RHODESIA ADVANCING.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12870, 4 January 1906, Page 3

RHODESIA ADVANCING.

The annual report of the British South Africa Company indicates that material progress is at last being made in the devcopnient of Rhodesia."

% It is stated that the progress of the mining industry during the year ended March 31st last was more rapid, solid, and satisfactory than during any similar period since the formation of the company. A large number of individuals and small syndicates are working properties, and while the return, from the majority of these are comparatively small, they are collectively contributing materially to the total monthly output. It is believed that the number of reefs in Rhodesia which can be profitably worked in this manner is very large, and the administrator has been authorised to advance limited sums on securitr to approved persons to assist them to'erect the necessary machinery. The supply of native labour was generally equal to the demand, and the attitude of the native population was most satisfactory. A steady sale has been secured locally for various qualities of tobacco leaf, aDd the board is giving special attention to lie development of- this industry. With this object an expert of the highlit standing has been commissioned to make a report, and in the meantime the accounts received from other sources* have \>xn *» encouraging that arrangements have l»ecn made for the provision at various of warehouses where the leaf can be cured, graded, sorted, and packed, and for making small advances to growers upon the tobacco warehoused for sale.

Experiments in, cotton-growing were continued with fairly satisfactory results «n a few casts. The cultivation of rubber at present appears to be confined u> experiments in the Southern M'elsetta district, but this country is said to be pieeminently suited to the cultivation on a Inrc*- scale.

The balance-sheet for the year ended March 1904 shows the general'expenditure to have been £1,075,842. and the revenue £608,509. For the year ended March 1905 the general expenditure is estimated at £849370, and i>.e revenue at £627,855. The deficit to date on general expenditure is £4,577.216. The mining returns for Southern Rhodesia show the following output of the various minerals dnrinjr October:—Gold, 53,585 ounces: ralvsr. 6091 ounces; lead, forty tons; coal, 9501 tons.