PORT NATAL

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 276, 22 November 1890, Page 2

PORT NATAL

NOTES BY AN AUCKLANDER,

So many contradictory Recounts have boon f;iven as to the Htato of things at Port Natal, East Africa, that the following information, culled from a letter written by a young Aucklander recently arrived there, should prove of interest;—" When we Ciuno alongside the wharf," he says, '" the first thing I saw was hundreds of convicts, white and black, employed on rlio harbour works, unci guarded by Zulus armed with assegais. The place Reetned very busy. My people nearly walked themselves lame looking for a house, and found there had not boen such a thing known in tlio place ns a houeo to let for two years, co wo wore forced to take two rooms, of which the rent was £6 per month. Our house is at present in course of construction. Wβ are doing well, but could have done equally well in Now Zealand. The place is swarming with black labour. The white population of the place is 23,000. There are 500,000 Kaffirs and Zulus, 12,000 Indian Coolies, 5,000 St. Helenas, and about 1,000 Arabs and Chinese. The Coolies and Kaffirs are naked with the exception of an old military tunic. The Arabs ure the higher cast Hindoos from Bombay. They go in for trade, and dross themselves very picturesquely, being fond of bright colours and embroidery." Referring to newspaper work, the writer stiys he is employed permanently on the "Natal Mercury" as a compositor at £3 10s a week, and can always rely upon 10» or 20.* per week overtime. "Johannesburg, ,, he adde, "is very dull, but everybody seems really well ot)', keeping nigger servants, horses, carriages, etc., and everybody appears to live up to their means. Gas ia a thing unknown here, tHo place boing lighted with paraffin and electricity. They are ab presont- opening up immense coal mines. Living is a little dearer than in Auckland. Tobacco is cheap, clothes same as colonies, butter, 4s v pound. Fresh milk is nevor soon in Durban ; they all use tinned atufF. I would advise no one to como here. It's a placo money can bo made in, bub you would find it very different to the Australaeiau colonies. For my own part, I cannot eeo what keeps tlio place, but it's the only port on this coast, and everything for the interior must bo landed here. Every sorb of ruechanicul labourer prospers here, but never let any others attempt it." To cap writer winds up by expressing tho intention of himself und his rolativos to " clear out for the States as soon as possible."