this traffic only indicate and suggest the wide area covered by this monopoly, which hitherto has made but halting and feeble efforts to keep pace with the requirements of the public.  Dealing as it does with the imports of the whole country, which now amount in value to L10,000,000, the figures we have given must serve merely to illustrate its invertebrate methods of handling traffic, as well as its grasping greed in enforcing the rates fixed by the terms of its concession.  Its forty miles of Rand steam tram-line and thirty-five miles of railway from the Vaal River, with some little assistance from the Delagoa line and Customs, brought in a revenue of about L1,250,000 in 1895.  Now that the Natal line is opened the receipts will probably amount to nearly L3,000,000 per annum, all of which should swell the ordinary revenue of the country, instead of remaining in the hands of foreigners as a reservoir of wealth for indigent Hollanders to exploit.  The total railway earnings of the Cape and Natal together over all their lines amounted to L3,916,566 in 1895, and the capital expenditure on railways by these colonies amounts to L26,000,000.  The greater portion of these receipts come from the Rand trade, which is compelled to pay an additional L2,500,000, carrying charges to the Netherlands Company, which has L7,000,000 of capital.  Thus, railway receipts in South Africa amount now to L7,000,000 per annum, of which the Rand contributes at least L5,000,000.

The revenue of the company is now considerably over L3,000,000 per annum.  The management claim that their expenses amount to but 40 per cent. of revenue, and this is regarded by them as a matter for general congratulation.  The Uitlanders contend that the concern is grossly mismanaged, and that the low cost of working is a fiction.  It only appears low by contrast with a revenue swollen by preposterously heavy rates and protected by a monopoly.  The tariff could be reduced by one-half; that is to say, a remission of taxation to the tune of one and a half million annually could be effected without depriving the Company of a legitimate and indeed very handsome profit.

[Selati Railway.]

The Selati Railway Scheme!  ’Conceived in iniquity, delivered in shame, died in disgrace!’ might be its history, but for the fact that it is not quite dead yet.  But very nearly!  The concession was obtained during the Session of 1890 by a member of the First Volksraad, Mr. Barend J. Vorster, jun., who himself took part in and guided the tone of the debate which decided the granting of the concession.  The Raad resolved to endeavour to obtain the favourable opinions of their constituents, but before doing so the generous Mr. Vorster made what he was pleased to call ‘presents’ to the members—­American spiders, Cape carts, gold watches, shares in the Company to be floated, and sums in cash—­were the trifles by which Mr. Vorster won his way to favour.  He placated the President by presenting to the Volksraad a portrait