Poverty Bay Herald.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5621, 16 November 1889, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald.

PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING

! GISDOUNK, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1549. A PROGRESSIVE REGION. Mi'cu prominence of late has been given to South African affairs. The Germans and the Portuguese <ire striving for empire in that parfc of the world, and they are both fearful that England will completely cut them out ultimately. The Briton in various ways has already got a grip on the country, and, like the bulldog, he may be trusted not to lefc go his hold, notwithstanding that Mr Gladstone a few years ago surrendered England's elaiins to the Transvaal. The British troops were worsted in several desperate encounters with the Boers, and when SirFrederick Roberts, the hero of the Afghan campaign, was on his way from India, and an overwhelming force was being got ready. to take the field, Mr Gladstone made } peace by which he handed the country back to the Boers. Fortunately, for the prestige of England, foreign nations recognised "that only a very strong Power would consent to yield under such circumstances. There was no doubt entertained anywhere as to the ability of Great Britain to wipe out the Dutch Republic. The military conquest of the Transvaal was abandoned in 1831. Scarce half-a-dozen years elapsed before an industrial coiKjuost set in. The population of the Republic was between 50,000 and 60,000 when thcbattle of Majuba was fought with disastrous result to the British arms Within the last two or three years there has been an accession of 100,000 to the population, and of this 75,000 are British, the remainder being Germans, Dutchmen, and Frenchmen. It will thus be seen that tho number of British subjects is equal to that of all other nationalities, including tho Boer population. Every day is witnessing a proportionate advance of English - speaking people. The discovery of gold has brought about this remarkable change. A correspondent of the London Times furnishes interesting information of the marvellous development of the resources of the country, and instances as an illustration the town of Johannesburg, the capital of the Witwnrersrand goldfield, which did not exist two years acto. It is now a city containing 20,000 inhabitants, with wide streets, comfortable houses, and public buildings on a considerable scale. Already the people of the town, of whom, it might be remarked, quite three-fourths are English, are building an Exchange, which is to cost some LIOO,OOO. Dressed stone and machine-made bricks are the materials everywhere used. Carpenters, blacksmiths, and bricklayers are earning wages that amount often to a pound and sometimes to 25s a day, though it ought to be stated that wages have somewhat fallen, owing to the rush of workmen from England and from the Cape Colony, attracted by stories of this new Eldorado. Fifteen miles away to the west another town, Krugersdorf, is quickly passing out of the village stage,, while all along the Witwatersrand, or " White-Waters Range," for some 30 or 40 miles, are scattered the claims of the different mining companies, each of which is in full work, iind most of which find accommodation for the miners in villages or groups of little houses close to their own property. The Government of the country is still in the hands of the Boers, who number less than two-fifths of the white population. They have tho exclusive right of electing the Parliament, which consists of 45 members, all of whom must be Boers, as the electors arc. The choice of President is also in the hands of the Boers, who choose him by direct vote. The British population are, therefore, in a state of political serfdom. Of course, this state of things cannot be quietly submitted to. The i ace best fitted for self-government will inevitably assert its right to an equal ■ voice in political matters. The correspondent referred to thus sums up the political prospects of the Boer Republic: — "It may be supposed that the chief part of the population of the Rand and of the gold-bearing districts of the Transvaal have enough to do in attending to their business, with all their exciting vicissitudes, its wonderful chances of success, and its many disappointments. But those of them who morally look a little below the surface are much exercised with the important problem of the political future of the colony, since, after all, a sound political system is essential even to the proper conduct of commercial affairs. I have briefly touched upon the Constitution of the Republic and pointed to the present .proportion of numbers between the old franchise -possessing burghers and the new population. Now the former are a stationary body, the latter are increasing at a phenomenal rate, .so that it is pretty safe to estimate that in another ten years they will number at least a quarter of a million. It is not possible in the nature of things that these people, freemen and the sons of freemen, of British rare, accustomed whether at home or in the colonies to manage their own affairs, will be long content to be left without the franchise; indeed, the obstructive policy of the majority in the Volksraad in such a vital matter as the introduction of railways might alone be sufficient to induce them to seriously urge their claim to the franchise. President Kiirger is 66 years of age ; he must before long pay the debt of nature, but whether he lives or dies there is plenty of evidence that the political situation among the Boers themselves is rapidly changing. Before the gold discoveries the members of the Volksraad were perfectly content to follow him ; thuy had chosen him to lead them ; ho had proved his capacity ; they trusted him, and they obeyed him. P'ive years ago he could command some oO or 40 votes out of the 45 (or thereabouts) that compose tho Assembly. But a Dutchman enriched is altogether a different being from a Dutchman poor. Jeshurun waxes fat and kicks. As soon as his revenues increase, as they have done to a remarkable extent, owing to the indirect receipts from the gold discoveries, especially from the bullockwaggon traffic and the like, the Boer begins to think so highly of his own personal independence that he will not give a vote for the man whom yesterday he regarded as his natural leader and his best frend. Consequently, during the last session or two the President's majority has been dwindling ; he- has ofti'ti found his favorite projects opposed by I { >. l>y K>, or by 2U member 1 , and with

