BOER ATTACK ON NAAUWPOORT.

Manawatu Herald, 24 February 1900, Page 2

BOER ATTACK ON NAAUWPOORT.

An attack was made by the Boers on Tuesday upon Naauwpoort. the station at the junction of the main railway into the Free State — that running past Colesberg to Norval's Pont along which the British troops in this direction have lately retired — with the east and west cross-country line.

Two hundred Australians defended the camp and town, under Captain J. G. Legge, of the New South Wales Infantry, Captain Howland, of the South Australian Mounted Infantry, and Captain McLeish, of the Victorian Mounted Rifles. Two guns supported the movements of the colonial troops.

The fighting lasted all day and by nightfall the assailants had been repelled and had also been shelled out of the neighbouring kopjes.

The Westralian contingent was engaged the same day in reconnoitring to the eastward of Naauwpoort, under Captain Moor, and were engaged by enemy, but the only casualty was the wounding ot one man, thanks to the clever manner in which the detach* ment made rise of cover. DEATH OF NEW ZEALAND.

Sir Alfred Milner has advised LgkL__.'«Ranfurlyof Trooper J. Paterson's death, which occurred at Rondebosch Hospital on 19th inst., from enteric fever.

Trooper James Mclntosh Patterson used to live at Egmont road. He was a married man, and was formerly in a Highland regiment. The following cablegram has been received by Mr F. D. S. Neave, from the War Office, London : —

•'Regret to inform you that your son Second Lieutenant A. C. Neave, ist Battalion Yorkshire Regiment is reported by telegram from Paardebyrg as being killed in action."

KIMBERLEY. f The inhabitants of Kimberley gave harrowing accounts of the hardships and privations endured by the woolen and children in the course of the siege. They were obliged to take refuge in the low levels of the mines, and did not see the sun for weeks.

The townspeople were delirious with joy when they found themselves about to be relieved. They wire "> unaware that succour was so near until within an hour of the arrival of Lieutenant-General French's column. THE WAIWERA. - Information reached the Govern- i ment on Thursday that the troopship Waiwera, with the second contingent of the New Zealand mounted Infantry aboard, had arrived at Durban ou Sunday last. '• During the day a cable message arrived from Major Cradock the officer commanding '< the coa« tingent :— " All welL Only lost foil*, horses. Awaiting orders." The Waiwera arrived at Capetown on Tuesday morning.