Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 12 January 1897, Page 2

Africa.

In the course of a speech deliverrit at a banquet tendered to him prior to his departure for England, Mr Cecil Rhodes Baid that for the last 14 years he had recognised that the foreign Powers coveted the unocpted territory of Africa. Germany, especially, ooveted the territory lying between Damaraland, a German possession in the south-west of Africa, and Zambesi. The Transvaal would have seized Bechaana« land, knowing that it was the key to South Africa, and they had intrigued with the late powerful chief Loben* gula, but his (Mr Rhodes') policy had defeated both these schemes, owing to the caution displayed fey th;? Cape Government and Great Britain. He was sure that unless the British South Africa Chartered Company had been formed the vast territory now administered by the Company would have passed to foreigners. Apart from internal troubles, Portugal had proved a troublesome neighbour. Referring again to the Transvaal, Mr Rhodes Baid the Boers would have raided the Company's territory and shot the Company's people but for the influence of President JKruger. All south of the Zambesi had determined that there should be no foreign intrusion. The whole of the English residents at -the Cap* and many of the Dutch recognised the good work he had done for South Africa, and refused to condemn him because of one act; " Some great men," added Mr Rhode?, " grew orchids " — evidently a reference to Mr Joseph Chamberlain's pet hobby. His (Mr Rhodes') hobby was to prevent the limitation of the Cape's hinterland, and to promote the federation and and unification of South Afrioa in regard to the Customs tariff, the development of the railways,, the native question, and mutual defence against outsiders. The gathering, which numbered a thousand, accorded the speaker a great ovation, and heartily applauded the sentiments be expressed. The toast of Lord Rosmead, Go. veraorof Cape Colony, which was. subsequently proposed, was received in silence. Cecil Rhodes has given the Gapt Government the option of constructing a railway in Rhodesia on the condition that the work of construction is accomplished within seven year 3. President Kruger also consented to the Cape railway system running to the Rand goldfields and Pretoria. Further murders are reported from Bechuanaland. Earl Grey, British Administrator in Rhodesia, has informed an In* duba, or native sonference, at Buluwayo, that Matabeleland will be divided into 12 districts, each division to be under a paid chief. Several of the latter were recently amongst the rebels. In each oase these native governors will have European assistants. The residents of Kuruman, a mission station and town 90 miles west of , Vryhurg, have formed laagers as a protection against the Bechuanaa who are raiding the farms in the vicinity. i