simply marvellous what these American built wagonettes will stand; not, a bolt had started on the journey. Ours was one of Hooker & Co.’s, of New Haven, Connecticut and must have been of genuinely honest workmanship and material to stand so rough a journey. Our American cousins deserve every recommendation from South African travellers.

                     We had during our stay in Barberton been most hospitably entertained by our old Durban friends, Mrs and Mr W.R. Brown, which added immensely to the pleasure of our visit, and we bade them adieu with the warmest appreciation of their courtesy and kindness. The return journey was made without incident worth recording, and we arrived back fit and well, after a most enjoyable holiday, wonderfully impressed with all we had seen and heard of our local Golconda.

As we passed the coal mines of Dundee, and especially the “Eland’s Laagte” mine near Ladysmith, close by the road, we regretted very much that time would not permit our visiting them, as they have a very special interest for us, hardly inferior to the Gold Field, the illimitable wealth of this district in coal. being of immense importance to us in the near future. We – found the coal being used everywhere, .and on our railway with the best results confirmed by the reports from the steamers plying between here and Cape Town; and with the addition to our present line of railway of some 10 miles we shall be able to put it down at our port in abundance and at a price much below imported fuel. We have every reason, therefore, to be hopeful that our little colony will in the -near future be blessed, with substantial and permanent prosperity, the great factors, coal, gold and iron, being at our doors already.

THE MEANS OF HAPPINESS
By ODEAN – Part I