A NATAL VISITOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6649, 13 September 1889, Page 3

A NATAL VISITOR.

■» — THE DE j N OF MARITZBUBG. [Bx Oue Special Reporter.] Ifc is not often that Christchurch has visitors from Natal, and rarer that those visitors are distinguished dignafcories of the Church of England in that Colony so far distant alike from the Mother Country and ourselves. The Very Rev James Green, M.A., Dean of Pieterniarilzburg or Maritzburg as ie is commonly styled, is at; present taking a tour through New Zealand, aud has spent a few days in this cit.y. With the object of obtaining boqio information about Natal from one so well qualified to speak as the rev gentleman above referred to, I waited upon the Dean at the Commercial Hotsl, aud was favoured with an interview. Tho venerable ecclesiastic received me most kindly, and would hardly listen to my apology for what might appear presumption in intruding upon him. Perhapß the most practical inforlnation I elicited waa with reference to the possibility of trade with Natal by the export of flour from New Zealand ; but first of all Mr Green gave me a few brief facts about the Colony in which he resided. " NATAL ITSELF," he Baid, "is rather leas than Scotland in extent. Ib has a population of 37,000 Europeans (a large number of whom are Scotch), 275,000 Zulus, and 40,000 Coolies from India. The latter have been imported to cultivate our sugar plantations. So you will see the place is quite unlike New Zealand, and is what you may call a Black Colony." I asked how it was the Zulus were not employed on the sugar plantations. " They will not engage for more than eight or ten months at a time," was the reply, " and the planters find they must have labour they can depend upon. All the up-country farm work id done by Zulus, who work at herding sheep and cattle and growing Indian corn." PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH. Answering my question aa to the progress of the Church, Mr Green said "The Church of England has no endowments. The Presbyterians, Wesleyans and Roman Catholics are all represented, but the Church of England is taking root, certainly, throughout the Colony, except perhaps at DU rban, the seaport. We are weak there, though it should be our Btronghold. Then we have a very flourishing mission amongst the coolies, aud there are also missionaries to the Zulus. The Church work is maintained entirely by the offertories and voluntary contributions. There are no pew rents. The Cathedral at Maritzburg is a brick buildiug. It is not yet finished, but we have a daily celebration there and daily matino aud evensong. There is no boys' grammar school, but a very flourishing school for girls for higher class education. We have a Binall sisterhood in connection with the Church of England who manage the Orphanage and House of Mercy. They have also two schools, which coulo 1 not be carried on without their assiotance." FEDERATION, DEFENCE, ETC. "Is there any interoat taken in the question of Imperial Federation ? " "That subject is not discussed among ua. We have too rnanjr difficulties to deal with in settling oue relations with the Dutch Republic to give auy attention to it." '• Are there any defence works ? " "The harbour of DUrban is being defended now. No guns had arrived wben I left, but they had been ordered from England, We have a Legislative Council of one Chamber and thirty members, which has complete control of the Government of the Colony, Bubject, of course, to the constitutional exercise of the Governor's prerogative. Ifc is a remarkably j able Chamber." PRESENT PROSHKRITY. "We are very prosperous now," continued Mr Green. "Our railways are working day and night, Sundays included, sending things forward to the goldfields. These goldfields have been open for about two years and a half. The discoveries of gold have not been phenomenally great. We have no alluvial diggings, but the gold is found in a conglomerate which exists in reefs, and is very easily crushed. All the mining is done by Kaffirs, •white labour not being employed. The goldfields are worked by Companies, of which there are plenty." CLIMATE, &C. " The climate of Natal may be compared to that of Queensland. On the coast we grow sugar, tea and coffee; and on the uplands we have sheep and grow maize. We have rains in summer, which make the climate very relaxing, the rain falling under a tropical sun. The winter is dry and very lovely, but the great drawback to the climate ib the hot winds. Our emigrants came out in 1850. All the buildings are substantially built of brick or stone. DUrban is a very pretty place; the town stands on a dead level ; jußt beyond it is a range of low hills, dotted with villas, where inosb of the principal residents Jive. No one lives in the town who can help it." AN OPENING FOR TEADK. In answer to my question aB to whether there was any possibility of trade being opened up with Natal, Mr Green said, "We get our flour from Adelaide. I think if you Bent a cargo of flour from New Zealand it would be sure to find a ready sale. We do not grow our own wheat, as we have got so many other things to do. We grow an immense quantity of Indian corn, and export some of it. All the Kaffirs eat corn meal, and white children eat it as well. The horses, also, are fed on Indian corn." I mentioned the subject of the Colenso controversy, in which the Dean of Maritzburg had taken a prominent part, as one of the most successful opponents of Bishop Colenso. The Dean, however, said the subject was a rather painful one to him, and he seemed averse to discuss it. Moreover, the evening waa getting late, and knowing that the old gentleman intended to leave by the express in the morning, I wished him a pleasant journey, and with thanks for his courtesy bade him ' good night."