THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 June 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

[by ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.]

London, June 14. In the House of Commons Hon Me Balfour, in replying to Sir H Campbells Bannerman, said that the Boers were scattered over the Orange River, the Transvaal and small portions in the Cape Colonies in commandos of 100 to 600 strong. It is estimated that the total Boers in the field is 17,000. The rumors regarding peace negotiations were baseless. General Bruce Hamilton last week captured 200 Boers between Petrusburg and the railway. The report of Sir David Miller Barbour, the eminent financial authority, who was last year appointed by the British Government to report upon the financial conditior> and resources of the annexed States, which was presented on March 29th states that if his' proposals for the taxation of the mines and State claims against mines were enforced, and the stamps, customs, license arid excise laws were enforced, the Transvaal would in two years after the declaration of peace be able to devote a portion of its ordinary revenue to the cost of war. Gradual sales hereafter of mining rights would be a valuable asset of the Transvaal’s wealth. The growth of the revenue would be dependent almost entircly upon the gold mines, the production of v\hi<?h undoubtedly continue for

Bomo years and largely increase. Sir D. M. Barbour estimates the normal revenue of the Transvaal at millions and the expenditure at millions, but he must add £225, 000 to the expenditure, this being interest on a loan of 5 millions to compensate the losses in Natal and the Cape Colony and repair the devasation in the Transvaal caused by the war. He must further add one and a half out of the 2$ millions required for the maintenance of the constabulary, the Treasury paying the balance of the deficit for the first year, £865,000. To meet this, he proposes a mining tax of 10 per cent on the next profits, producing £550,000, and the abolition of the dynamite monopoly. It is estimated it will benefit the industry to the extent of half a million yearly. With the view of avoiding excessive taxation, he should fix the maximum claim payable according to the two annexed colonies, and if unable to nay it the balance should be be cancelled.