SOUTH AFRICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 31 July 1902, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

HOW AFFAIRS ARE PROCEEDING,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 29.

A Bluo Book which has just been issued shows that tho final resolution of the Vereeinging Conference was couched in a tone of bitter resignation. It emphasises the unprecedented suffering and disoaso in the concentration camps and declares that Kaffir tribes outsido and inside tho boundaries of tho Republics are almost all armed. It adds an expression of tho Boers’ future hopes. Lord Milner ou July Urd suggested the desirableness of enlarging tho Legislative Councils and seizing the opportunity of an improved feeling to commence cooperation between tho Dutch and tho British.

Mr Chamberlain immediately approved of the suggestion. Natal and the Capo favor assisted immigration. Lord Milner declares that the judicious settlement of a large numbor of colonists of tho best class is of first importance in the economic development of tho country. It must be on a largo “calo, otherwise it would be politically unimportant. He proposes a fixed rent of 41 per cent, per annum on the value of tho property, or a yearly instalment of purchase money of £5. 15s per £IOO. Mr Chamberlain gives him a free hand in the matter.

Lord Milner wishes to attract English and colonial settlers. He adds : “It is to our interest to preserve tho Boor as a farmer, and not as a largo negligent landholder.” Sir W. Wil locks, late Director at Cairo waterworks, in a report on tho South African colonies, estimates that an expenditure of thirty millions on waterworks would irrigate three million acres, raising its value to one hundred millions, additional to ten millions of acres under crop, depending on rainfall to the value of another hundred millions.

Botha, speaking at St. Ellenbosch, advised the Boers to stop bothering with politics and try to be happy in South Africa, because they had no home elsewhere.

Lord Kitchener has presented the Engineers’ Museum with statues of Kruger, Botha, and Cronje from Pretoria, and of Steyn from Bloemfontein ; ono Long Tom mounted on a bastion to Gravesend, and another to Woolwich arsenal.