The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-10
ARTHUR REYNOLDS TELLS OF
THE TRANSVAAL.
Light Upon South African Affairs
from the Pen of Former Honolulu
Man-Back Number Government.

y
graphic description of the affairs at
Johannesburg in a letter dated Feb.
22, which has been kindly put at the
disposal of The Star. Mr.. Reynolds
is getting on professionally. but the
political condition of affairs works
against business progress Mr.. Rey-
nolds says:
"The political condition of the
Transvaal is of particular interest
just now. and there is just as much
reason that the Dutch rule should
give place to better one, as there
was for the Provisional Government
to displace the rule of the eX-Queen.
"When L arrived here my sympa-
thies were as much with the Dutch as
with the English, because | thought
the former only denied certain rights
and privileges to the latter for the
reason that they were afraid that the
English, if given. the least power,
would take more and displace the
Duucn allOReUner.
''The resources of the country, con-
sisting of gold and coal mines, would
remain entirely undeveloped, bu t for
the enterprise of English-speaking
people. AS it is, every obstacle is put
in the way, such as giving the mo#op-
oily of the dynamite concession to a
German company, who are reaping a
rich harvest therefrom and filing con-
tracts as it suits their pleasure. Also,
the railroads ION which none but
Dutch can get employment) are al
lowed to run and make charges to
suit themselves. The bad service, ex-
orbitant tariffs, loss of goods and gen
eral mismanagement are notorious,
but without remedy.
"Then the people are bled by the
highest of customs charges and taxa
tion on property. The late assessment
roll illustrates the Ignorance and fol
ly of those in power. Assessors were
appointed who were remunerated by
a percentage on the values they fixed
and the returns were so out of all rea
son that the committee had to sit
day after day listening to appeals ant
revising. Almost all the values were
reduced.
"Now. these taxes and duties. which
ought to go for the public improve
ments which are so much needed, ar,
voted instead, for the increase of thu
Dutch army, Dutch schools, wher,
English is not allowed to be taugh
or spoken, Dutch salaries, etc.
Recently the Postmaster Genera
organized a house-to-house deliver.
service in Johannesburg, and nov
that it is in good working order, tn
Government has voted that it be dis
continued. The Postmaster made i
evident that previously large quan
/, titles of mail were returned to tn
dead-letter office, because the limite
number of boxes were entirely insuf
, ficient; that the crowds at the gen
eral delivery department was so grea
that extra policemen had to be EN-
ployed to keep order, and that
house-to-house delivery would hav
its expenses met by the extra stamp
sold, for merchants would send NOR
circulars and there would be answer
to letters otherwise lost.
"One of the members of the Legis
lature said, as an argument agains
this, that Johannesburg enjoyed to-
many privileges already that tn
Dutch towns did not have
"Now, it is not likely that the Eng
disappearing people are going to al
low the Dutch to rub it in forever
and it is thought that the Rhodes in
quiry, now going on in England, wi
have the effect of making Great Brit
ain more familiar with the eXasper
ating state of things, and that ther
will prove to be sufficient reasons 70
, intervention.
"What promises, in addition, to b
a good reason, is the Judges Bill
which has just past. As I understan
it, the merits of the case are as fol
lows: Brown VS.. the State was
suit for the recovery of 100000, an
related to some gold-bearing Ian
/ claims. The Supreme Judges decide
the case against the State. but thei
decision might have been the reverse
had they been governed by a certai
Legislative resolution, which, howeN
er, they considered in its nature M
constitution. The Legislature immt
diately became alarmed, and in orde
to provide in future that their resC
lutions should be unquestioned, draf
ed the bill requiring the Suprem