MR GEORGE HUTCHISON'EX PERIENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 31

MR GEORGE HUTCHISON'EX PERIENCE.

(Prom Our Own UorPvESpokdbktt.') WELLINGTON, May 18. Interviewed here by the Post on his return from South Africa, Mr G. Hutchison said : " I have had an exceedingly interesting time in South Africa. The authorities in Natal, both civil and military, were most obliging, and every facility was given me for seeing the places of interest in and around Ladysmitn and Colenso, where there were still indications of the recent .struggle. " The country was quite deserted, the houses in ruins, and the debris of camps , and fighting was everywhere. At East . London I saw the third New Zealand contingent — the Rough Riders — under Major Jowsey. They were just "pitching camp, and were busy arranging to proceed to join "General Brabant's column as soon as their liorses were shod. Capetown was as busy as an anthill. Table Bay was crowded wi£h big steamers, some with troops on board, and others with horses or stores. Many were awaiting orders, and the docks were two or three deep." Reinforcements were arriving at the rate of about 5000 a week,- and the railway was working to its ■utmost capacity night jind day getting troops and material to the front. At the Cape also I was shown the utmost consideration. New Zealand seemed a talismanic word -that opened every door and overcame every difriralty. When I reached tha Orange River, the northern boundary, of Cape Colony at Norvals Pont, events had transpired which so changed 4 the appearance of afiairs that all passes were cancelled. Two New South Wales legislators had been detained at Bethulio, another of the crossing places on the boundary between Cape Colony and the Orange Free State. They were nearly a week in getting through, and succeeded with some difficulty. The Boers had suddenly leappeared in the Foulh-eastem parts of the Orange Free State, and threatening the railway communication with Bloemfontein. Two days before they had captured 300 troops close to the railway line. .The staff -• Gfiicer at Norvals Pont was-in- . flexible, and no one could be allowed to .profceed except on service, btit an appeal to Major-general Ridley, who was in command there, speedily overcame all difficulty. ' You came from New Zealand and want to see the New Zealanders at the ■front?' said the general. 'And so you shall although its dead against orders ; but I'd commit a crime fbr New Zealand. What splendid fellows they are. I tried to get them for the mounted brigade 1 am forming, but was unsuccessful, worse luck. Yes ; you may go on, but-, you must run the chance of landing at Pretoria/ instead of Bloemfontein.' Next day I saw the first contingent at Bloemspruit, seven miles out of Bloemfontein. A x very different appearance they had from the clean and regular array in October- last when embarking. They were fewer in number by about 40. They had lost 17 as prisoners' in the ambuscade at Corner's Drift a week before, and about 20 had been left in the hospital at Kimberley or on the march across by way of Paardeberg. Those in camp looked war-worn veterans. Although only six months formed they had distinguished themselves in almost every successful operation of importance during the war. Half th- 1 horses that had left New Zealand had Isiiccumb3d, and the remounts were nondescript, chiefly Boer ponie?. The men were as fit a* possible and quite cheery after the hardships of the relief of Kimberley and the march across to Bloemfontein, and were ' eager for a return of active operations. At ' -the same time I gathered that, without • wishing to abate one iota of the 'full mea- ■ sure of duty, they "would be glad if the - war were over, and they 1 * were home again ■in New Zealand. On my way . back to Bloemfontein in "the evening I met. most of the convalescents tramping out to the ; camp, glad to get back to work however hard, and hard undoubtedly the work is. .Lord Roberts spoke in terms of the highest pi aise of the contingent ; indeed there was nothing but praise of them in all directions. The first contingent now forms part of the third corps under Colonel Pilcher, in 31aj'or-general Hutton's brigade of Lieu-tenant-general Hamilton's mounted division. With the New Zealanders in the third corps 'are four companies of Queensknders, b.rA the second contingent from New Zealand has joined the same command by this time. The other brigade of the division is ur.dei Major-general Ridley, and is com•posed of South African corps." • Mr Hutchison's opinion is that there is every reason to "believe that a very large produce trade could be cultivated with South Africa in 'the near futuie. At present, however, the market for produce, such as hay and oats, is dull, as the British Government is pouring in those products in thousands of tons, and the depots are stocked with them. At East London when he was there recently the Knight Templar arrived "with a cargo of New Zealand oats, and had great difficulty in disposing of it. There will, however, L\lr Hutchison is convinced, be a large market in South Africa for all kinds of produce, including butter and cheese, when the Hand mines are rcopeneo\. At present a quarter of a million ] tioops with their attendants are in the . country, and shortly there will be very few cattle in the territory. The ordinary population is- increasing, as many of the Tefugees who left the country at the outbreak of the war are returning now that the British forces are getting the upper band of fcke Boers, aad the nrosjject of the

speedy conclusion of hostilities is rapidly increasing. Australia is taking steps to establish better and more regular communication with the Cape, and it would be well if New Zealand were alive to her, interests in this respect. Mr Hutchison thinks there will be room for a considerable influx of skilled artisans in South Africa at the close of the war, but unskilled labourers will find no encouragement in the country as Kaffir labour will supersede white labour.