CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 6 November 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

♦ — The Transvaal. One-fifth of the soldiers of the Australian contingents are returning owing to pressing business. Lord Kitchener, in bidding farewell to the Australians at Pretoria, said : — " Lord Roberts has seen your officers but was unable to personally express bis high appreciation of the splendid service you have rendered throughout the campaign— enduring great hardships and making great sacrifices. "It was a source of the utmost satisfaction to Lord Roberts to have heard from your commanders that you have invariably shown yourselves more than equal to the calls made upon you. " The magnificent spirit and fighting qualities displayed have called forth the admiration of all your associates in arms. " The war is lasting longer than was anticipated, and Lord Roberts recognised that serious inconvenience might result from the further absence of those having important business. " We are sorry to lose you. but glad to be able to allow you to go, though there is still much work to be done in the field before the task is completed. " In the name of Lord Roberts, and on behalf of your comrades, I thank you and wish you a hearty good-bye." FIGHTING AROUND VENTERSBURG. Details of Lieut.-General Hunter's capture of Ventersburg show that the Boers occupied a wooded kopje, which was partly surrounded at night. At dawn two hundred of the enemy poured a fire into the Thirty-ninth Battery at a range of 500 yards, killing Captain Hanwell. The gun worked badly and got jammed. The Sussex Regiment stormed the kopje, and the Boers fled, sixty being j captured. A number of farms in the vicinity have been burned. HOMESTEAD BURNING. Lieut.-General Sir Leslie Rundle's j troops, who are operating in the Bethlehem district, Orange River Colony, on the course of the Lady- ; smith-Kroonstad railway, have burned the homestead of Mrs Wessels. sister of General Botha, owing to shots having been fired from it by treacherous Boers. IN THE WESTERN DISTRICTS. The Boers have occupied Koffyfontein, to the south-east of Jacobsdal. Some loyal women offerded refuge to the men holding the surface works of the mines. They resisted to the utmost. COLONIAL TROOPS. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis, who was in command of the Fourth Contingent of the New Zealand forces when it went to South Africa, and is now invalided, has been invited to visit the Prince of Wales's seat at Sandringhanru BOERS RETURNING" TO THE FIELD. Many Boers who surrendered to the Portuguese at Delagoa Bay have rejoined their commandoes. A British force met forty on the Portuguese frontier and killed eight, the remainder being either wounded or captured. Despatches for ex- President Steyn were intercepted. THE DYNAMITE MONOPOLY. The Vice-Chairman of the Dynamite Company testified before the Transvaal Concessions Committee that Dr Leyds was the largest recipient of bribes, while payments were also made to Mr Kruger and to Mr A. D. Wolmarans, member of the Transvaal Executive, . GARRISONING BLOEMFONTEIN. It has been decided, to establish a permanent garrison of 7000 at Bloemfontein. The site, for a barracks is being selected. ! OFFICERS TO BE COURT- "" MARTIALLED. Fifty Boers surprised the outpost of a volunteer company at Berkshell. The officers and men had previously been captured at Geneva. They were released after the Boers had taken their arms. It is intended to courtmartial the officers.. MISCELLANEOUS. The thirty chests of Transvaa treasure on board the steamei Bundersrath have, at the instance o the syndicate interested in the Ram mines which Mr Kruger commandeerec been confiscated by the High Court at Hamburg. Mr Kruger was very sea-sick while voyaging in the Gelderland.