Before the War.

Manawatu Herald, 14 April 1900, Page 2

Before the War.

A South African correspondent of the China Mail, who was in the Transvaal when the war broke out, has this interesting note in one of his letters:— The scene when the British agent at Pretoria handed in the Britishv (fyvcdtn^eqi's despatch declining evetf "to diajCustf ;the Transvaal's proposals was said lo be even pathetic in the extreme. The <$$. President and members of the Executive present bowed their heads, and there was intense silence for some seconds ; then Mr Cunyingham Greene, who, with his wife, Lady Lily Greene, had done much to bring about a good feeling between Boer and British; received his pass-port md said good-bye to the President and leading officials, who at once set about the serious business occasiitme^ . by the new position of affairs. Mftfbial law was at once proclaimed and British subjects were given eight days luring which to leave the country. 4 Uitlanders of other nationalities were allowed to stay, and Britishers desirous of remaining were promised parmits upon taking the oath of neutrality, numbers, most Irish, willing to fight for the Republic, being granted full burgher* rights, and they forthwith enrolled among the forces. %