Frederic (Fred) Clayton

• General Notes
  • The place was named after Dr. Stanger, the first Surveyor-General of Natal. It has a strongly built Laager and Court House, two hotels, two churches, a Masonic Lodge which cost jC/SO, a population of about 130, and serves as the centre of a large and prosperous district. It is five miles from the sea, twentN' -eight miles from Verulam, and sixteen miles from the drift of the Lower Tugela.
    
    Two and a half miles to the south-ea.-rtward is the well-appointed Sugar Factory and Estate named " Gledhow," the property of Colonel Addison. Four miles further along the road is the New Guelderland Sugar Mill. At the mouth of the Umvoti River, seaside cottages can be hired, and good fishing and fair shooting are obtainable in the season. Sixteen miles beyond Stanger, the broad Tugela, already so frequently mentioned, flows into the sea.
    
    Tea.
    
    
    
    A five-mile drive from Stanger, in a north-wester!}' direction, will bring the traveller to the ver\- centre of the Tea Plantations. The drive from Stanger to the wideh- known Kearsney Estate, is replete with artistic enjo\-ment, the road wending through an open rolling countr}-, which in places would require no culture to constitute a park. Presently the stately mansion of Mr. J. Liege Hulett, J. P., M.L./\., is sighted, and the park-like impression made b\' the wild country, here becomes a reality ; for as the house is approached through long and beautifully kept avenues, the mind calls up recollections of the homeland. Ever}'where, e\"idences of careful and artistic culture are apparent.
    
    The fields of tea plants, hedged in b}- break-winds of tall trees, look like pleasure grounds. Bowered in its wealth of tinted foliage and flowers, the house presents as pleasant a sight of its kind as can be had in Natal. It is two-storied, surrounded b\' balconies, the fronts of which are ornamented with light ironwork. A tower, fift\- feet in height, decorates one front. The central hall, and in fact the whole of the interior of the house, impresses the mind most favourably.
    
    The Estate has been formed into a Limited Liabihty Com|)an\% witli a capital of ^,"50,000, under the style and \EARSNEY ESTATE. title of J. L. Hulett & Sons, Limited. Three plantation.s constitute its |)roperty, the total area of which is 10,000 acres ; 600 acres of this are under tea. The three plantations
    
    are named Kearsney, Kirkley Vale, and Ruhver. These again are subdivided and named. One of the plantations is to be put under sui^ar, and a factory erected next year.
    
    
    
    Of other Tea Estates in the neic;hbourhood, the following are the principal : —
    
    (a) W. R. Hindson & Co., Limited, with an acreage of about 3,000, capital ^^50,000 ; 500 acres or more in tea. The Company's properties consist of the following Estates : Clifton, Cobham, Xonoti Peak, and ]^uri)ham.
    
    (b) The next estate is that of S])rowstown, the property of Mr. T. E. Pechey, who has just started a factory on his own account, having; previously sold his leaf in its raw state to the Kearsney J'^actory. This estate at the time of writing was still in its initial stage, and had only about i8o acres under plants, mcjst of which were immature. The plantation possesses about 900 acres in all.
    
    
    
    (c) The ne.xt estate is that of Mr. F. W. Clayton, with 600 acres, 120 of which are under tea. The leaf from this estate is also manufactured at the Kearsney Factory.
    
    (d) Mr. George A. Clayton follows with an estate of 600 acres, 100 of which are planted, he also disposing of his leaf to the Kearsney Factory,
    
    (e) Mr. B. Balcomb, out of 600 acres, has only 60 under tea, but here especial attention and interest are centred, for an experiment is being tried as to whether high-class or scientific methods are in the long run more payable than the ordinary style of farming. This estate also manufactures its tea at the Kearsney Factory.
    
    (f) Mr. H. Balcomb has an estate of 600 acres, over 100 of which are under tea. Most of the plants here are just commencing to \-ield leaf, which is sold to the Kearsney Factory.
    
    (g) Mr. Behrmann has an admirable little plantation of 50 acres of tea on a 600-acre farm, he also selling his leaf to J. L. Hulett & Sons, Limited.
    
    (h) The neatly managed estate of 400 acres, owned by Captain Malan, R.N., comes next, with 45 acres of tea plants, the leaf of which is also sold to the Kearsney Estate.
    
    (i) Mr. F. Thring, on a 600-acre estate, has 40 acres under tea, and disposes of his leaf as the others do.
    
