THE STATE OF JOHANNESBURG

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 26

THE STATE OF JOHANNESBURG

J'rhate letters which have been leceived in Dunedin from Johannesburg show that the civilians' lot in that city last month was by no means an agreeable one. In a letter dated the 21st January the writer says:— "The Boers hare been especially troublesome m this district, and are continually doing extensive damage along the reef. Two nights ago they destroyed the electric power works at Brackpan that supply Johannesburg with light, and as a consequence the city has been almost in utter darkness tho last two nights, as no gas is generated here on account of the lack of rolling stock to bring coals up for that purpose, and kerosene has run out, so that we are reduced to randies, which also threaten to get very scarce. Persistent rumour? are current in town to-day that the Boers intend to follow up their success in cutting off our light by making an attempt on the waterworks and blowing up the mains As this would not be a particularly difficult thing to do, the attempt will probably bo made, and if made with any determination on the part of the Boers is not unlikely to succeed, for this place is far from well guarded. As a matter of fact, the total garrison stationed here is under 500 men. During the past three weeks every available man in tho place, including detail and depot staffs, has been twice called out to meet threatened attacks on the city, but so far. we have had no fighting to do beyond firing a few rounds of ammunition. As an outcome of this unsettled state of affairs every British subject in Johannesburg has been called on to bear arms, and all those who are not at present serving with some regiment have to enrol in a corps styled the Rand Rifles, and drill from 6to 7 o'clock e^ery morning. Much wanton damage has recently been done to the machinery and mills of some of the gold mines along the reef, and there is every possibility of a great deal more being done yet, as there are not sufficient men available to adequately protect the outlying mines " Another letter indicates that however scarce supplies may be, and however costly, in Johannesburg the item of house rent is in many ca^es purely nominal. "Nearly all the people here," it is eaid, " just walk into houses which were locked up when the refugees went away, and they do not pay anything for them."