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NEWS AND NOTES.
INTERCOLONIAL MAIL. - The ordinary
weekly mail for the Eastern colonies will
close at the General Post-office to-day at
1.45 p.m.
MAILS FOR THE NOR'-WEST.- A mail for
transmission to Derby and intermediate
ports, per the s.s. Saladin, will close at the
General Post-office to-morrow at 7 a.m.
THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.- Mr. H.
B. Lefroy, M.L.A., Minister of Education,
returned to his office yesterday afternoon
after a few days' absence on his station on
the Victoria Plains.
THE COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS.
Mr. Geo. Throssell, the Commissioner of
Crown Lands, who has spent the last day
or two at Northam, returned to his office
yesterday.
PUBLIC MEETING AT CANNINGTON.-
The public meeting which was to have
been held in the Agricultural Hall, Can-
nington to-day, has been postponed until
Wednesday next, February 16th. Further
particulars are given in an advertisement
appearing elsewhere.
MRS. DORRINGTON'S CLASSES. - Mrs. Dorrington
(nee Whistler) announces that the
second quarter of her classes in drawing
water colour and oil painting commences
this week at " Winkfield," Bazaar-terrace.
Mrs. Dorrington's pupils continue to
increase in numbers, and her landscape
classes bid fair to become very popular.
MOONLIGHT RIVER PICNIC. - The river
picnic arranged for by the committee of
Wesley Church P.S.A. will take place this
evening, when the s.s. Manx Fairy will
leave the William-street jetty at 7 o'clock
for Point Walter, returning at 10 p.m. A
band of music will be in attendance.
Tickets may be obtained at Wesley Manse
or at the Sisters' Home during to-day.
BANKRUPTCY COURT.- A short sitting of
the Bankruptcy Court was held yesterday.
The examinations of G. A. Smith and Isaac
Morris were adjourned till Monday next.
In the case of Joseph Shepherd an applica-
tion was made for discharge by Mr. Down-
ing, who appeared for the debtor. On the
application of the Official Receiver the
application was referred to the next sitting
of the Bankruptcy Court.
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE COLLECTIONS.
The following return showing the Customs
and excise collections in the various
colonies and Tasmania and Fiji during the
month of December, 1897, has been pre-
pared by the Collector of Customs (Mr.
Clayton T. Mason) :-New South Wales :
Customs : £109,256 10s. 4d.; excise, £27,494
10s. 6d. Tasmania : Customs, £31,312 11s.
11d.; excise, £2,863 18s. 3d. Western
Australia: Customs, £89,104 10s. 5d. no
excise duties collected. Victoria : Cus-
toms, £157,147 18s. 6d.; excise, £31,604 10s.
South Australia : Customs, £40,746 7s. 1d.;
excise, £4,348 3s. 5d. Fiji : Customs,
£2,711 17s. 4d.; no excise duties collected.
Queensland : Customs, £98,051 19s. 11d.;
excise £12,710 2s 11d (including totali-
sator tax £447, and border tax £482 0s
11d).
FREMANTLE CHARITY CONCERT: - The
concert which is being organised by Mr.
Lawson, assisted by Mrs. J. A. Hicks and
other ladies in aid of the Childrens
Hospital will be held in the Victoria Hall,
Fremantle to-morrow evening. The pro-
gramme appears on our first page.
ROTTEN FRUIT:- Attention is directed
by the Bureau of Agriculture to the large
quantityof fruit imported from the
Eastern colonies, which arrives at Fre-
mantle in a rotten condition. In such a
state have some shipments arrived that
they have been had to be destroyed on being
landed.
THE PERTH CHESS CLUB- The follow-
ing are the pairs for the first round in the
tourney, which will be commenced this
evening - Vaughan v Mather, Hall v.
Fisher, Hilton v Byass, Barlee v Sweeting,
Berry v. Hardy, Colebatch v Hart, Francik
v. Godden, Crossley v Domela, Hood v.
Farrington.
DR. McWilliams:- A rumour was freely
circulated in the city yesterday to the
effect that Dr. McWilliams, who is at pre-
sent suffering from typhoid fever, had
succumbed to the disease. Enquiries
elicited the fact that there was no truth in
the rumour. Dr. Kenny stated that on the
contrary, Dr. McWilliams was progressing
favourably.
