THE CAPE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10044, 3 February 1896, Page 5

THE CAPE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. INTERESTING INTERVIEW, THE TRANSVAAL DIFFICULTY. I "OUR CON FEDERATED SOUTH | AFRICA." By thes.s. Gletielg on Saturday Mr. Walter j Halse and Mr, J. D. J. Visser, Commissioners appointed by the Cape of Good Hope Government to report upon the agriculture of Australasia, arrived in Auokland, having | travelled overland from Wellington to New Plymouth, and thence by the steamer named. The Commissioners have been pursuing their investigations in Australia since about the middle of October, since when they 'have travelled 10,000 miles. They intend devoting three weeks to New Zoalami, a week- to Tasmania, and then return to the Cape. After their arrival Mr. Halse was seen by a Herald representative. AGRICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS. " Our object in visiting Australasia," said Mr. Halse in response to an interrogation, "is to enquire into the methods of agriculture pursued hero, more particularly to ascertain what you do in the cultivation of cereals. In this part of the world you are able to grow these much cheaper than we have been able to at the Cape, where, in the past, we have consequently been dependent in a lnrce measure upon Australia for our grain supplies, No, wo have had none from New Zealand, but we have been taking about f400,000 worth of cereals a year from Australia." "That would not be the full extent of your market?" " No. But we want to prevent there being any market for Australia or anywhere else, ana I think we shall succeed in bl.utting Australasia out by adopting some of your methods." " We are sometimes told that Cape Colony is ahead of us?" " Oh, you are ahead of us in some things, though in others, in mining, for instance, we are ahead of you. Ido not think the people here are more energetic than we are, but you Australasians have, and Now Zealauaors particularly appear to have, a more highlyfavoured land and a better climate and soil for agricultural purposes. At the same time you are less subject to insect plagues and droughts." " And what have you gathered ?" "Many things. We have seen that the cultivation of cereals is carried on to a much greater extent than is the case in South Africa. Then we have a largo area of new land covered with scrub, which we never would have thought of utilizing for growing cereals. We shall attempt it nojv. More also will he done in draining our Coast lands, and introducing English grasses for pastoral purposes. Above all things we have taken a lot of leaves out of your book in dairying matters." DESTRUCTION OF TIMBER. "You have taken some leaves out of my book. Can you give us a few out of yours ?" " Well, I was struck in Australia—and I am told the same thing applies to New Zealand—with the wholesale destruction of timber, with no attempt at re foresting, whereas in other parts of the world it is held that two trees should be planted for every one cut down. This destruction of timber to mv mind, is one of the eyesores to Australasia." THE TRANSVAAL. "You said just now that one of the things in which you were ahead of us was goldinining. In what way ? "As to goldmming, I am not an expert," was the reply, " and therefore my opinion is not worth much. But there is scarcely any limit to tho South African goldfield. Johannesburg, an you know, is now the goldmining centra, but reofs are known to exist all over the country. As railways are pushed towards the north, and the transit of machinery becomes cheap, these reefs will be developed. The goldbearing zones are almost unlimited, and are all over the country for hundreds of miles." " Latest cable advices state that President Kruger has threatened to close the mines?" "If he does that, it should be the last straw to break the camel's back. But the Uitlanders have proved themselves so cautious, as to taking up arms against the Boers, that there is 110 knowing to what lengths they will not let things go. For the last 10 years the Uitlanders have been striving to get political rights. These, as all now know, have been withheld. Why, one of the conditions before a mail becomes a voter is that he 1 shall be resident in the country for 15 years." "And yet tho Uitlander pays the taxes?" " The Transvaal Government, when gold was discovered 10 years ago, was in a hopelessly bankrupt condition. The Uitlander has converted that condition into one with overflowing coffers. At the present m tment the Transvaal Government has £1,000 surplus revenue. Still these unfortunate gold miners are taxed up to the hilt with 110 voice in the legislature of the country. But they havo proved themselves too timid to effect alteration. And you may rest assured that, as long as the Boers can go 011 exacting taxes, and putting their own kith and kin into Governmeut offices, they will do so." "CONFEDERATED SOUTH AFRICA." "What is your opinion of Precident Kruger?" "He is a very long-headed fellow. In many previous instances he has been too ' slim' ('cute) for our diplomatists. How the present trouble will ena it is difficult to say, unless the Boers become intoxicated with their victory, and put the foot down a little too heavily. Then the craven worm may turn, Anyway, it is only a matter of time, Eventually Smith Africa must become one confederated State, under the British flag." '■ Then you do not think Kruger is serious In his threat?' "I do not think so. If he carried it out, it would be very disastrous to the mines. But if he oloscd them it would be very disastrous to his revenue, I fancy the report must be a wild one sent out for the purpose of making a sensation. Still, after being under the impression that they had " licked" Great Britain's troops at Majuba Hill, and given the English colonists a drubbing, I would not be surprised to hear they did something outrageous." " I have your opinion of Kruger; what of Jameson queried our representative. "Jameson is a splendid fellow," was the reply, " but of course he was too impetuous, At the same time, one cannot help admiring bis dash and courage." DELAGOA BAY. " There is one very important thing, if the news be true," went 011 Mr. Halse—the conversation still lingering on the Transvaal question that is the report that Great Britain has acquired Delagoa Bay. One of the Transvaal President's pet dreams has been to have his own harbour served by his own railway. The taking over of Delagoa Bay by Great Britain would baulk him in this and would do more to solve the Transvaal question than anything else." "There has been some confusion as to the relative population of Boer and Uitlander in the Transvaal. Can you give mo any idea of the proportions ?" "I should think there are two male adult Uitlanders for every male adult Boer, and 90 per cent, of the former are English. But every Boer can shoot." Of course, the Commissioners, as yet, have seen but little of New Zealand, but in regard to what they had seen between Wellington and New Plymouth, Mr. Halse said they had viewed nothing like it in Australia. It was a masterpiece of the Creative Hand, and the panorama from Mt. Edou (to see which they had been taken by Mr. R. Burrow) was one never to be forgotten. The Commissioners leave for Rotorua to-morrow, calling at Hamilton; then across country to Napier, whore they will be met by an agricultural expert and allow 11 tho district. At Wellington they will obtain what information they require from the Agricultural Department, and then work their way gradually to the Bluff. They will divide the time of their stay in the colony equally between the North aud South Islands,