DUKHAN IN THE EARLY DAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3957, 24 January 1900, Page 2

DUKHAN IN THE EARLY DAYS

Like Naples, the view from the seat was most picturesque. ashore, however, disenchantment awaited the immigrant. This triis the first oxpononco of the future Premier ; rheii began our first experience of the Dark Continent. On a sand-mound above: the landing-place stood the little blockhouse, with its garrison of a, doacu redcoats, who then sufficed to uphold tho majesty of British rule at that remote. outpost of the. Empire. Vivo or three old carronadoS of a type how extinct peeped- harmlessly out of tho .undergrowth. Three or lour small thate.ied cottages, with- a more, solid brick building in their midst —the Custom-house-—represented commerce and ci.disation on tho threshold ot the c010n..- . Durban then consisted only cf about a .score or so of thatched; shanties with walls of "wattle and dab. scattered about a trackless waste ol blown sand, with clumps and patches of.“bush” to redeem it from desolation, Rougher or humbler abodes could hardly bo imagined, and yet to women ol gentle nurture they seemed havens of rest and comfort after the ships they hadleft. Nothing by way of domicile could be more crude. The floors were of mud.’smoothed over with cow-dung. Walls might or might not ho vhitcwashed. Doors and window-p bices might,, my might not be filled in \ T Jtii planks, calico or matting. Ceilings were not.

The description is almost that of an. early New Zealand settlement. The Durban.' gaol was'on all -fours with.that, of piprc . than- one New Zealand town.Sir John says:—The Collector of Custom “as Magistrate, and he was supported by a, barlly paid .person -’ll plain (and very shabb; ,•) clothes, known, polrWOfy; iiCa policgman. At- first thenwas do phfce of confincraeut for pns-oniii-SCbut <4fo long a tiny- cottage was koetired hs a gaol. Its walls were built of clay and twigs, and could easily be broken'through by Ihe hands of an enterprising inmate.:* hut the rigours ol eistonco there were slight and escapes were rare. 'Unruly'-captives were mapinto 'the** stocks, or liauOcUrrcd, while the certainty of a flogging ll caught again acted as an effective deterrent'upon efforts for liberty.