A PERMANENT DAIRY EXPERT. - The
Minister of Crown Lands (Mr. George
Throssell) has approved of the recom-
mendation of Mr L Lindley-Cowen,
the Secretary of Agriculture that
Mr. Alexander Crawford should be
appointed Permanent Dairy Expert to the
Department, and the appointment has
accordingly been made. Mr. Crawford
will enter upon his duties from the 1st of
March.
A CASE OF DISTRESS - An old couple
named Lockyer, who lived with a half-
witted daughter in a tent on the North
Perth Estate near the Third Swamp
Reserve were burned out shoitl\ bepoie
noon on Sunda} lo»mg all they pos e>=ei
V collection was sno pquentH tal en up foi
the couple b\ MP SI p 1 Hammond and
D Munro andrealis»! ovei-C3 "VA ith thp
aid of this sum inumoerof per onslivingin
the Mcinilv inteni to eiect a new dwelling
<or the sufleier
Go<ri UNiihM TrsDERs-Tpnd»r-, weie
opened at the Public AAoil-> Deputjieiit
vesteida\ fo \anou-> nun if work-, and tliP
furnishing ot tne sugicil waict of the
Perth Hospital Hie following WPTP
found to bp the lowest t^nde-prs Smith s
Mill school and quarters Camibe1! and
Islev Bridgetown Hospital J H Browr
Menzie-. Hospital nui e o quart°rs P
Mcinnes PeiA Ho pit ii ( u iuil waid)
furniture Robeitson ni AloTat
CONDITION ku JL'OHCHAST HOTDE->S-It
has come i ndpr the notice of tliP
Commissioner of C-own Lan I» that m
seveial cases unon the Har\ev \rea and in
othei paits of the colony conditional pui
chase holders are neither residing upon
their holding» noi peiforming the required
linpnn pments Mi 1 lu« »sell WIS1IP3 to
waru the delmqupnts l'ut unless the con
dirions under which HID lind w is .jiantn I
aie complied with then holdings will be
forfeited
Co Dinov OF THE Pr T-URAPH LISÍS
Air E AAr Snool Superintendent ot lele
graphs, reported as follow» to the Po->t
raastei Gone al (Mr K A Sholl) vp»ter
day on the the condition of the telegraph
line» on Monday - Hie AYest Austialnn
coast line was verv low during the nicht
and it was only possible to work simtilex
after 10 pm Trie South Australian
hno3 cios38d near Adelaide fioui S
am until 1 pm after which therp
was good duplex circnii, on botn
wires till 9pm The old line then
i educed to simplex and the new wne
also simplexed two hours later Outward
cleared bv AVest Aust aha 12 43 a m, and
by South Australia 7 30 a m
AVESTrRV 4.ITSTPALIA IV Pr*FERENCE -
The Commissioner of Crown Lands Mr
Geo IhrosseU has received a letter from
Mi John AVairen M L C of South Aus
traba who recently took up a quantity of
land in the Katanning distuct with íegud
to the land settlement question m this
colon} He su-te» thpt li ir**nds y isiting
the colony at a» earl} a date is possible
In South Australia he point» out there is
no outlet for the enei aries ot the colony s
young men who are therefoie lea\ ing there
foi AVestein Australia, Queensland, and
New South AAr UPS He personal]} piofei»
AV estera Austialia and three of his sons
intend settl ng heie b°'oie Ion,, Mi
AVarren expidsses the pleasuie he felt
upon healing that the AA e»tern An»tia1ian
harvest had turned out BO well anl si} s
he wished he could say that the Gouth
Austi ilian hanpst had been as good He
is glad Uiat w ir is being waged he a
agunst the rabbit pest and say-, thit the
lablitis a foimidable md per»e\ering
enem\ which will prove a teinble curse ii
it once gets into tin» fan colo 1}
EARLY CLOSINC AT liti wv\iLr-A coi
respondent willes - The cru ade b}
Erena intle shop assistant» against the
violation of th" eail} c o»ing compict bv
