BOER COMMISSIONERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 706, 30 December 1902, Page 4

BOER COMMISSIONERS.

ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY. The Boor delegation appointed by the Impel' al Government to visit the pastoral and agricultural centres of tho British dominions arrived in Sydney on December 11th, by the s.s. Miowma. Their object is to obtain information calculated to be of assistance to tlieir fellowcountrymen engaged in these pursuits. They have already been through England and Canada. Captain Kirkpatrick, who accompanied one of the first Australian contingents, is in command of the delegation, tho Boor representatives being Messrs W. J. Joos'-o, J. M. Lane, and H. T. Rood. All the Boers speak English fluently ; the youngest, Rood, without tho suspicion of an accent; Jooste with a suggestion of Taal ; and Lane with a touch of the

brogue of his native land, being an Irishman who married a Boer woman. The threo men were chosen by tho election of their fellow-countrymen for tlie mission to Greater Britain, entrusted to them by Lord Milner. Jooste and Lane, who are middle-aged men, were captured at Cronjo's laager at Paardebcrg, Rood going right through tho campaign under General Botha, and being wounded twice. Captain Kirkpatrick accompanied the First Australian Horse to South Africa, and, after serving with tho Australians, received a commission in the Oth Dragoon Guards, and subsequently joiued the South African Constabulary under Baden-Powell. At Pretoria he succumbed to the charms of a Boor maiden, and his South Africa

wife accompanies him in his tour. Ilis father is a New South Wales grazier. Messrs Jooste and Lane are accompanied by their wives. Captain Kirkpatrick is the photographer of the party, and takes whatever views may be necessary for the purposes of report which tho delegates will draw up on their return to South Africa. In tho course of an interview, Mr Joosto talked of tho war, and explained that even educated Boers had no idoa of tho force that England could send against the Boers. “ Why,” ho said, wo thought it would be all over in loss than three months, with the result that wo would wiu, I never Itnew, I can assure you, that there were so many people in England. And then Canada, too, and now Australia. Look at tho size of Sydnoy, and you talk of having ‘only’ five millions or so in Australasia. I could not believe what I saw in London—five million people in a city.” “ When you saw tho troops pouring in, surely you began to realise ?” Mr Jcosto laughed outright. “ Not even then. They in the Held did not know. Their generals know, but did not tell them. There was division after di-

vision and army after army coming upon

them. Tho newspapers V Oh, yes ; there is no question that tlie British and Continental newspapers which the Boerj were enabled to see helped to prolong tho war. They told of the British people being against tho war, and of other nations boing ready to help them, and so they went on fighting. I think tho war should have boon over when Pretoria fell. If there had been none of this guerilla warfaro, our country would not have bcon so bad now. Tho Boers could not make out how it was that the British force was always so large, and they felt and were told that there must bo an end to tho invader’s resources. It was a pity, for at first the British did not destroy property. It was only afterwards that they laid waste farms and villages.” " There are many who hold that had the British been more severe from tho outset, had destroyed your towns and let you see what a powerful foe could do, the effect on the Boors would havo shortened the war”

“ I think they urge that with good reason. The Boors were led to think that they did not have so much to lose. But now tho country is waste. Good property is gone. Mind you, it was warfare, and I do not see that more damage was done than was imperative.” “How will the two nationalities commingle ? Will the Boers tako kindly to the new condition ? ”

“ You can hardly expect they will take kindly to it just yet, but I think time will effect what is necessary. They see their ruined country, they think of their dead people, and especially they sorrow after their women and children. We have to begin all over again, and money is scarce,”

The party will remain in Australasia for three months, as New Zealand will be visited as well as all the Australian States. Matters appertaining to farming, fruitgrowing, dairying, and stock-raising will be inquired into.