Sir Henry Loch, the High Commissioner and Governor of the
Cape Colony, was entertained at the Hotel Metro-
pole on Monday, Sir John Lubbock in the chair. In reply to the toast of his health, Sir Henry Loch made an interesting speech on the rapid progress of the vast dominions of which he is the Chief Governor, stating that the gold-field of Johannesburg now yields 4i millions of gold yearly, and that it will in two or three years yield at least 9 or 10 millions. The gold-fields of Victoria,. Australia, never yielded more than 12 millions a year, at the highest point ; but the gold-field of Johannesburg is of far greater extent than those of Victoria, and quite as rich. He gave great credit to the directors of the very large diamond- fields for their readiness to assist in the development of the country ; and he expected that Mashonaland, which is now traversed by roads and telegraphs, world prove a very rich country. Even its gold-reefs were all likely to be productive. He spoke with great respect of some of the Native chiefs, especially Kama, who is, he said, a Christian, not only in profession, but in practice. South Africa is a country which will never be without its political difficulties, but these difficulties may all be surmounted with care and patience, and he held strongly that the Government should give its assistance to the development of the great territories for the protection of which we have now become responsible.
Previous page