ceitain shopkeeper» \ as continu« 1 last
e\ening An understanding ha» existí
at the Poib that the shop» thero s îall
clo»e t (> p m on wee' nights except on
Afednesdav (half holida}) in 1 Situihvy
the time foi clos ng on the littci diy
being 30 p m Elcieii twelf lis of tie
business hou»e» ha\e abide I by tne terms
of the cjmpact and it was ino i the le
main 1er that the sho > assistants biougn«
their repreoenr" ions to boil Hie assist
ants met with suecas in ne irly eveiv cas»
a few Cnine»a stoiel eepers being til» ouly
except ons Au the completion of the
cru» lue one of the pi om meat jnembei»
of the movement addre»»pl i ciowd
numbe ing some J00 horn the îviuonil
Hotel balcony Ino soeakei w io w»t
with a cordi ii reception spo«.e or w nat li»
de»enb°d as the end»aYom» ot some s^oie
keepers to nio»titut« busine» md he
appea'ed lo ill to nip tho»» cni'cavouis in
the bud In conclusion he uiged the
necessity of an eari} closing leagu" m
favour of which a ie»olution was immedi
ately passed
PRESENTATION TO Ain AV T STMO^ -
Mr A7 J bymon who foi '.onie'lung lil e
foul year ha» oceuwed th= po» tiou of
managei of the Pt-itli brauen of ih«
husine of tie »is S nds and "IcDougall
the well 1 nown fi-m of pim er md
stationers is about to leavp Perth foi
Melbourne AIui\ ypu-. have el"p ed
since Mi S^ mon e it°-ed tlip s°i i ice ol * io
firm and ho has now been ipprmtedtot P
position of manager of the whole» ile
depd-^tment otthe head estabh»hm?nt md
he will leavo Peith to day b} tram foi
Mbaiy wherp he wik cate i the fir t
eastw id bound m ul stpani»r Duiin^ his
stay ia the citv Mr Symon nas di wn
round him a laige circle of fnend3 He
has a disposition wh cb mu t mal e
acquaint mee and his AVe»Wn Ai shahan
fuends extend fai beyond lho=° contine!
in the esti^ohs'ment ovei v. nish IIP n^s
had cjnt-ol Ibis afternoon îlr Symon is
to bo tendered a s°nd off it he b ock
Exchange Club 1c»torda} il't aooi
aftpi tho doors of YTes»r-. S mt s md
McDougalls piemi e3 had be^n closed io
the day Mr Svinon wa3 efu'el into th°
front shoo wheie the m ]o-itv or 11»
emp o j ee» had gathered ind asn.pd to
iccspt a pie»"nt oF i heal j .,1 I cha n and
locKet *.» a to»en ot tne e t^eui ia \ 1 cn
he wa-, held by tne staff The p-e»°ntat on
was mado b^ Mr J H Sta no who &->i\
thit aluhough eveij emp'ojee wa» =o-iy to
lo»° one wit 1 wiio n thej hal gît a on, so
wel1 M d who hid alwav» shown MIOJI I le
gieatoat coucideration 1 id *. udnes t e}
weie glad to hear tna^ tac cb nje woull
be to Mr S mon 1 vapta^* *s 1
ma»tei they wisit-d 101 none 1 ett"r Ho
knew tho oughlv veil WHO,*- C nsiifcu »I 1
fair day s work md while he ha 11 i"V>d
careiullv tho mtere»t» of tha In 11 ho
roDie»em>l ho took caLe 1 ot to gi\
Ina staff burdens whicn wot'd p e»» too
heavily unon them They all li PC' lum
and hoped that although ho \ 1» go ug
a good many mil°» away from th^rn he
% ould somet mes th ii of the AVe^t and of
those who had heip°d to b-i g about the
fi-m » present proaparou» con lit on in tne
colon} Mr by mon oriefly îciiied and
thanked the stall foi then hanlsome 13-p
seat He grateiully ickao\/le '^ea tho
assistance he hal ali .*}» red.\"l flin
tno»e under him a ii saidth^t wher t.rhe
went his ue 1101 j would ai v ij s b-» turning
back to Perth and the many iri<»iid» io liad
made th^re He would not baie bT*n aole to
advanp» th? interests of tho furn had li" not
received the assistance ot the vario a»
' departments of the Perth branch. Mr.
