SOUTH AFRICA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 113, 7 April 1870, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA.

The " Grey Eiver Argus " publishes the following extract from a letter received by a gentleman in Gfreymouth from Natal: —

Gflenara, Estcourt,

Natal, Oct. 17th, 1869. Some time ago, I had a letter from my brother desiring me to write yon about the South African Groldfields. I send you a newspaper per present mail, by which you will gain some information, and can form your own opinion.

For my part, I have no faith in what is reported in the newspapers, as I believe all the favourable reports find their way into print at the instigation of interested parties and land speculators. Two or three vessels arrived here from Australia with diggers and prospecting parties ; but the most of them immediately returned, so that does not look well. Should anything turn up, I will not fail to apprise you.

Things at present look rather dark, G-overnment spending at the rate of about £30,000 per annum more than the income of the colony. We are just getting over a crisis, caused by land speculators, kite-flying, and fictitious trading ; but I think things are now come to a level, and I trust that affairs will improve. When I came here eight years ago, oxen were fetching £10 to £82, now £3 to £4 ; sheep were worth 20s. to 255., now ss. to 10s. ; a good horse you would have to pay £25 to £40 for, now they are a drug; everything else in proportion. Sheep have got a fair trial in Natal, but they don't do well, except in particular and isolated spots. My partner (a Mr. Whyte, who has now gone to New Zealand) and I commenced with 800 young ewes, kept them with every care and attention for five years, and all we could sell then was 1100, having only sold about 50, and killed a few for our own use. lam now giving them up altogether. Tou can buy land at present suitable for grazing purposes and agriculture on a small scale for Is' per acre — I mean without any buildings and improvements. I bought a farm of 2500 acres the other day for £550. I could not erect the buildings on the place for the money. There are about 250,000 natives to 18,000 or 20,000 Europeans at present in the colony, and the disproportion annually increasing. They are at present quiet, and the general opinion is, they are likely to remain so ; but this is a subject upon which I cannot express a decided opinion of my own.

With the above number of natives it is very difficult to get labour, especially of a reliable kind. Wages are ss. to 10s. per month for ordinary Kaffirs, and 20s. to 30s. per month for waggon drivers. Their food is entirely what we call mealie meal, or Indian corn meal, which is generally very cheap, say \d. per lb., of which a Kaffir gets 3 lbs. per diem, so that a Kaffir's food costs about 4s. per month, Lis wages about 75., and I consider even at that it is dear labour.