    (j) Mrs. Schram, on a 500-acre farm, has about 40 acres planted.
    
    (k) Mr. Sime has over 50 ; both of these latter manufacture at Kearsney.
    
    (l) A few miles over to the eastward, is the estate of Mr. Lediboer, who has 100 acres under crop, and has erected a compact factor}-.
    
    (m) Mr. A. Colenbrander, of Nonoti, has about 100 acres of plants, and manufactures his tea at Mr. Lediboer's establishment.
    
    There are two or three other planters who manufacture in a rather primitive manner. The total area of plants owned by these latter will be about 1 50 acres.
    
    Tea was first introduced into Natal in the \-ear 1850 by Mr. Plant, the first Curator of the l^otanical Gardens at Durban. Owing to his untimely death, no progress, however, was made in the culture of the plant. About the year 1863, sex'cral persons made an attempt at tea culture, notable amongst whom were Mr. George Jackson, Duikerfontein, Umgeni ; and Mr. J. Brickhill, of the Umbilo. In no instance has there been an\' fiiilure in the growth of the plant. About the }-car 1877 Mr. J. Liege Hulett first turned his attention to the industry, and, aided by the kindness of the late Mr. J. Brickhill in obtaining plants in India, and the
    
    care of Captain Reeves, of the S.S. " Umvoti," in bringing them safely to Natal, he succeeded in obtaining an established stock of 1,200 plants ; while Mr. W. B. Lyle, of Kirkley Vale, induced four or five hundred ])lants to li\e and thrive.
    
    
    
    In the spring of 1879, or two years after planting, Mr. Hulett took his first leaf, and manufactured it.
    
    The following notes on the plant and its manufacture may be of interest to those requiring information on the subject.
    
    It is three years before the seedling yields leaf, but it is fully six years before it attains maturity. The life of the plant continues for an indefinite period, provided climate and soil are congenial to it. The land should be kept in cultivation by regular weeding, digging between the plants, and manuring. The measure of success likely to attend the planter in this department of industry, as in all others, depends on the care, skill, and observation devoted to the task. The }'ield when at
    
    maturity should be from 900 to 1,000 pounds per acre. The fresh plucked or green leaf should amount to about four times that weight. The young leaves and shoots are plucked by hand, and transported to the factor)', where the weight should invariably be checked. The term " h'lush " is applied to the appearance which a field assumes when the plants ha\e thrown out a number of light green leaves and shoots. When these have been plucked and landed in the factory, the first or withering process is carried out. This consists of spreading them thinl\- on canvas racks, wooden floors, or trays until they are Hmp. The quality of the tea greatly depends on the leaf being }'oung, succulent, and evenly withered. The period of this process of course depends on the weather, but as a rule the leaves picked one day, are manufactured on the next.
    
    The second process consists of rolling ; this is carried out b\' passing the limp and withered leaf through a machine consisting of a rotary table with rotary running box, made either of granite, marble, or wood, the upper one of which moves with a circular sweep close enough to the lower or bed-plate to partially crush and crumple the leaf The purpose of this is to disintegrate the juice cells. When this is done, the leaf has the appearance of a green sticky mass. It is then put through the third process, which is that of fermentation. This is done b}- placing the rolled mass in shallow boxes, about eighteen inches square and four inches deep, until the process is complete, which is denoted by the leaves assuming a bright copper colour. If this process is carried too far, the leaf loses its brightness, becomes dark and dull, and deficient in flavour and strength. Directly the proper stage has been arrived at, the fermentation is arrested b}- passing the leaf through the drying machines, which constitutes the fourth process. These machines are of two descriptions, one being a long revolving cylinder, the other having the appearance of a huge stove. It emerges from these in the form familiar to the public, but as yet it is unassorted.
    
    The fifth process consists of passing the leaf through a wire cylinder of graduated diameter. At the side of this latter there are numbers of bins, each one fed by a trough leading from the machine. The bins contain the variously assorted teas. F'rom this point the tea is carried to the packing department, where it is prepared for the market.
    
    As the new Kearsney Factory is one of the most perfect tea establishments in the world, it has been taken as a sample of its kind.
    