Horace Wilson has been appointed io take
up the management of the Perth branch
after Mr. Symon's departure. Mr. C.
Dimond, on behalf of the staff, welcomed
Mr. Wilson to the position of manager, and
cheers were then given for him, Mr. Symon,
and the firm.
GIPPSLAND BUSK- FIRES BELIEF FUND.
In connection with this fund we have to
tic-knowled«»« receipt of the following ad-
ditional subscriptions :-" X," 2s. 6d.; Mr.
J.-is. Thompson and nliUvr.s, Railway Coii
s< motion Branch ïWV.D.. pur Mi. F. E.
JJewley, £?'. It?. (5-J.
A MUNICIPAL ELECTION.-A vacancy
having occurred in the North Fremantle
Council by the resignation ol' Cr. Mitchell,
.ia election will taky\nlaee in that suburb
on the 23rd inst. Candidates for the
vacant seat must forward their nomina-
tions to the Mayor or Town Clerk of the
municipality on or before the loth inst.
WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE COLONY.
Cooler weather than that recently expe-
rienced has been prevailing throughout
the greater portion of the colony. On the
Murchison Goldfields, however, the intense
heat is still being felt. During the 24
hours preceding !. a.m. yesterday 110
degrees were registered at Cue, and 107 at
Yalgoo. The highest temperature re-
corded over the Eastern Goldfields during
the same period was 102, at Coolgardie.
UNITED FRIENDLY SOCIETIES OF PERTH.
-A committee appointed by the Friendly
Societies of I'erth met at the A.N.A. rooms,
William-street, on Tuesday evening. Mr.
J. Kendall presided. Arrangements were
made to carry into effect a picnic on Easter
Mouday, April 11, ou the Friendly Societies'
grounds at Claremont, and for the holding
of a ball in the Perth Town Hall on the
evening of the same date.
THF. CITY BATHS.-The announcement
that; the new city baths would be open for
public use yesterday had the eft'ect of
inducing a larges number of the public
to avail themselves of their use. The
charge is 3d. for both adults and children,
but it is provided in the regulations which
are to be submitted to the City Council on
Friday evening t»at a lower scale will
obtain when the baths are leased. The
formal opening will take place on the loth
insfc.
PERTH WEATHER.-The weather in the
city was somewhat hot during yesterday,
though not unseasonable for this time of the
year. The heat of the sun's rays was, how-
ever, tempered by thefrequentbreezes which
blew up from the sea, ami the coolness and
brightness of the evening tempted a larger
number of persons th&u usual into the
streets. Tim following temperatura wa3
recorded at the Perth Observatory :
Maximum, 91-2 deg.; minimum, 67'G deg.
CRUSADE AGAINST Sr.Y-Gr.oG SELLERS.
During the past few days the police, with
the assistance of an informer, have beeu
conducting a raid on a number of oyster
saloons and other establishments at Fre-
mantle, where it was believed that a sly
grog trade was being carried on. The
result of their investigations will lead to
the appearance of six defendants at the
local Police Court on Friday next to answer
charges of illicit liquor selling.
THE NOR'-'WEST COUNTRY.-The Com-
missioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Geo. Thros-
sell) has received a wire from Mr. S. An-
derson. Supervisor of Water Supply, who,
at th8 time the. telegram was despatched,
was at Wallal, a station North-East of
Condon, stating that ho had just arrived
there overland from Broome, and that the
country which he had passed over was
looking excellent, and was capable of car-
rying thousands of cattle.
THE SUBIACO FIRE INQUEST.-The in-
quiry into the cause of the fire at the
Subiaco Coffee Palace, which, was ad-
journed at 10 p.m. ort Monday until li a.m.
yesterday was continued at that hour.
The witness Bradbury was recalled a
second time. A. Roberts, his brother-in
law, the owner of the premises, also gave
evidence which merely related to financial
transactions between 'the two. At the
close of the hearing of the evidence the
iuquest was further adjourned until 11 a.m.
on the 9th inst.
