The Colonies and India from London, Greater London, England • Page 23

SEPT. 10,1890 COLONIES AND INDIA 23 THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY. WHAT HAS BEEN" ACCOMPLISHED UP TO NOW. It is now nearly a year since a charter was granted to the British South Africa Company. During that brief space of time the march of events in Africa has been at an increasingly rapid rate.

Many rumours have appeared from time to time as to the fortunes of the company. Dark hints of disaster have been published one day to be contradicted the next; while, on the other hand, exaggerated statements have been circulated as to the successes of the company's enterprises, the annexations which have been made, and the unlimited supplies of gold which have been discovered upon its territories. It will, therefore, be of interest at the present time to give the following plain statement of what has actually been accomplished, and what are the prospects of the company in the near future, supplied by a correspondent of the With regard to the area over which the company's jurisdiction extends, it should be borne in mind that it is practically undefined, except in so far as the claims of other countries and of British Colonies are concerned. The extensive region vaguely known as Matabeleland is that with which the present operations of the company are immediately concerned. Khama's the Bechuanaland protectorate, and other patches of territory between the Crown Colony and the Zambesi may, if deemed advisable, be committed to the administration of the company in the future.

Already on the north of the Zambesi the company has secured the whole of the Barotse country, and at the present moment expeditions are in the field exploring the region between Lake Nyassa and the Upper Zambesi, and making treaties with the native chiefs: in this region, according to the Anglo-Portuguese arrangement, Portugal has no claim whatever. It should be remembered in this connection that the British South Africa Company is worked in conjunction with the African Lakes Company, which has at last been awakened from its many years' sleep. The latest rumour as to the misfortunes of the company refers to an attack which has been made on Mr. Joseph Thomson's expedition on the British side of the Zambesi." Mr. Thomson is probably many hundreds of miles from the British side of the Zambesi, with which his expedition has nothiDg to do.

Long ago he safely passed the Portuguese authorities at the mouth of the river, and at this moment is probably far to the west of Lake Nyassa, with his young companion, a son of Colonel GTant, the veteran African explorer. The company is in no haste to put into practice the administrative powers conferred upon it by the charter. It is recognised that much preliminary work has to be done, and that meantime it is best to let well alone. However, the time is rapidly ripening for the establishment of some sort of administration, in order that the resources of Matabeleland and Mashonaland may be peacefully developed. No one knows the conditions better than Mr.

Cecil Ehodes, who, in conjunction with Mr. George Cawston, is the founder of the former being the ruling spirit in South Africa, while the latter is the leading director of affairs at home. Let me briefly point out what has actually been accomplished up to the present date. In order to bring the territories of the company within easier reach, the company undertook to extend the existing railway system of Cape Colony northwards through Bechuanaland. The work was begun on November 2 last, and on May 28 the first train Crossed the Vaal Biver on the temporary bridge, 47 miles from Kimberley and from the latest reports received the rails had been laid to a point 60 miles north from Kimberley, and the earthworks completed for a further 40 miles.

By October next, exactly one year after the granting of the charter, the line will in all likelihood be completed to Vryburg, 128 miles from Kimberley; it will be at once continued to Mafeking, 94 miles beyond Vryburg. By this means, among other advantages, a large part of the trade of the Transvaal will be tapped. From Mafeking northwards, a light line of railway will be constructed for the time being. The ultimate destination of the railway is the Zambesi, with branches east and west as may be deemed advisable and, to judge from the rate of progress up to the present time, we may expect to see the final destination reached in the near future. The Cape Government a telegraph line as far as Mafeking, and immediately on the charter being signed the company made arrangements to carry a line from Mafeking northwards to its own territory.

Material for 520 miles of telegraph was at once indented for, and the actual work of construction began on May 12, 1890. In a month 80 miles had been laid to Kamoutsa, where a station was established and by this time it is believed 200 miles have been completed. The native chiefs are giving great assistance by encouraging their followers to work for the constructing party; and it is a noteworthy fact that the Matabeles themselves are taking part as labourers in this and other undertakings of the company they find it pays better than even cattle-raiding or fighting. The first message sent over the new line from Ramoutsa was from the chief Ikaning to the on telegraph office being opened here. Hope it will lead to prosperity of my people.

Am doing my best to get Mr, Stanford all the men he requires, and will help him.in pushing forward with his work. It js a wonderful I am dark. I cannot understand it," The line is to be carried Palatswie Hills, north of the Maclqutsie River, a $istanoe of 435 miles, from Mafeking, with abranch oi As to, the Pioneer Force, which, so, many rumours have been circulated, the force, consists of 200, experienced white including prospectors, and 300 native labourers and wagon drivers. They are under the guidance of Mr. Selcus the famous hunter, who has spent many years in the Mafobele and Mashona countries.

