CHINESE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
[To THE EDITOR Dr TILE "SrzoTsron."] SIR,—I am astonished at the foolish information published with respect to gold mining. Some persons solemnly affirm that white men could not do it, on physical grounds, &c. In answer to all this talk about the business not being able to pay for white labour, I recall the mining in Australia, particularly the reefs worked at Ballarat and Charters Towers. The first mentioned are much older and deeper than the Johannesburg mines ; the climate is much the same, for I have experienced both ; yet at Ballarat and in Queensland there is nothing but white labour. The same pro- cesses of drilling, stamping, &c., are carried on, and the men receive eight and ten shillings per day. The Ballarat seams are almost identical in fineness with the South African mines almost throughout the reef, and why the latter should require Chinese bond labour I cannot conceive.—I am, Sir, &c., 204 Duke Street, Southport.
RICHARD BARNES.
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