    It consists of a large building constructed of brick and cement, five floors in height, giving a withering space and manufacturing capability of 1,500,000 lbs. of tea per annum. The dimensions of the main withering floors are each 150 by 70 feet, to which there are annexures for engines, furnaces and boilers. The work of all necessary departments in connection with, not only the manufacture of tea, but its packing, are carried out under one roof. Boxes are locally made, very often from Natal timber. Steam saw mills and carpenters are employed on the estate. The lead for lining the boxes and packing the tea is imported from London, the Kearsney Factory at present using about forty tons of rolled lead per annum. If these sheets were laid end to end they would cover a distance of about 140 miles.
    
    A marked feature in the factory is the new tea drier, which was invented and patented by Mr. A. S. L. Hulett. The purpose of the invention is to dry the tea by steam, instead of fire. It has been tested, and is working satisfactoril)-, both in theory and in fact. The inventor is contemplating some slight improvements to the patent. The advantage claimed for this macliinc is ;i greater ret^ularit}- of licat, and an entire freedom from the risk of burning". The trial machine now
    
    in the factor}- was made most admirably by Messrs. Mitcheson and Kollhbrunner at Umgeni.
    
    The Kearsney Factory durin<^ last year (1893-94) produced 434,000 lbs. of tea, while from other sources 170,000 lbs. were manufactured, giving a total of 604,000 lbs.
    
    The purpose of dealing so minutely with tea culture and manufacture, in these pages, is to set forth the fact that small capitalists can more easily embark in it, than in many another cqualh- lucrative, but more complicated industry, also to place on record the exact position of Tea Culture in Natal in 1894.
    
    
    
    rresei-ves. In the vicinity of Stanger there is a recently established manufactory for the production of jams, pickles, chutneys, etc., from locally grown fruit.
    
    Fuithn The Stanger and Lower Tugela division of Victoria County Develop- ... . . 1-1 1 • 1 • 1 1 1 r 1 nicnts. Will participate largely m the success which is looked for by the development of the mineral resources of Zululand.
    
    Vast deposits of coal of excellent quality, both for steam and other purposes, have been definitely located in the vicinity of St. Lucia Ba}', while gold and other departments of mining are on the move. As St. Lucia Bay is not likel)- to become an outlet for export, the whole traffic and trade of this vast region will be con\e\ed by the railway line yet to be constructed.
    
    
    
    Sixteen miles beyond Stanger by the post cart route brings Fort I'earson into sight. During the Zulu War of 1879, this was a centre of great activity. Many a British
    
    soldier lies buried here, and many a scene of stirring historic interest was enacted in the vicinity. Viewed from the westward, the Fort has the appearance of a small Gibraltar. Slightly to the eastward of it, and close by the river bank, the old " Ultimatum " tree still uplifts its branches as in the days when the chieftains of Cetewayo heard under it their fate pronounced. It may be said that from this point the Zulu War started, and the many tragedies enacted during it had their birth. The Tugela River here is about a quarter of a mile in breadth, and the scenery, apart from its historic interest, is worthy of attention.
    
    SECTION XIV.
    
    
    
    MAIN LINE. DURBAN TO riETERMARITZISURG.
    
    
    
    STANDING on the platform of the Main Station at Durban, and facing westward, it is interesting to know that with only thirteen hours' travel, equal to a journey of 226 miles, with frequent stoppages for rest and refreshment, the climate may be changed from sub-tropical to temperate, and then again to something which closely approaches the torrid, and further, that in the aforesaid brief space of time and distance, an altitude of two and a quarter miles above the sea may be obtained at the Drakensberg, where complete and absolute change of scene is to be found.
    
    As the journey from Durban to the South Coast Junction, a distance of four and a quarter miles out, has already been dealt with on the trip to Isipingo in a previous section, it is unnecessary to do more than take up the thread of the story at that point of divergence. The course of the line runs through a picturesque, broken and well-wooded district, to the village of Bellair.
    
    This village is much scattered, as most of the residents, Bellair, being wealthy merchants and lawyers, possess either parks or from small farms. The population is set down at 800. There are ^"'¦^''^"• a literary and debating society, a political club, a rifle association, a hall, several convenient hotels, a place of
    
    worship, and a school. The soil of Bellair is not only rich, but in the vicinity of the line there are vast deposits of yellow clay-marl, which is now being used extensively for the manufacture of bricks and tiles at the pottery works near Durban.
    
    Rest of book not transcribed.
    
    Source: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/j-forsyth-joseph-forsyth-ingram/the-colony-of-natal-an-official-illustrated-handbook-and-railway-guide-rgn/page-10-the-colony-of-natal-an-official-illustrated-handbook-and-railway-guide-rgn.shtml
    
    Circa 1894