Mr. Selous has undertaken to make a wagon road from the Shashi River to Mount Hampden, a distance of over 400 miles. The route at first proposed was one approved by Lobengula, running from a point on Shashi in and 35'S. in a north-easterly direction to Mount Wedza in and and thence N.N.W. to Mount Hampden in 20'E.

and 35'S. This route would have left the Matabele kraals well on the west; but from latest advices we learn that the route has been altered, and the pioneers have crossed the Shashi in 4015., and thence have struck in a south-easterly direction to the Crocodile River as far as 30'E. before striking N.E. to Mount Wedza. By this modification the pioneers will never be within 150 miles of the Matabele kraals, and.

will reduce to a minimum any risk there may have been of any misunderstanding 1 arising from the Matabele warriors being jealous of the force coming anywhere near their kraals. Communications are kept open by means of post runners and heliograph stations. These stations, in that mountainous country and clear atmosphere, can easily be worked at distances of 50 miles apart. Mr. A.

R. Colquboun, so well known for his work on the Burma-Chinese frontier, accompanies the pioneers, and it is expected that affairs in Mashonaland will be far enough advanced by the end of September to warrant the establishment of a regular administrative staff, of which Mr. Colquhoun is to be the head. It was hoped that the expedition would have started in the middle of May, but an unusually severe epidemic of horse sickness delayed it several weeks, and the Macloutsie was not crossed till June 25. By the present day it is believed the pioneers are well on their way to the highlands of Mashonaland.

With regard to the administrative powers of the company, it should be remembered that hitherto there have been serious difficulties, arising mainly from the many mining and exploring" companies that had claims over different sections of the territories. Some of them, and especially some individuals, advanced exorbitant claims to blackmail on the which it was difficult always to satisfy. There is no doubt that in this way the company has unwittingly created enemies, some of whom have thought it to be their interest to circulate rumours of disasters and which time has proved to be groundless. It should therefore be borne in mind that while the company's officials have had difficulties to contend with, the news with regard to such difficulties has come in a greatly exaggerated form from sources hostile to the company and its interests. Happily, most of the conflicting interests relating to Matabeleland and Mashonaland have been reconciled.

All the important concessions have been amalgamated into one United Concessions Company," with a capital of four millions; and it is expected that lii a snort time this company and the British South Africa Company will become essentially one, thereby rendering future operations much more Simple and easy. To ensure the peaceful occupation of Mashonaiahd and to protect pioneers from being interrupted by the Boers, it was deemed expedient to raise an efficient body of European mounted police; and from the high expectations held in the Colony of the future of, the company and the general eagerness to enter its service, Mr Rhodes has been able to select from a vast number applicants a splendid body of men. Though only a few months enrolled, Pennefather, the commandant, writes to Rhodes to say that be would not be ashamed to parade the British South Africa Company's police at Aldersbot. The fact is many young British officers have entered the service, and a large majority even of the privates are young men of good family. The police are divided into six troops, and are now stationed at entrenched posts just north of the Shashi Riyer, commanding the base of the road which is being cut into Mashonaland by the pioneers.

They are to hold and keep open communications and protect and help future immigrants, and to prevent, as far as possible, the entry into the company's territories of lawless marauders. The officers have been most carefully selected, and several of them, including the commandant, have had several years' service in South Africa with their regiments. Every effort is being made by the company to conciliate the chiefs within the sphere of influence and obtain concessions and treaties. Further expeditions have been sent into the Barotse country; Mr. Thomson's expedition has been already referred to; Mr.

H. H. Johnston did good service for the interests of the company as welt as the Lakes Company (and these are all British interests) between Lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika Portuguese claims have been peacefully settled. Thus the company has now a free hand. Checks and difficulties are, of course, expected, and enemies will continue to circulate evil rumours but the course of British annexation and settlement south and north of the Zambesi can no more be restrained than it has been in the past in other parts of Africa and in other parts of the world.

If the company continues to adhere to the terms of its charter and deals fairly with all interests, native and other, its operations cannot but commend themselves to the British public as a whole. The sooner the roads and the railway and the telegraph are completed, and a simple administration the sooner will the development of the vast resources of the company's territory begin and British commerce extend into new regions. BBITISH ASBESTOS Partners of Shis Company have had longer practical experience In Asbestos manufacture than any other London Honse. Manufacturers'of all kinds of Asbestos Faokinga and Jointings for Steam Engines, also Boiler Covering Composition. Specify Trade Phcenixi'V-lQ Duke Street, AJd.gate.'Londpn..