254
J Altitude •
1 70 feet. 1
Distance -
50 miles. 1
Gigantic ferns, brilliantly-coloured flowers, and blossoming trees form continuous decoration, while hills are piled on hills revealing the presence of many-hued granite. The line follows the winding river for several miles, and some very heavy cuttings have been made. The only station on the Branch, although there are several sidings tapping the sugar-cane fields, is—
ESPERANZA, hollow-set and surrounded by high hills, mostly sugar-bearing.
The extensive sugar-mill and distillery of the Esperanza Estate is here. It comprises some 15,000 acres and gives employment to over 1.000 Indians. The prolific Equeefa district contributes a large quantity of the cane.
The neighbouring country is greatly contorted, and the singular formation would point to the undoubted existence of metals, both gold and copper. The Umzinto district has received some attention from prospectors, and gold has been found at Dumisa, on the Highflats Road ; alluvial pockets have also been discovered in the Equeefa valley, but no efforts of any magnitude have been made to test the actual worth of the discovery.
The southern terminus of the Stuartstown narrow gauge line is situated
here.
UMZINTO is a large-sized, pretty, healthy village, very scattered, nearly 300 feet Ç Altitude - - 276 feet. abovethe sea, in the vicinity of some of the finest sugar- 1 Distancc - _ - 51 miles - 1 land in the Province.
The hilly approach to the main portion of the town is picturesque, and the Public Hall, adjoining tennis courts, and recreation grounds passed on the way, are very pleasantly situated. Umzinto is the seat of a magistracy for the division, and possesses such useful and necessary buildings as a Magistrate's Court, Post and Telegraph offices. Police Barracks. Volunteer Drill Hall. Armoury (this being the headquarters of the Border Mounted Rifles), Government School, the Anglican Church, and a hospital. There are several mills, wagon builders' and blacksmiths' establishments, four hotels, and a number of stores. The population consists of about 500 Europeans and a large number of Indians. The latter have their own schools, hospital, and church. There is a Roman Catholic Mission in the neighbourhood. Besides the staple sugar, mealies, beans, tea, tobacco, ground nuts, and fruit are important productions.
Umzinto is six and a half miles from the South Coast Line at Alexandra Junction, and the branch train makes connection with the several passenger trains to and from Durban.
From ALEXANDRA JUNCTION TO PORT SHEPSTONE
Returning to the South Coast Line. Between Alexandra Junction and Umtwalumi, the next station, the stopping places of Pennington, Isezela, and Ifafa are located. Ifafa is the best known of the three, and is one of the largest recruits to the health and holiday resorts on this coast. The estuary of the river of that name is a striking sheet of water, and the general attractions are in no way inferior to those at other points.