ST. HELENA AND THE WAR
An interesting report by Mr R. A. Sterndale, the Governor of Sc. Helena, shows how the war has affected the life of that little island. The cost of living, he says, has greatly increased, and during the present year the prices of food have doubled and quadrupled, and milk, butter, eggs, and meat have become luxuries. This is owing to the larger garrison and the number of prisoners of war we now have in the island. The aspect of the place has also greatly changed; instead of the quiet monotony of past years, Jamestown is a scene of noisy activity, and the perils of the roads are considerably increased by four-in-hand mule waggons, driven by reckless Kaffir boys. The new water works have been finished as far as the mains are ’'concerned, but the house connections had to be left under the old system, for a time, as all the lead pipes imported for the purpose had to be used up for the Boer camp. However, the mains were of great use when large transports required water. “The war,” concludes Governor Sterndale,” was most keenly felt in "St. Helena among all classes, for there is hardly a family in the island that had not some members either in Cape Colony and Natal or in those two States. It is estimated that there are about 2000 St. Heleniamf in South Africa. The telegrams were looked for with the greatest anxiety, and there were many volunteers for service among the Sharpshooters who however, could not be spared; the corps was, however, represented by Captain Deason (lately a prisoner in the hands of the Boers), Lieutenant Arthur, and Private H. Thorpe, all of whom have been at tbe front. During the current year we have had more intimate acquaintance with the Boers, as General Cronje and a large number of his followers have been interned in the island, and still more are expected shortly.”
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 59
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326ST. HELENA AND THE WAR New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 59
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