THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1908. THE RESTLESS BOER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9151, 25 July 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1908. THE RESTLESS BOER.

Time and the march of civilisation have not eradicated the restlessness of a section of the Boers. It is stated that some 3,ooo'Boers have left the Transvaal during the past three years in search of more congenial lands, and further expeditions ai*e contemplated. The Transvaal Government and the Frogs are reported lo be greatly alarmed, and are doing what they can to discourage these expeditions. The settlement in the Argentine in 1905 of a number of discontented Boers has been a failure, and letters received from the colonists are depressing reading. The emigrants were quite ignorant of the conditions of the country, and their desire to move about from place to place, their dislike of manual work, and the absence of native labour, resulted in disaster. A more ambitious project was a trek to Angola, Portuguese territory, and is reported to have been a success. The Portuguese authorities wished to levy taxes, but the newcomers declined, and the fov-

tuguese were powerless against 800 rifles in wild country. Another trek to an oasis in the Kalahari, for the purpose of forming a communistic settlement, failed because of the climate and dissensions among the leaders. Parties-of Boers have gone north to British East Africa and German East Africa, and small parties are going through to remote uplands in Rhodesia, where the men may live anJ shoot in peace, without coming into contact with the hated Indian coolie. This exodus of Boers is declared t) be no leflection on the Government. The v.4Jt Doer hates the bustle of civilisation as much as he hates work. Many a man from the vel.lt has be>in hanging round the towns since the war, living from hand to mouth, and waiting for his compensation. As soon as he gets it he buys an outfit and departs for the virgin veldt.