Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/247

ADMINISTRATION OF NATAL. 189 surfaces of the elevated inland plateau. Here the villages lie sheltered from the keen winds in the depressions of the grassy soil. Besides Durban and Maritzburg only three other places in Natal — Verulam, Ladysmith, and Newcastle — were of sufficient importance in 1886 to constitute themselves municipal towns. Admi nistration. — Finance. Natal has not yet risen to the dignity of an autonomous colony enjoying self- government, naming its own ministers and providing for its own defence. It is etill a " crown colony," directly dependent on the British Government, although already possessing a certain degree of independence. The Governor of Natal is appointed by the Queen, as is also the Executive Council, which consists of the Chief Justice, the senior officer in command of the troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Secretary for Native Affairs, the Colonial Engineer, and two members nominated by the Governor from among the deputies elected to the Legislative Council. Till recently half the members of the Legisla- tive Council were also nominated by the Crown ; but under the Act which received the royal assent in 1883, this body now consists of thirty members, seven only of whom are appointed by the Crown, and all the others elected by the counties and boroughs, the qualification of electors being the possession of immovable property to the value of £50, or renting such property of the annual value of £10, or residence of three years in the colony with an income of £96 per annum, inclusive of allowances. Nobody is officially excluded from the franchise on the ground of his colour, his origin, or his religion. But the bulk of the aborigines and Asiatics are practically disfranchised by a sweeping clause, to the effect that none shall be inscribed on the list of voters who may belong to any class placed by special legislation under the jurisdiction of special courts or subject to special laws and tribunals. By this arrangement the elections are at present almost entirely controlled by the white vote, and Natal is prevented from reverting to the state of anarchy which prevailed in this region before the introduction of the European system of government. The central authority appoints the judges of the Supreme Court, the resident magistrates, and the " field- comets," who maintain order in the various districts. It also names the administrators and employes, and even selects the greater part of the professors and teachers, the public instruction depending to a great extent on the colonial budget. Durban and Maritzburg have each its high school, whence students holding scholarships may pass on to the English universities. The large towns are provided with primary schools supported by the colonial funds. A large number of private schools, especially those belonging to the missions, also receive Government aid, either in money or land. Edendale, near Maritzburg, is the chief centre of the educational zeal displayed by the "Wesleyan missionaries. The examinations in the various schools are conducted by special examiners. But notwithstanding all this machinery the proportion of native children who learn to