The Irish standard., 1900-06-16
GUNS BURIED BY BoERs.
Many Valuable Pieces Concealed
from the English Will BE
Sought For,

Snugly hidden under the soil of Co,
lenso, Magersfontein and Paardebur9
are several admirable specimens Of
modern gun construction which in the
hands of the Beers caused so much of
personal discomfort to the British.
The record of killed and wounded and
the character of the damage done to
property bear witness to the fact that
the Beers had these guns and knew
how to use them, says the Philadelphia
Press. 1t is equally certain that the
Beers could not have taken them on
their runaway retreat, and yet when
Gen. Roberts and Gen. Butler respect.
lively took possession of the territory
occupied by the Beers not the vestige
of Krupp or Maxim or howitzsy
was to be found.
There could be no doubt that the
guns lay buried somewhere in the terri
tory, but SO far all the ingenuity and
resource of the English scouts and
their officers have failed to find any
trace of them.
But now it is said the government 10
consulting with Lord Roberts on the
advisability of adopting the plan late.
~ suggested by Mr.. George Berthon, Q
former New Zealand colonist, now res.
ident in London.
This plan is none other than the
adoption of the system used by the
colonist and Maori diggers on the land
north of Auckland City, New Zealand,
IN digging for the Kauri resin, or gum,
which has now become one of the
staple products of the colony.
The implement used is long, sharp
prong or spear, made of well-tempered
steel, sharpcned to point which
makes penetration into the ground
comparatively easy. About this spear
there is no unique character-it diff
fers only from any ordinary implement
OF the same material by reason of its
extreme penetrating quality.
Nearly all of the Kauri resin found
in the soil of Auckland lies in three
layers. The first of the yield is found
within few inches of the surface; for
the second supply it is necessary to
probe ten or twelve inches below tho
surface, and for this purpose only q
short, well-tempcred spear, measuring
about six feet, is necessary. But fo1
the third and fourth layers of Kauri
gum it is necessary to probe the ground
for IL or Is feet, and for this the large
spear, measuring 10 feet and of proper
tionate power and strength, is used.
10 such degree has the sense Of
touch become refined among the Dig
gers that even the tniest piece of resin
cannot escape them. The vibration Of
contact with hard substance running
along the steel rod instantly commune
catcs itself to the digger.
Among the large New Zealand con-
tingent now at the front are great
number of former gum diggers, and
to these may be added the farmers of
the north and south islands of New
Zealand familiar with the work and
able to handle spear. 1t is now moro
than probable that these diggers will
be employed in the work of search
ing for the Beers guns.
Wherever the guns are buried the
earth is certain to be loosened, and
this will make the work of probing so
much the easier.
In connection with this subject it is
interesting to observe he hold which
the Kauri gum digging has obtained
upon the inhabitants of Auckland,
Three classes of persons are engaged
in the work of procuring the gum from
the soil-the diggcrs, who depend en-
tirely for their living upon the gum;
the farmers who regard the gum trade
as supplement to their regular in
come from the land, and the Maoris.
There arc no gangs" no business COM
binations, no wholesale employers of
labor-for each individual, conscious
that ton of the material will reulize
about $500 in the market, works by his
own hand. And in this condition NAV
be found the answer to the often-re-
peated question as to the cause of tho
deterioration of the farming industry
in northern New Zealand. The farm
CT, knowing thlt lie cnn always bc aD-
solutely certain of realizing few hum
dred pounds or SO for three weeks Dig
ging, loses all interest in the farming
industry, with he result that the land
in this respect detcroratcs in value.
Cow SWAIN Five Miles.
This COW, owned by the Oak Island