The Boer far.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 2, 3 January 1901, Page 2

The Boer far.

NUMEROUS SMALL COMMANDOS STILL OPERATING.

FIFTEEN OF CAPT. NESBITT’S HORSE CAPTURED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, Ja D . 2, A train contain;' ag sixty- of Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guard, on their way back from the front, and forty women and children travelling by the train, were captured by Boors, who seized the arms and ammunition, and then let tlio prisoners go. A Boer ammunition waggon at Senekal exploded, and four men were killed.

Numerous small commandos aro operating between the Orange River and Rosmead without defiuito plan or substantial advantage beyond causing the military much trouble and annoyance.

Two hundred and fifty Boers captured 14 of Captain Nesbitt’s Horse, 50 miles south-east of Colesburg. Another commando of 800 captured a quantity of stock at Weltovredin. Colonel Williams is pursuing the commando.

The convoy which was captured on Christmas Day at Vryburg was valued at £50,000.

The ambush which led up to the seizure of the convoy was a complete success.

The escort of twonty-fivo Capo polico offered no resistance, and all were captured."

WOUNDED COLONIALS,

The following is a list of colonials wounded at Wotpoort:— Sevoroly : Lieut. Miller and Privato Morrau; slightly : Privato Youngor, N.S.W. Bushmen.

Dangerously: Private C. W. Brown. Slightly: Sorgt.-Major Tolloy, Now Zealand Rough Riders.

DeWET’S HORSES AND SUPPLIES CAPTURED. LONDON, Jan. 2. General linox has captured somo of DeWot’s horses and five waggons containing supplies, and six thousand rounds of ammunition. General French has captured a large quantity of carts, horses, and twelve prisoners. DoLislo is pursuing towards Prieska the raiders who captured the convoy at Howaler’s Drift.

THE SECOND N.Z. CONTINGENT

RETURNING NEW ZEALANDERS [Per Press Association’.] WELLINGTON, last night. With regard to the Sixth Contingent, the Hon. J. G. Ward states that it is intended to gather the Southern men and thoso from the south part of the North Island in Wellington for despatch to the front. A troopslrp will then go to Auckland to pick up the northern portion of tho contingent.

Lieutenant Eoss, of the Fourth Contingent, and Sergeant Hogg, of tho First Contingent, returned to-day from the front by tho Monowai. The latter brought news that Captain Hayhurst, who went over to Sydney to tho celebrations, has taken command of the returned New Zealanders by the Harlech Castle, and who aro now in tho New South Wales capital.

Yesterday 000 men had been enrolled for the sixth contingent in Wellington, and 150 had been provisionally passed. Tho Department expects that the horses and equipment will be ready by the 15th, and that tho contingent can be shipped by the 29th. The Waiwera will not be available as a troopship. Sir Alfred Milner wires : No. 1709, Trooper Martin, is dangerously ill at Pretoria.

The Premier of Cape Colony wires to Mr Ward: “ Deeply sensible of the service rendered by your colony to the Empire in South Africa. May the New Year bring general peace and happiness.” The Acting-Premier hes received a cablegram from Sir Alfred Milner stating that Sergeant-Major Jolly, of the Fourth Contingent, was severely wounded on the 2Sth December at Wetport; also Trooper C. W. Brown dangerously wounded on the same occasion. Jolly hails from Cromwell, Otago, and Brown from Temuka, Canterbury.

Yesterday Major McCredie received the following telegram from Lieutenant-Colonel Porter relative to the Sixth Contingent:— “ Close application list until further instructed. Complete your selections and report number. General enrolments far in excess of number required, being over one thousand.” Major McCredie has received forty-nine applications for enrolment, and the men will meet this morning and go through riding and shooting tests, a selection being afterwards made for medical examinations.