DR CARL PETERS ON RHODESIA.

North Otago Times, 21 October 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

DR CARL PETERS ON RHODESIA.

After a prolonged visit to Rhodesia Dr Carl Peters, tho well-known German explorer recently said "I have been closely examining Rhodesia 011 its mining and agricultural prospects. While I find that tho mining prospects arc much tetter than many people have thought—for instance, thoro are traces of tin all over north-east Mashonaland and at the saino time largo copper deposits—l do not think much of the agricultural prospects, for tho reason that the soil is everywhere very thin. Generally speaking after C to 8 inches you .get to bed-rock. Of course, there are exceptions. There are alluvial deposits in river valleys or in plains, but tlioy aro very rare, and I am sorry to say that I do not believe there will be a great agricultural opening, As things stand at present Ido not believe in cattle thriving there at all, Until science has been able to overcome such diseases as rinderpest I cannot advise anybody to invest money in agriculture or cattle-breeding. "But, I think Rhodesia will liavo a groat future as a timber country, particularly if the Chartered Company adopts something of the German stylo of afforesting, At present- they do nothing, but if they had a good German forester I should say that in 20 or 30 year Rhodesia could bo mado the great timber-producing country ol South Africa, Tho climate is tho best in tho world—far better than tho European climate, while the country is also well watorod much better than tho Transvaal or Orange River Colony, "This negattvo view holds gcod also with regard to tho Transvaal and Orango River Colony. Rhodesia, however, possesses a vast amount of waterpower for locomotion and for working machinery. Tho rivers run very swiftly. Tho Masssoe is full of cataracts and rapids, and contains about six limes as much water as the Thames at Richmond. That means a lot of power for tho opening up of Northern Rhodesia. "Rhodesia, therefore, taking it altogether, will be a country mainly of miners, and as the mining properties there aro really small concerns it will give employment for small capitalists who could settle down. That copper, tin, diamonds, perhaps also rubies, and other precious stones, will mean it great deal for the future of the country indeed is the essential feature of tho future, There is limber in a great many spots, and also agriculture where the soil is deep. Fo' instance, there is a good patch of ground north of Salisbury, and as Rhodesia is really a white man's country ire may expect, not the development that we find in California, or in the Eastern States of America, but rather lot me say the development which lias occurred in parts of Australia. Anyway we may anticipate quite as good a development as we are looking forward to in the Transvaal. "Of course, the development of Rhodesia would materially bo accelerated if tho British Government would take over the country, The administration of tho Chartered Company is very god as far as it goes, but as it is a shareholders' company it must squeeze all tho expenses of the administration out of the settlers, Therefore, import duties, railway tariffs, etc., are tremendously high, and that hampers the sound development of the country. I do not seo how a shareholders' company can administer in modern times any countr.i at all; cither tho shareholders or the settlers suffer. I found the Mining Department of the Chartered Company as liberal and broadminded as I could wish, while tho Chartered Company has also organised tho natives splendidly. The natives aro in very good control. You can travel as safely from Salisbury to Maw,oo as you can travel from London to Rochester. Labour also is provided 011 quite reasonable terms, I must personally particularly praise the Native Commissioner of Mreiva, Mr Edwards, who is an excellent cxamplo of a good native administrator, and lias Im district in perfect order."