LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 101, 8 May 1901, Page 1

LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA

[Notes by Mr A. J. Cox,j

Pretoria, March 25th, 1901. After a journey of nine weeks, breaking niv stay in Wellington and Sydney, I arrived at Capetown on Monday March 11th, where I learnt that 100 eases of plague were on the list with an average of' 15 cases a day. On Wednesday I received instructions to leave for Pretoria, and at 9.15. on Thursday evening with on armoured train ahead left Capetown. The following is an extract from my diary, and by talking a map you will be able to follow me : 5, Friday, March 15th. —Early in the morning we passed through Worcester on [ the boarder of the Great Karoo, which extends as far as De Aar Junction. The Karoo what with rocks, stinted vegetation, and without a blade of grass, has a very bad appearance. This is where the ostrich farms are, and I saw plenty of them. At 8 a.m. passing General Wauchope’s grave we arrived_at Magersfontein. Here we I breakfasted and left at 9 a.m., reaching

Fraserburg lioad for dinner. Five o’clock saw us at Beaufort West, where wo stayed the night, as Boers were in vicinity. This place is well guarded, aud only two nights before arriving two soldiers were shot whilst on sentry duty. The garrison were expecting an attack any moment. Saturday, 16th.—4.30.a.m., and on the

move once more; at 5.45. a.nr., narrowly escaped being blown up by Boers. The cap failed to explode the dynamite and we passed over, luckily • without damage, reaching Victoria West at 10 a.m., for breakfast. Passing the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Daalfontein, which contains 500 invalids, and 100 convalescent, arrived at DeAar Junction for j dinner at 3.20 p.in. Here I saw Tom Ogden, .Fred Holford, and Ernie Richardson, who wero going to Kimberley, having joined The Railway Pioneer Guards at Capetown the day they arrived. They will be with patrols guarding the line, between Kimberley and .Mafelting. Leaving at 5 I p.m., half an hour’s run showed us the re- I mains of a train blown up, and also the graves of those killed, and at 9.30 a.m., ar- I rived at Naauwpoort whore we spent the night. Sunday, 17th.—Leaving at 3.30 a.m., I and much afraid of boing blown up any minute, reached the Colesburg district and could see the trenches and hills that I the Boers occupied when they checked General French’s advance. Passing a Red Cross ambulance train at Colesburg Junction with wounded going to the : hospital, we came in sight of Norval’s Port, where we had breakfast. Now on i the border of the Orange River Colony, I and passing over the Orange River bridgo, which was blown up a year ago ; arrived at Springfontein 12.30 p.m. The country I from there to Pretoria is beautiful, grass а. foot high and plenty of it, with thousands of cattle, goats, and sheep on it all along the route. These have been brought in from the farms, and are guarded jso that the Boers cannot get food, as you know at the present time they arc much in want of. Passing over the Riet and Kaffir Rivers, and seeing graves of British heroes, also herds of springbok ; arrived б. p.m. at Bloemfontein to spend the night. The town is lighted with electricity, and is one of the healthiest towns in South Africa.

Monday, 18th.—At 5 a.m., over bridges which, are being mended, at the Yet and Zand Rivers, saw the trucks JDeWet burnt, and passing Major Massey’s column arrived at Kroonstad 10.30 a.m., where No. 2 General Hospital, with 80 to 100 tents, is situated ten miles from here, and could see the linemen mending the telegraph wires which the Boers had cut during the night. After giving papers to those guarding the Rhenoster Bridge, came levol with the position where that terrible disaster occurred to the Derbyshire Militia under Colonel Baird Douglas. The Boers under DeWet numbering 2000 to 3000, occupied tho hills all around, and during the night Colonel with 700 men, very tired and fatigued, camped right under the enemy’s position. At daylight the enemy opened fire on the tents, killed and wounded 200, and surrounding the rest took them prisoners. Arriving at the largest bridge, over tho Vaal River, saw coal mines, and arrived at Meyerton at 6.20 p.m. On tho Saturday the Boers attacked this place, but were repulsed. I was shown round the trenches, also the Howitzer (which fires a 50 pound shell), that was at the relief of Ladysmith, I could see the searchlight working from Johannesburg, a distance of 28 miles. . .

Tuesday, 19fch—Left Meyerton at 8.30 a.m., having breakfast at Elandsfontein 10 a.m. This is a goldmining town, and mines aro to be seen everywhere. At 10.30 a.m., we left for Pretoria, reaching our destination at 1.30 p.m. This journey usually takes 46 hours, but on this occasion 112 horns, the distance being 1040 miles. Lord Kitchener was down to meet his financial adviser, Mr G. Fleetwood Wilson, C. 8., who was in the same carraige as I, he being a very nice gentleman. All up the lino troops are protecting the bridges, and blockhouses are under construction, one on each side of a bridge. I have a residential pass, also a night pass, which enables me to bo out at any time. On Wednesday the New Zealanders arrived here, and Thursday I went up to see them. The horses look very poor after their long sea and railway journey, but the men look well. I strongly advise no one to come out here at present unless they have a billet, and then unless it is Government, they will be unable to get up. No one is allowed up, and when they they are, 130,000 refugees have to get up first. Living here costs from £7 to £l2 per month, wages generally speaking are pretty high. Business is slack at present, and everything is under Military control.