Discovery of the Witwaternrand Gold Fields 196 



assays) was also shown and the exhibition made a 

 favourable impression on all present, especially on 

 those who were best acquainted with gold-mining. 

 In a speech made upon the mining question, Mr. 

 Struben laid stress upon the duty of the Government, 

 to foster and protect the mining interests ; and of 

 the Volksraad, by wise legislation not to crush but 

 to assist in developing this new and important 

 industry in the district. Mr. Struben said that com- 

 plaints were heard from all classes of the poverty of 

 the land, the loss of trade, and the scarcity of money ; 

 but he maintained that such a state of things need 

 not exist. The Transvaal, with its streams of water, 

 grazing, agricultural, and especially mining capa- 

 bilities, was the richest portion of South Africa and 

 the district of Pretoria was, in his opinion, the 

 richest part of the Transvaal. He considered that 

 it would rest with the Government, the Raad and 

 the people, as to whether these resources were 

 developed, or smothered ; it would not be the fault of 

 the soil. He trusted that the Volksraad would so 

 legislate this session, upon the important question of 

 the revision of the gold law, that proprietary rights 

 should be fully defined, acknowledged and protected, 

 and no excessive duties and royalties levied that 

 would cripple the mining industry. The digger, 

 who was the exploiter of the minerals, and the 

 consumer of the agricultural produce of the country, 

 should be encouraged and protected ; as long as he 

 proved himself a law-abiding citizen ; and that the 

 Government lands should be thrown open to him. 

 Mr. Struben further described the work done by his 

 brother Mr. F. Struben in prospecting, mining etc., 

 OR the Witwatersrand, during the last sixteen 

 months. A great deal of hard work had been done 

 in tracing the reef for over twelve miles ; sinking 



