OTAGO MAN IN MADAGASCAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 155, 29 December 1911, Page 2

OTAGO MAN IN MADAGASCAR

KICII MINERAL COUNTRY. London, November 18. Mr. G. Henry Carroll, of Alexandra South (Central Otago), is another roving New Zealander who is keeping alive the British tradition for exploration and enterprise. He is the only New Zealander in Madagascar, the little-known island oft" the south-east coast of Africa, where he has obtained valuable petroleum and gold-dredging concessions from the French Government. Interviewed in Bedford Place this week, Mr. Carroll said that he left New Zealand at the end of the Boer war, and> visited Australia and South Africa in connection with gold-dredging. From the Cape he pushed up to Madagascar, and, finding it a rich country, he settled there. He reached London a few days ago on a business visit, and is hopeful that he may find it possible to return to Otago for a short holiday before going baek to Madagascar, but this depends entirely on circumstances. He says the country is exceedingly rich in minerals and petroleum, and the French Government gives a ready welcome to any foreigner with a bona fide business proposition for the development of the island. Unfortunately there are, however, a large number of French companies, whose officials are not disposed to look so favorably on foreigners. The island is 1000 miles long by 400 broad. The climate in the interior is healthy,' while on the coast it cannot be considered bad, certainly not so depressing as that of sonic other tropical countries. This is largely due to the two breezes which blow from the east and west.

The east coast is well wooded, and the natives made some fine furniture from this wood. On the west coast there are only continuous patches of woodland, but those contain a good deal of ebony.

There are three million natives of Malayan appearance. They have a special dress and a mode of life not found in any other part of the world. They are good workers and are docile. The white people number under 10,000. Antananarivo, the capital, is very French in style, and contains a line opera house and cafes, and a large number of officials.