SOUTH AFRICAN GOLDFIELDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3358, 10 July 1890, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN GOLDFIELDS.

Those who. may bo seeking " fresh fields and pastures new," should read the following extract from a private letter received from Natal, South Africa, by an old colonist toarclativo now residing in Auckland' :-"I would strongly advise you to give up all idea of leaving Now Zealand for here at preseut. The gold Gelds in Sooth Africa aro very different to what the Australian diggings were in the earlier days. In Australia the 'gold was found with'oWtouchlabor. In Africa it is only in the quartz, *and the average find in a ton of quartz (wbioh is about a cart-load) and has to.be then crushed, ground, and sifted very fine, then washed; and after all their labor on it, if they can only realise about two ounces 'of gold- it is as much as they can oxpect and do not grumble. I ira informed tbat the pioneers who went to Barberton and Johannesberg, were very sanguine , anibuilt a large town in each place, Jfir' we have| heard lately that there is much distress and want of employment in both towns. When it was explained to me that the cost and labor of obtaining about 2oz of qold was more than the precious metal would realise, I felt thankful I had not advised you to return.and try your luok here. ' People withou means should not attempt to corot here, as most of the subordinate labor is performed by natives, who flook here from all parts, and Indians also who have been long omiciled in Natal."