The Early Annals of Kokstad and Griqualand East, 1902 #264702

During a visit recently paid to the rising town of Kokstad, my attention was more than once called to the fact that of those who took part in the founding of the town 30 years ago, I only am left. The Rev. William Murray, who subsequently became, and has continued till now, to be closely associated with the history of the town, left the district immediately after the site had been fixed on, and did not return till 11 years thereafter. Adam Kok, the Griqua Chief, after whom the town was named, Charles Brisley, his Secretary, Edward Barker, who filled the position of Surveyor, and every member of the old Heemraad or Privy Council has passed away. The last of the two men who held office, as Magistrate, from 1869 to 1872, while the town was taking shape - the late Lodowijk Kok, of somewhat painful memory to the present generation - has quite recently also deceased More than one of the citizens suggested that I should use some leisure moments in compiling reminiscences of the early days of the Township. The suggestion in some instances took the stronger form of an urgent request. There is always a wonderful fascination around the beginning of things. The dwellers in a city or even the merest hamlet are curious to know when, how, by whose thought and toil it came originally to have a local habitation and a name. I do not mean to say that there are not Griquas still living who have knowledge of these things. Members of the old Griqua Yolksraad and Field-cornets of Wards are still to be seen walking the streets of Kokstad, shorn, of course, of their authority and dignity, and mourning the loss of their emoluments. Some of these men have, or had, wondrous gifts of speech. Indeed, if it comes to speaking on any subject of which they think they have a little knowledge, I am afraid the best of us would have to take a back seat; but apart from this facile loquacity, I am not aware that any of them has shown any literary fitness to record the early annals of a nascent city.