The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 5, 7 January 1901, Page 4

The Boer War.

DAMAGE TO MINING PROPERTY. SPEECH BY LORD KITCHENER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, January 4. Lord Kitchener is clearing the various districts where the BoerS are laagered round Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, and Edenburg. Commandant Viljoen was the author of the recent burning of mine property at Boksburg, where £50,000 worth was destroyed. Lord Kitchener has warned the mine owners not to rely on the regular troops for protection. This has caused a little anxiety, but the recently-formed Rand Rifles are expected to suffice. A spontaneous meeting of burghers who surrendered was held at Pretoria. They formed a committee of appeal to those still fighting to surrender. Lord Kitchener made a friendly speech. He said the burghers had fought well, and their was no humiliation in surrendering. He emphasised Mr Chamberlain’s liberal programme. The guerilla warfare was useless and inhuman to the prisoners who were awaiting repatriation. If conciliation failed, the Boers would be responsible for compelling other methods. Some 6500 irregulars have been recruited during the past eight week's. Five thousand have gone to the front, including 2500 Capetown volunteers. The first batch of the latter were enrolled this week, and are starting for Worcester and Ceres to protect the passes of the Rex river and railway tunnels. The warship Monarch landed bluejackets and guns at the Cape to take the plaoe of troops sent north. PROPOSED SOLUTION OK THE DIFFICULTY. SUGGESTION FROM SIR R, STOUT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, Jan. 5. In the course of an interview yesterday, Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice of New Zealand, said: —“ In the laudable anxiety to help the Empire in the South African trouble, I am surprised that no suggestion has been made by the colonies, say Queensland and New South Wales, that have vast tracts of land and climate similar to South Africa, to take some thousands of Boers as settlers, give them land, and all the privileges of colonists, and thus prove to the Boers there is no illwill against them. It would help, perhaps, to a solution of the South African trouble. It must be remembered that if it had not been for the Dutch and German assistance, we might have lost Waterloo.”