A CHAT ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1800, 3 June 1891, Page 6

A CHAT ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA.

In the course of a chat with an Auckland ' Herald ' representative, Captain D. H. M'Kenzie, the well-known shipmaster, who has recently returned to the colony from a couple of trips with the brigantine Stanley to Durban, gave some interesting particulars regarding affairs in Natal. Tbe place is a fairly busy one, but it is not a poor man's country ; the only branch of labor which at present is in demand is that of good mechanics— plumbers, carpenters, engineers, and the like. Laborers are not needed, simply because of the Kaffirs performing at low wages all the heavy uny skilled work required. These Natives, who are all strong-limbed fellows, work harder, and European navvies cannot compete with them in the climate. General business — what may be termed shopkeeping— is fairly remunerative, but in all tbe towns there are few opportunities for new starters now. Farming is carried on with success, and there are good openings for master farmers with some capital, but a poor farmer or agricultural laborer is rather out of his element there. The gallant skipper comes back, like all Aucklanders who travel, with the deep impression that New Zealand is, after all;' the best of tbe colonies} African or Australasian.