regard to tho darling project of all f>r ho is more progressive than the Volksra-i.l —tho project of a railway from Pretoria to Johannesburg, ho was ignominiously defeated. This is indication enough of rhe spirit of change which is passing over ilu! political aspect of the Transvaal, and at present one need do no more than call attention to it. It is impossible to say what positive form it will take and how soon, but probably the first struggle will take place over the election of President Jvriiger's successor — an event for which a great deal of scheming is already going on among the partisans of General Joubert, of Commandant Schmidt, and others ; and the next and longer and more important struggle will take place over the question of the representation of the new population in the National Assembly. It is believed by those who know the Transvaal well that this latter struggle is inevitable, but that it will not be attendod by violence. Each side knows its own interest too well to resort to civil war, j but the contest of influences will be long j j and severe." | When the franchise is conferred on the strangers, political power will pass out of j the hands of the Boer forever, and the country will be under the rule of a more progressive race. But it is only natural that the Dutch settlers should strongly object to the change. They originally went into the interior to escape British rule, and it now threatens them in another form. A Republic, in which the great colonising race is predominant, will be no more acceptable to the Boers than if the country were ?i dependency of Great Britain. There is a lot of ill-will between the two principal white races of South Africa. Prosperity may soften the antipathy of the founders of the Transvaal tow*irds the English, for the former have been substantially enriched by the peaceful invasion which has lately taken place. It may here be remaked that the mining laws of the Transvaal are exceedingly liberal. Most of the operations are conducted on private property, and the law provides for an equitable adjustment between the proprietors of the soil and the mining companies. A long time elapsed after the discovery of gold in Australia before so just n system was adopted. The Boers appear to have copied the American law on the subject. There are no alluvial workings, and consequently the miners are mostly employed by companies. The wages range from Lsto L 6 per week ; engine-drivers earn about LI more, and blacksmiths receive from 20s to 25s per day, though, as remarked before, wages have a tendency to drop. The correspondent of the Times says that the raining community of the Transvaal is exceedingly well-ordered, and hopes that no alluvial discoveries will be made, as he fears in that case the rowdy and disreputable scenes of the first years of the Australasian goldfields might be repeated. The writer evidently knows very little about the early history of the Australian and Now Zealand goldfields. There was not a more intelligent or well-behaved body of men in the world than those who opened up the alluvial fields of these colonies.

Nearly one hundred passengers arrived at Auckland by the Te Anau from Sydney. Meetings in the estates of Andrew Gra ham and J. R. Scott will be held at the Official Assignee's office on Monday afternoon at two and three o'clock respectively. The Manapouri, which left Auckland for Syduoy on Tuesday last, cook 2-115 sacks of maize. The Wakatipu, for Brisbane, took 327 sacks maize and a large freight of breadstuffs. Mr C. A. DeLautour was fco-d.iy elected, unopposed, Mayor of Gisborne for the ensuiny year. He was nominated by Messrs J. T~. Dickson and C. P. Davies. The tenders for the erection of a building on the Native School reserve at Wacrenga-,i-hika will not close until two o'clock on Thursday, 21st inst. The Tuna this forenoon conveyed her first cargo of frozen mutton, consisting of ?50 carcases, to the freezing hulk in the harbor. The capacity of the Taruheru works is about 2000 per week. By advertisement Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett announce the arrival of a shipment of novelties in ladies' fancy aprons, children's pinafores, and other lines. The sale of the Tiniroto flax-mill, advertised by the Sheriff, has been withdrawn, owing to Mr Davidson, of Napier, claiming the property. He has lodged security, and the natter' will now be settled on interpleader. While the New Zealand tanners are devoting their attention to the wattle for tanning purposes, the Tasmanian tanners are sending over to this colony for seeds of the kowhai, in order to its cultivation in Tasmania for purposes of tanning. The annual foreign mission services will be held in the Wesleyan Church to-morrow. Rev. J. Ward will preach morning and ovening. The subject advertised for the evening service is " Our influence upon others." The annual public meeting will be he held next Wednesday. Mr Carroll desires us to correct a statement made by the Napier Evening News to the effect that he had proceeded to Wairoa to canvass for Mr Rees. Mr Carroll says he has not been to Wairoa, does not purpose going there before the election, and has no intention of taking an active part in the contest. The Now Zealand Stud and Pedigree Company announce their annual sale of yearlings, to take place at Sylvia Park on Friday, January 3, Messrs Hunter and Nolan, in conjunction with Messrs A. Buokland and Sons, acting as auctioneers. The draft of youngsters this year is said to be one of the finest that the company have submitted to the hammer. Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett submitted at auction this morning sections 8 and 9, Kaiti, containing 8a Or 19p, and 76 acres Whataupoko. The former lot was boiiQht for £160, and the latter for £110, the mortgagee being the purchaser. .Section Xo 3D Hapera No. 3 block, comprising 48a lr 18p, was sold for £210, Mr Von Pein being the purchaser. At the Police Court this morning Alfred Weston again appeared to answer for his old offence, drunkenness, being the second offence within the last six months. The R-M. spoke very strongly to him, and told him that he did" not know what to do with him, as imprisonment did not seem to do him any good. He would inflict a fine of £3, or in default, 7 days' imprisonment. A correspondent writes :— " Are not Snipe or Red Bills protected game ?. A flock of them have lately been on the river, in the neighbourhood of the Hospital, but this morning some would-be sportsman, was I believe, firing at them. It is a great pity when hirds of this description take up their residence in a place like tiiis, they should be driven away by some Cockney sportsman, and by the bye, is it not against the law to fire off a gun iti the town .. Last season I was nearly peppered from the same reason."