LATE CABLES

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 820, 19 February 1903, Page 2

LATE CABLES

WELCOME RAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright g Received 9.30 p.m.. Feb. IS. .U Sydney, Feb. IS. Good rain has fallen in tie south and fc eastern division of the State. P iSHIITiNC. Arrived : Wiiuugapo, from Timavu. ji bailed : The ware-hips Royal Arthur. C i Rmgaroomu. Karrakatta, and l’habe, for v Bay of Islands. o ENGLISH CRICKETERS. Melbourne, Feb. IS. 'j A letter received from Maclaren gives his reason for desiring to postpone the visit lor 12 months to a probable difficulty j in securing suitable bowlers. c REFORM BILL. a The Reform Bill has passed the Council. Tho number of memoers has been increased from 42 to 43, in order to provide special representation of the civil service. THE TOTALISATOE. 1 A private member’s bill to legalise the totalisator was read a first time. Koceivoil 1.19 a.in , Fob. H>. , Sydney, Fob. 13. Sailed this evening, the Waikare. Two men wore found starving in tho domain. One died after removal to tho hospital. Indignation has boon created at Strathtield and Burwood, owing to the discovery that a retired squatter residing in me latter suourb is suffering from leprosy, and had built a private lazarette attached to a house at Strathtield, to which abode ho removed. Melbourne, Feb. 18. Sailed, the Victoria. Loudou, Feb. 17. Sir Hcdvers Buffer testified bolero tho War Commission that when selected in June, lSSff, as commander iu chief iu tiro ovent of war, ho concurred with Lord Lausdowue that an army corps, a cavalry division, seven battalions, aud lines of communication were sufficient if the war was confined to Transvaal, hut lie declared that it was impracticable to ignore the Free State. I he only practicable route was through | the Free State, lie estimated that | 15,000 south of Tugoia would suffice , for Natal’s preliminary defence. He i did not anticipate that the Capo would be seriously invaded until tno Boers ■ had succeeded in Natal. He foresaw ■ at the beginning of September that j that was inevitaote, aud recommended diplomatic delay to strengthen tho . coiomes. lie recommended on the j 21th that iu tho evout of war an 1 advance should be made iu the Free i State. Lord Lausdowue on tho 30th 1 concurred, and it was decided to ‘ proceed with preparations except tne J mobilisation. Witness urged that j reinforcements and reserves should bo t summoned for the 7th. Ho was - always convinced that tho Free State i would co-operate yvitli tho Transvaal, i- The commander-in-chief designate e ought to havo been more fully con--6 suited. ilo hud not been instructed ® regarding the plan of campaign. Ho ’ added that the relief of Kimberley .f was decided upon owing to persons s there at the end of October represeutff ing its danger. e Sir itedvors Buffer’s examination IS was adjourned.