COMING BACK TO WORK.-The Acting
Premier (Mr. E. H. Wittenoom), "who,
accompanied by the Commissioner oE Kail
ways (Mr. F. H. Piesse) and the Attorney
General (Mr. K. W. Pennefather) has been
spending the List few days in Albany and
taking part in the various functions ar-
ranged in connection with what has bsen
named " Albany Week," forwarded a
telegram yesterday to the Acting Under-
secretary (Mr. L. S. Eliot) stating that
he would loave for Perth to-day. Mr
Piesse and Mr. Pennefather will return
with him.
TKE PERTH OMNIBUS COMPANY.-The
stock-in-trade and premises of the Perth
Omnibus Company, iu Pier-street, with the
lease of .the land on which the buildings
which comprise the company's terminus
are situated, were submitted to auction by
Messrs. Clerk and Grimwood yesterday
morning. The buildings and lease wera
disposed of to Mr. E. K. Courthope for
£50. Seven omnibuses were disposed of
to various purchasers at an average of
about £25 each, and 26 horses at an ave-
rage of between £9 and £10 each. The
principal buyers were Messrs. Bonnar,
Woods, and Harris.
A NUISANCE.-Complaints are frequently
being made by many persons who pass
along Hay-street in the vicinity of King
street, concerning the accumulation of mal-
odorous liquids at the junction of the two
streets. The attention of a representative
of the WEST AUSTRALIAN was directed to
the nuisance yesterday. The drain pipes
at both corners appeared to have become
choked, the result being that the water,
instead of passing away, filled the inlets to
the pipes, and in one instance overflowed
into the streets, emitting a very obnoxious
elluvium. No doubt the City Council needs
only to have its attention drawn to the
existence of the nuisance to take steps to
at once remedy it.
THE COLLIE COALFIELD.-At the meet-
ing of the Chamber of Mines yesterday the
secretary (Mr. E. T. Scammsll) said that
at the invitation of Dr. Bemiington and
Mr. E. A. Harney, who represented the
Collie Trust, he had visited the Collie
coalfields. He had seen a new seam of
coal, which was 3ft. in width, and had a
depth of Gült. The coal had every appear-
ance of being of excellent quality. He had
also the opportunity ot visiting the West
Collie, where the works in progress were
encouraging. Samples of the coal from the
Collie Trust and the West Collie were on
exhibition in the chamber. Mr. Scammell
added that during his visit he had been
informed that the Government had con-
ditionally entered into a contract for the
supply of 25,000 tons of Collie coal for
railway purposes.
CORONER'S INQUESTS. The Coroner (Dr.
Lovegrove) and the jury previously em-
panelled, yesterday continued the inquiry
into the cause of the death of Charley Ah
You, a Chinese, who died suddenly on
the 15th ultimo. The evidence of You
Lee, a Chinese, at whose house deceased
had been living, Dr. Horrocks, and Mr.
Mann (the Government Analyst) was
taken, when the Coroner formulated the
following verdict for the approval of the
jury:- "That the deceased died from
heart failure accelerated by the use of
opium, but there was no evidence to show
how the opium was administered." Then
Sergeant Duncan called Florence Harford,
who had acted a prominent part in the
Cubbine poisoning case, and had lived for
seven years with the deceased, and she
deposed that deceased was in the habit of
taking opium pills when he could not get
an opium smoke. The foregoing verdict
was returned. The inquest on F. W.
Ford, who died suddenly on the 2nd
instant, and which was to have been
held yesterday, was adjourned sine die.
An inquest was opened yesterday by the
coroner (Dr. Lovegrove) into the cause of
the death of Kate Teehan, who committed
suicide by setting fire to her clothing on
Monday at the Old Women's Depot. The
jury consisted of Messrs. Robert Kerry
(foreman), L. Burke, and P. Lennon.
