In 1886 the wonderful richness of the Sheba Mine in Barberton attracted a good deal of attention, and drew a large number of persons—­prospectors, speculators, traders, etc.—­to the Transvaal.  Before the end of 1887 ten or twelve thousand must have poured into the country.  The effect was magical.  The revenue which had already increased by 50 per cent. in 1886, doubled itself in 1887, and then there came unto the Boer Government that which they had least expected—­ample means to pursue their greater ambitions.  But unmixed good comes to few, and with the blessings of plenty came the cares of Government, the problem of dealing with people whose habits, thoughts, ambitions, methods, language, and logic differed utterly from their own.  Father Abraham on the London Stock Exchange would not be much more ‘at sea’ than the peasant farmers of the Volksraad were in dealing with the requirements of the new settlers.

Agitations for reforms commenced early in Barberton.  At first it was only roads and bridges that were wanted, or the remission of certain taxes, or security of title for stands and claims.  Later on a political association named the Transvaal Republican Union was formed in Barberton, having a constitution and programme much the same as those of the Transvaal National Union, formed some five years later in Johannesburg.  The work of this body was looked on with much disfavour by the Government, and it was intimated to some of the prominent members that if they did not cease to concern themselves with politics they would suffer in their business relations, and might even be called upon to leave the country.  Many reforms were specified as desirable, and the franchise question was raised, with the object of getting the Government to make some reasonable provision in lieu of the registration clause, which was found in most cases to be an absolute bar.

The discovery of the Witwatersrand conglomerate formation soon helped to swell the flowing tide of prosperity.  In the middle of 1887 the regular output of gold commenced, and the fields have never ‘looked back’ since.  Johannesburg—­named after Mr. Johannes Rissik, the Surveyor-General of the Transvaal—­was soon a far greater problem than Barberton had been.  The shareholders in the mines soon found it necessary to have some organization to protect their interests and give unison to their policy, and to preserve the records and collect information for the industry.  The Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines was then formed, a voluntary business association of unique interest and efficiency.  The organization includes all the representative and influential men, and every company of any consequence connected with the mining industry; and it has, through its committee and officials, for eight years represented to the Volksraad the existence of abuses and grievances, the remedies that are required, and the measures which are felt to be necessary or conducive to the progress of the industry in particular,