ithin a radius of 100
miles from the town there are many gold fields richer than those in the
immediate neighbourhood of the railway terminus. It is necessary to
state this in the clearest manner, for many will be carried away by the
idea that now the railway is at Bulawayo the output of gold should
follow immediately.

But even the most forward among the mining companies can only say: "We
have ordered all the needful machinery and shall set to work as soon as
it arrives." The machinery in a few cases is on the rail between Port
Elizabeth and Bulawayo; but the necessities of life must precede mining
machinery, and several weeks more may elapse before any portion of the
material may reach Bulawayo. Then we shall have to consider the
terrible calamity endured by Rhodesia, as well as South Africa in
general. The rinderpest is not over yet, and cattle, mules, and donkeys
are scarce, and the haulage of heavy machinery over the veld with feeble
and sickening cattle for forty, seventy, and a hundred miles will be a
tedious business.

Then will come the erection of buildings, the fitting of engines, etc.,
etc., with inexpert natives, and I think I need but suggest that all
these preliminaries will occupy much time. The more confident engineers
declare that they will be ready to produce about the middle of next
year. They may be as good as their word, knowing their business better
than we casual visitors; but it seems to me but common prudence to
withhold expectation of results until eighteen months from the present.

Rhodesia's Requirements.

There is no doubt in my mind that gold will be produced in payable
quantities from these Rhodesian mines; but the extent of profit depends
upon circumstances. It is also as certain that Rhodesia cannot hope to
compete with the Transvaal under present conditions. Bulawayo is 1360
miles from the sea, and at least 40 miles from the richest mines.
Johannesburg is 390 miles from the sea, and is in the centre of its
forty mile long gold field. That simple fact means a great deal, and
shows an enormous disadvantage to Rhodesia. The latter country will
have to pay four times more for freight than the Transvaal gold fields.
Against this must be set the small duties that will have to be paid.
After paying five per cent to Cape Colony, goods will be admitted free
to Rhodesia. Then the heavy taxes paid to the Boers will still further
diminish the disadvantages of Rhodesia; yet when we c