Having viewed the body the inquest was ad-
journed until 4 p.m. on Monday next, 14th
inst. The adjourned inquest into the death
of Robert Northway, who died suddenly at
the hospital on Tuesday, the 1st inst., was
continued yesterday. The evidence of
R. G. Jennings, W. Hepden, Drs. Trethowen
and Spencer having been heard, the jury
returned a verdict to the effect that death
resulted from heart failure, induced by ex-
cessive drinking, and blood poisoning. A
rider was added, stating that in the opinion
of the jury no person should be allowed to
sleep in public conveyance.
TAKEN ILL IN THE STREET. — Yesterday
evening about 6 o’clock a report was made
to Constable Tillotson that a man was
dying in front of the City Hotel, at the
corner ot Murray and King Streets. On
proceeding thither the constable found
that a man named Walter George Spooner
had been carried into the bar of the hotel
from the street he being apparently very
ill. Tillotson took the sick man to the
hospital where he was detained for treat-
ment. Spooner had been for some time an
out-patient of the hospital.
A LADIES “CROSS-SADDLE CLUB.” - The
masculine world is now quite accustomed
to the cross saddle position assumed by
women on “bikes” and thus it may be
that the side-saddle for horse riding is
doomed to pass away. The fair riders in
California, at all events, have made up
their minds upon the subject. As a pre-
liminary (says a writer in the Medical
Press and Circular) they have formed a
Cross-saddle Club, each member of which
pledges herself to ride on horseback in no
other style. They hold that it is the most
sensible comfortable and only rational
position by which a horse can be properly
and gracefully ridden. The difficultly as
to costume, we learn is easily met by the
adoption of the divided ulster-whatever
that may be.
OUR TELEGRAMS:- The telegraph lines
between this colony and South Aus-
tralia, which have been working exceed-
ingly badly for some time past, utterly
collapsed yesterday evening at about 7
o'clock. Communication had not been re-
stored when we went to press this morning.
The breakdown is attributed to leakage
caused by climatic influences. The
perfect condition of our own lines
would, however, seem to indicate that
a more active supervision on the part
of the South Australian telegraph
administration would result in a
more perfect insulation being secured, and
to an end being put to the present
truly exasperating state of affairs.
The ill condition of this service is respon-
sible for the absence from our columns
this morning of our usual budget of
foreign and intercolonial news.
FIRE IN HAY STREET- At 3.35 am yes-
terday Constable Kennedy on duty in
Hay-street, noticed a glare as from a fire at
the back of the Hotel Metropole. He im-
mediately reported the fact at the
police station, and Corporal Maxwell
and Eesei ve-constable Brown accompanied
him to the locality 4n non fence and
Oft wall weie negotiated by the three
officers before the} discoieied that a
building used as i wash and wood house,
foiming pait of tho premises of the
Bank of Australasia was in flames A
garden hose was got to woik and
the file kept well under control
Meanwhile the fire brigade had been
called and turned out, and after the
usual hunt foi a fireplug succeeded m
pouring a stream of water on the flames,
which were speedily and completely
extinguished
JU-IIPING SEATS IN EAILWAT CARRIAGFS
-A decision of Judge Emden's at Tun-
bridge Wells County Couit (remarks .in
English writer) will meet with the appioval
of colonul latlway travellers and check
the practice of jumping " seats which is
so fiequent Pis engei No 1, leaving his
carriage at Tunbridge Wells for a moment,
deposited on his s°at a magazine and
umbiella Passenger No 2 ou the
guard s invitation to " take your
seats ' took the seat of pas-
senger No 1 and on being asked
to restore it to its rightful owner
declined to stir Thereupon passenger
No 1 took the law and the obnoxious
"jumpei ' into his own hands and elected
the latter Litigation ensued No 2
brought an action for ten guineas
damages No 1 counter claimed foi
the samo amount The ]udge held
that theie .was obvious neeessitv for pas-
