South African Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 10, Issue 17, 26 July 1902, Page 10

South African Notes.

Thousands have waited for over two years longing for the day that only came a few days ago, and all is just as though that day had not yet arrived, for troops and horses are still being poured into the country as though we were to go on for years yet. When the news of peace arrived in Durban there was no more stir than if nothing had happened ; it is true there were some half-dozen flags flying here and there, and so there is when someone gets married, so that there is nothing in seeing a flag or two. No one seemed to get overjoyed —there was no sound of whistle, bell or guns.. There was no public holiday declared nor anything to cause the school children to remember this great and pleasing event. True, June the Bth being Sunday, was set apart as a, day of thanksgiving throughout South Africa. The church and press are the only ones affected by the signing of the terms of surrender. The mayor, at the Councirs expense, let off a fair display of fireworks on the Bay Embankment on the night of June 2nd. But there —it is me that is out, not the people of Natal, for you see, Mr Editor, that I have not quite got into the ways of people here. I am so thoroughly saturated with New Zealand ideas that I think people here ought to act like those I have been so used to — fool that I am. People here, one and all, act as though they only live to make money, and had there been a prospect of all the leading firms making money over the surrender then we should have seen whether there was any life in Durban or not things would have been humming yet. There will be not a few who will grieve over the termination of war, as their chances of plunder will be done away with by the removal of military stores, off which several must have grown far,. As an instance, only about 14 days ago two very prominent people of this town were before the Court and one was fined £IOO, while another went to gaol for six months. A few days later two others appeared to answer a like charge, and one of them got 12 months without the option of a fine, while a leading hotelkeeper was fined £SOO, and he looks pleasant at his escape. Others are to come before the military court in a few days, and I suppose they also will know the price of pain without the sham. I hear there are 17 all told implicated, and the one that turned King’s evidence (the one let off with six months) says that everyone in the rink are equally guilty, as they were all fully aware of the robberies. The general opinion here is that the military are quite right in trying the cases themselves, as when they took the Point forage case to the

[From Our Own Correspondent.] The End op the War.— How the News was Received,—Robbery op Military Stores.— Exemplary Punishment,—The Tenth Contingent. Railway Accidents, Trouble in Cape Colony. Durban, 10th June, 1902.

civil court they lost the case through no fault of theirs. With all the police, ’tecs, and C.l.D.’s there is a great deal of plundering going on night and day, and mostly those in high places who think their public position places them above suspicion. I had a long chat with a N.Gr.R. ’tec, and he told me people seldom got on who had not had a turn on the breakwater, In reading the paper a few days ago 1 saw a case that made me enquire of old residents why such things should be. My enquiries fully satisfied me. In this case two men were found guilty of stealing goods they were supposed to deliver for others, and the men being defended their lawyer called the men’s employer as to their character and he gave them an excellent one, and when he had finished the bench wanted to know why Mr So-and-so employed thieves, for he must have known that they were such some three weeks ago by the charge being laid against them. The employer replied that they were honest to him, and that alone concerned him. I find that an employer in a large way had two years to do on the breakwater, but they passed very quietly up in Maritzburg, There are very few here whe are not on the make by any means, honestly if they can, but get it they will, as proved by the above, which is only a very small item out of the mass. The southern half of the lOfch Contingent arrived by the Norfolk, and they were all in high form and ready for anything. They had three full daye in Durban, and I enjoyed their company very much. They were all very loud in their praise of the climate here, and as at the time of their entrainment there was no word of brother Boer giving in they naturally expected a brush with them. They left here for Fort Hay, Newcastle, Natal, and would pass Ladysmith, Spion Kop, and many other places of great interest. The whole lot were photographed in the camping ground, and no doubt many of their friends will be made pleasantly aware of this fact. With this letter I shall enclose a copy of the Norfolk ‘ buster,’ which I expect you will copy for the edification of their many friends, and when you have finished with it I would ask you to kindly band same over to the Invercargill Museum as a curio. I have several times told you about the way things are managed on the N.G-.E., and now again I must put on the one crowning act for railway neglect, by two accidents on the one morning within ten minutes of each other, and not five miles apart either. The most serious of the two took place at the Point, not 100 yards from the Point railway station, where the

train was due at ten minutes to six with workmen who start work at 6 a.m. By some unforeseen circumstance, many of the men missed the train and had to come later on, to tkeir great delight, when they saw how they bad escaped perhaps worse than sudden death. However, the result was a demolished engine and cars, and four Europeans and four Indians taken to the hospital. Everything points to gross carelessness on the part of the driver, who is one of the four in the hospital. He seems to have been travelling at top speed, and disregarded the signal, and run into the siding instead of keeping to the main line, when within one hundred yards of the station. No doubt this is all we shall bear of this. The other accident was not quite as bad, as there was only one engine badly damaged, and two trucks and contents fairly smashed up at Umbilo at 6 a,m. Only three weeks ago at Pinetown there was a record collision by three engines smashing into one another, to the ruin of all three, although fortunately in this case no one was hurt. The public never heard of the three engines being destroyed at Finetown, To have an idea of the destruction of N.Gr.R. rolling stock, one should go to Greyville station and see the string of crippled iron horses. Then, and only then, can one grasp the destruction wrought through incapable men being put in charge. Some very serious change is taking place in Cape Colony, but what it is I cannot at time of writing quite understand. But I would not live in Cape Colony for £2OO a year and free house and ground. Yours, etc., E.Gr.E.