South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 26 June 1902, Page 2

South Africa.

THE PRETORIA PLOT. With a view to the conclusion of peace and the absence of documents, those implicated in the recent Pretoria plot have been released, DEATHS OF NEW ZEALANDERS. The following deaths are announced :—Private Wm. Whetter, Eight New Zealand Regiment, dysentery, at Klerksdorp; Hugh E, Collison, Tenth New Zealanders, accidentabdislocationof the neck, Newcastle. SURRENDERED BOERS.

Two hundred and seventy-six further surrenders are reported from Kimberley. All but seven are rebels. In Western Cape Colony 650 have surrendered, including 481 rebels. OPERATIONS OP MARTIAL LAW. Prior to his departure from Capetown Lord Kitchener accepted a sword of honour. He said he did so as a compliment to the army. He went on to say that ho was relieved to find the Cape Colonists did not denounce martial law‘ for the declaration of which he was primarily responsible. Without it, said his Lordship, the Cape farmers would have been actually or politically dead. They were fed with lies—not always in Dutch—until they believed the British a nation of monsters. Martial law had intervened, and had prevented the people taking a fatal step. Now peace had been restored, he urged all to banish racial feelings of antipathy, to banish all Leagues and Bonds, and to unitedly throw in their lot to promote the common welfare. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. Lord Milner, on 19th May, personally and unofficially wrote expres-

sing sympathy with tho petition to suspend the Cape Constitution} in view of the racial bitterness and other wider interests outside the Cape. The Pretoria correspondent of “ The Times ” says that General Botha declares that one of the main factors for inaugurating an era of prosperity is the absence of party politics} and tor this purpose the Constitution of Cape Colony should be suspended, otherwise the Afrikander Bond would champion the cause of the disaffected and try to maintain racial antipathies.

“ The Standard’s ” Pretoria correspondent says the trend of opinion favoUrs the suspension of the Cape, and possibly of the Natal, Constitution, as a preliminary towards confederation, and Lord Milner’s control of the entire sub-continent, so as to enable responsible government to be assumed in all the States concurrently and on equal conditions. CONSTITUTION OF THE TRANSVAAL. In the of a large add representative assembly, the Letters Pat mt establishing the Transvaal Constitution were read at Pretoria. Lord Milner then read the Royal Commission appointing him to several offices, including that of Governor, and took the oath. His Lordship then administered the oath to the members of the Executive Council, including the Son, J. Davidson, Colonial Secretary 5 the Horn P. Duncan, Treasurer i Sir Godfrey Lagden, Minister for Native Affairs ; and the Hon. J. W. Honey, Minister for Customs. The proceedings concluded with three cheers for the King and for Lord Milner, LORD KITCHENER’S DEPARTURE; Lord Kitchener has sailed for England. Ho received a great ovation on his departure. The Mayor of Capetown presented him with an address, the signatures to which included those of many Irishmen. Lord Kitchener said he accepted it as a compliment to his native land, and he eulogised the work of the Irish regiments in the war.

Major-Generals F. W. Kitchener and Sir Hugh McCalmont have sailed from the Cape for England. Lieut.-General Sir J. D. French sailed on Monday. ARRIVAL OP THE SEVENTH NEW ZEALANDERS*

The troopship Manila, with three hundred of the Seventh Regiment New Zealand Mounted Infantry on board arrived in Wellington harbour from South Africa via Sydney at half-past one yesterday morning.