sengers to leave then seats occasionally,
that there weie sufficient signs of prior
possession on the seat when it had been
appiopnated, and that the owner was
entitled to use reasonable force to regain
his seat The jumper " was non suited
and the countei claim sustained
MR Kiprrso IND nit IOMBSTONF-Mr
Eudyard Kiplmg, it seems, has Deen (says
an exchange) the lecnnent of a giacetul
compliment fiom Austiali i Di Nicholls
who ivis an enthiisi istie admirer of
the woiks ot the Vnglo Indian wntei,
íecently died at Poit Geimam, South
Australia, aud his friends msciibed
on Ins tombstone the last verse
of Kiolmg's ' l.iLn\oi " Aphotogiaph senn
te Mi Kipling elicited the tollo-viug letter
- Deal ¡sir -I cannot tell j ou how touched
and proud I am to thmk that you found any
veLses ot mine wo-tby to put on a good
mans gia\e You must be a brotherly set
of tolk it Port Germain to do what you have
done for the doctoi s meium y and here in
England 1 take oil my li it to the lot of
?\ ou There i» nothing a m m's people i alua
more than thfe knowltd¿e that one of then
km has been decently buried when he has
gone under in ifu eoantiy, and some day
oi other Port G et main will get its reward
Will you s>end me a copy o£ i local paper so
that I may know something more about
your part oF th» woild J Wh it do you do J
Wh it do you expectJ Wh it back country
do you sei ve5 And how in my ire theie
of you 8 I want to learn fuither paiti
culars, as the panels saj Thanking you
igam for your com tes v, behe\e me, very
sincerel} jouis Rudvard Kipling"
SOUIH ArKlCA AND Aühll Al IAN WoPK
XF\ -Mr Leslie J Pai k, general managei
ot the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance
Soeieny, Ltd Collins stieei, who has lately
returned to Melbourne irom m extended
business tour in South Atuca, has given an
Age mcerviewei some mteiesting paiticu
1 ir» concerning the conaitions of life in
that pait ot the woild Foi various
îeasono," said he, ' Toiunnesburg is the
city which we hen spoken oE most
fieuuently heie "Vet, while I con
sidei it i must maivellous city for its
ige I found the pe>ple there ciymg
(iittnat business was greatly íetaided by
i.he un ettled srate of the republic itself
\Voikm«ii there aie »eil paid duiing such
tim« is their services aie requited, buteui
plovment is piecanous and the cost of liv-
ing is veiv hign Most ot those who do not
live in hotels lentioouis in houses specially
built foi the nurpose and pa} fiom 15s to
20s pei loom, uutiunislie 1 'lhe cost for
meals without dunk at anv Uecent hotel
theie nuiges ¿2 pei week and having
noted i tiling priées I «im thorough'y satis
lied th it j. meehanic would hu bettei off in
A ictori i evt-u an half tie wa.ge he would
pioeuro in the ii msvaal South Vinci is
no pi lee tot lum He li id better beal tha
ills he has tuan fly to othera that he
knows not ol' lne building tiada at
piesent is at a standstill In the un-
settled state of tue country generally
e ipitalists do not deem it expedient to.
call for tenders oi proceed withX
the election ot an} more buildings
In it «v tho explanation given me
Mi own onnion is that Joh innesburg
is oveibuilt iho"dy V» hile there 1 visited
the Citv and Subuioaii mine, a going con-
cern whicn is putting thee} anule pioc03s
to profita bl J use, ml eluplo}s no fewei
than 3,o00 d irivi^s ' Hie li iveller in South
Afrca carnot fail to bo niptessed with
the p-oi alenee ot bl ick labour Coloured
wort men are euulo}ed oei} where, es-
pecially in th» mines i id they wo I ab
i ites i 'nc'i eífectu ilh shut out the white
man I was in ii neu that theis we e
no fevei than 71rJ0 coloured laboiueis
eupioyed on the mines on the
Hand and only recently a »aving
ot ¿00 000 pei inn i u was effected by
rediicmg tho wages ot thes« men 4.6
Piefeim uit/onig, the cimtal ot Natal,
md several oih'- pi !»".> ihit I visiced
there weie nuny c mini mis of st ignant
bus uess and even in C ipetown I
was foicod to the eouli'sion that there
w is no scope fo" -iutialiin nor1 men.
Mm/ who ha e join nt} ed theie hoping to
ootain lu tat've em»'u} ni'-nt haï" been
bitterlv disappointed, ind mimbeis voie
re embarking tor Ausrialian poits while J
was at the Cape "
$