THE MINES AT JOHANNESBURG

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 7917, 14 June 1902, Page 4

THE MINES AT JOHANNESBURG

At the annual meeting of the Transvaal Chamber of Mineg, held at Johannesburg in April, the president, Mr Bouliot, the distinguished French engineer and financier, who has been president of the chamber for five years, and who became -well known in Europe for his able and. statesman3ike conduct of the negotiations between the mining industry and the Boer some months before the outbreak of war, made a statement showing how the mines were saved. It is reported in the London Times, and is. as follows: —"It is a- matter of congratulation to us to have found all our properties and machinery so little damaged after such grave fears were entertained of a wholesale destruction. Fortunately, events did 1 not corroborate these feais, but there is no question that they were not groundless. Everyone will remember h.ow fcr seme time before the war certain parties advocated extreme measures to be adopted in of a conflict; how certain newspapers, which it was known were supported by and reflected the views of members of the Government, recommended that Johannesburg should he destroyed and, its inhabitants massacred: even a well-known mining man, after a visit to Pretoria, wrote to the papers advising those who wished to remember what Johannesburg looked' like to buy a photograph of it before ib was too. late. It has been said that this was mere bluff, intended to smother the agitation that was going oil at the- time; it is probable that a great deal of this talk was exaggerated, and was circulated with the view that I have just mentioned, but nevertheless the fact remains that an atbempt was made_ tt> carry out these threats—ab imyrate partially. In March, 1900, the 'Mines 'Police were advised that material was being brought on to certain mines far a secret purpose, and an investigation, revealed the fact that shallow holes were being drilled, in various

shafts in no less than 25 mines; in one especially the "work -was carried on in a most systematic manner, over 40 holes, be. iug drilled at various depths from five to 500 ft down. The men carrying ton this work stated that they had been sent by one of the mining inspectors (Mr Osterloh), who himself said that he waa carrying out the instructions of the Acting-State Mining _ Engineer (Mr Mtmnik), who in turn alleged that lie was acting -under orders from a superior authority. Thanks to the. steps taken by the cfficere of the' Mines Pollice, the work was discontinued; they would not allow it to proceed without a written order from the proper authorities; ait the j same time protests were seat to the Minister of Mines, and the foreign Consuls interviewed the heads <£ the Government, and obtained from them an official denial that anv such steps were contemplated; it appears then that no lone dared to* take the responsibility of openly sanctioning this destruction, the orders already given were disowned, and the work stopped. Later on, upon the return of the State Mining Engineer, all holes were plugged and cemented. Nevertheless, the risk run had been great. At a public trial held later on, in April, it was admitted that" noLwitnstaading the assurances given to tie Consuls, Mr Munnik, in preparing for the blowing up of the mines, was acting under instructions from the State Secretary, the only point in doubt being as to. whether this official issued the order on his own initiative or bb the mouthpiece of the Government. Upon the advance of the British troops towards Johannesburg anxiety revived, the Mines Police received information that quantities of dynamite were conveyed to different spots on the Band, the town got filled with several bodies of men belonging to different commandos, and, although I do not think much was to be apprehended on the part of the soldier—the fighting burger—everything was to be feared from the rabble of adventurers who were bent on pillage and loot, the destruction of the mines being merely a pretence in order to steal the gold which these, people knew was on different properties. Rumors were freelv circulated that a wholesale destruction "was contemplated, and it was openly said that this was authorised by the Government. This led to ■ representations being made to General Louis' Botha, and I firmly believe that it was on account of the attitude which he took up tha)t a great deal of the wanton desruction, was avoided. He sent word and wrote to the commandant of the town that he held him personally responsible for the safety of the place, and added that, in case any attempts ab destruction were made, 'hie would personally come with a picked commando to protect property generally. The minor officials had only to obey; thanks to orders issued by the Commandant-General, the various commandoes were withdrawn from the town, and this, coupled with the Tapid advance of Lord Roberts' army, led to Johannesburg's being srurrendered, halving avoided the wholesale destruction with which it was threatened."