A TROOPER'S LETTER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10757, 10 September 1900, Page 5

A TROOPER'S LETTER.

A letter has been received from Trooper Herbert Collins, dated from Pretoria, July 18th, from which the following extracts are taken:—"Some sixty New Zealanders, amongst whom was your humble servant, joined the Transvaal Constabulary in Pretoria about a month ago. Martial law is in full swing here, and everybody has to be indoora at 7 p.m., except soldiers on duty. The girls here are a very poor sort, sour faced, unattractive looking, fat, and unhealthy ; in fact, when you see a nice looking girl, as you do occasionally, in some of the towns, you keep your eyes on her till she is lost to sight, and feel inclined , to bless her for being so good as to allow you to look at her. Everything in this part of the world is frightfully expensive. Saesagea (or things called by that name) are Is 6d per lb, and "oranges three for Is, and this in a country where oranges grpw in abundance. My present intentions are to stay in this country for a year or two, and try my luck, as I believe there is plenty of money to be made here. lam at present liviag in the Government Buildings (not the gaol). Some of the New Zealanders are living in the gaol as warders, and a very good job it is—los.per day. There are twenty-tliree other, fellows living with mc from different rexime&te;

some are Imperial Yeomanry men, ami rery nice fellows some of them are..