Mr. E. J. Howard, M. P., delivered a preliminary lecture, in the Christchurch Railway Social Hall. It was an exceedingly rough night so that only the enthusiasts turned out. Mr. Howard's subject was “South Africa-with particular reference to the Zimbabue Ruins.”

Beginning with the physical features of the country, Mr. Howard pointed out the effect they had on the climate, and told how both influenced the economic development of South Africa. Passing to an historical survey of the various peoples, the lecturer explained the resemblance of the Bushmen to the Australian Aboriginals, and dealt with the Hottentots (who were people of a higher type which supplanted the Bushman), the Banter (who came from the Northern Plateau and conquered the Hottentot), and the Dutch, who were the first white settlers. The lecturer referred at some length to the events since England purchased Cape Colony in 1814, and gave an interesting review of how England decreed the abolition of slavery. He referred also to the great Boer trek of 1838, the founding of Orange Free State, the Transvaal, the career of Cecil Rhodes and his share in the development of South Africa, the Jamieson raid the discoveries of gold and diamonds-a truly romantic story.

A short survey followed of the conditions under which the gold and diamond miners worked. We learned about the different geological conditions favourable to the finding of diamonds and gold and how diamonds may be discovered embedded in a class of pug and in funnel-like pockets. Diamond mining, said Mr. Howard, is a healthy occupation compared with gold mining, in which so many miners fall victims to Miners' Phthisis-a form of consumption resulting from particles of quartz lodging in the lungs. The political situation following the Act of Union was reviewed, as also was the race problem confronting the Government. There is in South Africa a population of ten million natives and two million whites. The numbers of the latter increase but slowly, whilst the native population doubles itself every twenty-five years.

The Zimbabue Ruins were described in detail, and it was here that Mr. Howard gave us of his best. Lantern slides were shown illustrating these historic ruins as the lecturer unfolded the story they tell of the forgotten race of super-masons who left this monument of their art.

The lecture was delivered in the lecturer's well-known racy and witty style and was well worth braving the elements to hear. The members present received with applause an offer of a further lecture by Mr. Howard who, by the way, passes his South African “Railway Magazine” along to our Railway Library.

On May 3rd we settled down to our session's work in the economic field.

* * *