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HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
Feb: 27: 1902
My venerable Uncle
My monthly letter has been much delayed this month but I have been so busy with many things that I have not had a moment to myself. I hear from my mother that my Aunt is going to reform W. Robb. Weel-a weel! It's not for me to offer remarks. I daresay it's a very good arrangement. If you tell me when the wedding is to be, I'll send her a present. Has Miss Aitken set the heather on fire
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yet. I suppose John Robb will stay on as gardener.
Little Marshall of Rachan has been here for the last month, and him and me has grown very thick. Yon's a fine wee man, ye ken! I took him to dine with Lord Milner, which pleased him greatly. It is almost impossible for anybody who is not out here to realise how rich he is; but I should say that he could buy out Sir Charles Tennant twice over. He has been very useful to me in connection with Land Settlement, and has given me a lot of valuable information.
My Land Settlement schemes are,
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I am glad to say, going very well. At present we can only buy land privately, but I have 4 agents inspecting in different parts of the country, and I go about a good deal myself, so altogether we have received a fair amount. But when we get our powers of expropriation - which I hope will be in 2 months' time - we will be able to secure great tracts, and make our proposals at once. At present we have about 300 settlers altogether, but we want before we are done 5000. I have just been drawing up the statute defining the conditions of tenure. I send you a copy of it, and also a copy of Willcock's Report on the Irrigation
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and Agricultural possibilities of S. Africa. Lord M, as I think I told you, wanted to put me at the head of the whole show, but I declined, as it would tie me up here for an indefinite time.
How are you all at Broughton & Bamflat? I wish I was there, now that the spring is coming on. Life here is very pleasant but very wearing. My head is constantly full of things, and I don't get much leisure. But I enjoy it, and it is a wonderful experience.
My parents seem to be enjoying Port Elizabeth. What's going to happen to you? Marriage? I hope not. Dan Tudhope wrote to me the other day.
With love to all
yours ever
John Buchan
