NOTES BY AN EX-RESIDENT OF NATAL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12477, 12 April 1906, Page 7

NOTES BY AN EX-RESIDENT OF NATAL.

An ex-resident of Natal, writing to in the Gameru "Mail," says the*, to meet New Zealanders the arbitrary shooting of native rebels, without civil trial, will appear repugnant, but it ie the favourite method in euoh oases with the South African authorities. After the second Matabele war many euch executions took place, and not a single voice will be raiaed in Na-tel against euch summary jurisdiction. Oh the contrary, there was a howt throughout tie entire colony when Lord Elgin interfered, as, of course, he was perfectly entitled to do. In considering this question, those who do not know South Africa would be wise to reserve their estimate of the colonists, whom it is impossible to judge by New Zealand standards. Almost the firs* thing one hears on landing at Capetown or Durban ie that South Africa is the " last country God made, and that He forgot to finish it." 13ns ie an irreverent way of expressing the fact that tracts of the Continent are essentially a black man's country, and ever will be in the main. It has elways been more or less a 6truggle for existence, or to retain possession, whether for Briton or Boer, Dutch or Portuguese, and the whites have borrowed from the native population barbarities which are now part and parcel of the system of government of the blacks.

The suppression of iho rising in Natal is in good bands. When Colonel "Jack" Dartnill, commaiiding the Natal Police, earned a Major-General-ship in the 13oer war, end retired from the force, he left behind him good men an all ranks, and the Natal Police are to-day es emart a body of troops as oan be found in the Empire. True, there are only a few hundred of them, but 20,000 regulars and a large number of local' militia will be available as well to cope with the outbreak. Natal is a country of quick changes. The Berea, the beautiful residential quarter of Durban, was, 50 years ago, occupied by elephants, and in a few years small places like Umsinga, Greytown, Ixopo, etc., will be connected with the capital and with each other by rail, when the natives will be powerless to giye even a little trouble. And the present outbreak could not have occurred but for the almost criminal blindness which the authorities have exhibited to what lias been going on under their very eyes—the police. British history, Home and colonial, is a succession of such mistakes, which apparently teach the authorities nothing. But, if our race errs on the side of kindness in dealing

with the native races, it is a policy which pays better, though it costs more, than tibe reign of terror which marks the colonial government of almost every other Power under the sun.