4 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



Advocate thinks that all is well. Later on in 

 the year the Land Officer, after many conscientious 

 inquiries and marginal notes, expresses his approval, 

 but has to refer the whole matter to the Governor. 

 From the Governor the matter crosses the seas to the 

 Colonial Office. In this office it rests for a while, to 

 end up finally with the Secretary of State for the 

 Colonies. Here, if it is too trivial, — and that it is trivial 

 indeed God knows — to become a matter of political 

 importance, there is a chance of its final settlement. 

 Now doubtless there is much to be said for such a 

 system, and indeed there must be when the success of 

 our colonial policy as a whole be considered ; still the 

 delay is not appreciated by the settler, who, in the 

 main, prefers a link in the chain, overriding tradi- 

 tion, to give him a straight yes or no to his request. 



What are the assets of the Highlands of the 

 country ? They start with its climate, which is a 

 glorious one. The question of its transcendent 

 health-giving attributes is discussed later, but there 

 can be no question whatever of the pleasure and joy 

 in life which it affords. The next asset lies in the 

 soil, which is rich and abundant. No need here to 

 look for alluvial washings or pockets ; all, or nearly 

 all, the soil is good and waiting to be tilled. Another 

 asset is our grazing, which is all that the heart of 

 man can desire. Then there are our rivers, which 

 are abundant, and many of which are clear and 

 beautiful. Again, our forests are almost unsurpassed 

 in Africa, and as they stand are worth many millions 

 of pounds. Labour in the Protectorate is plentiful 

 and intelligent ; a fact that not only increases the 

 value of our land a hundred per cent, but adds more 

 than that to the comfort of living thereon. We 



