Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 7 May 1896, Page 2

Africa.

Id the House of Lords, Baron Loch, ex- Governor of Cape Colony, explaining a statement by the Pretoria correspondent of the Pariß newspaper Le Temps, said the residents of Johannesburg urgently requected him to visit the town, pleading the grievances they were suffering from. President Eruger, he adds, dissuaded him from doing so, fearing that the Governor's presence might lead to an outbreak. He, however, received a deputation at Pretoria, to which he pointed out the futility of attempting a rising with only 1000 rifles to depend on. He did not offer to assist them, and the statement in Le Temps to the effect that he did was wholly unfounded.

The newspapers, commenting on the explanation, admit that Lord Loch's statement is perfectly cor* rect.

The Volk3raad of the Orange Free State has notified Sir H. Robinson that the extradition treaty with the Chartered Company is terminated. Many of the Matabele are retiring into the forest country. Khama's scouts report that it if probable they will make north for Zambesi, but that their women are opposed to it, being afraid of the hardships of the journey. The rebels have burned the nous* of Mr Selous. Two white outlaws are direoting the movements of the natives. Mr Rhodes is likely to be delayed several weeks at Gwelo, the country round being invested by the insurgents. Lieutenant Colomb has defeated the rebels near Gwelo, killing 80 of their number. Sir Hercules Robinson has given peremptory denial to the statement that 6000 troops are being massed at Mafeking, and scouts the idea of a commission as preposterous. He says that only 1400 troops are proceeding to Mafeking, and that the half of them have not yet arrived. Mr Barney Barnarto's mines at Johannesburg are closing down. They employed 15,000 blacks and 4000 whites.