ---they will only wait for another occasion.