South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 26 July 1902, Page 2

South Africa.

BOERS IN THE CONSTABULARY, In the House of Commons the Hon. St. John Brodrick (Minister for War) stated that between aoo and 300 care* fully-selected Boers had been enlisted in the South African Constabulary. One-half were taken from the National Scouts, and the remainder were recent surrenderors. They had been well recommended by Boer generals. BOER GENERALS. Generals Botha and De la Key have started from Pretoria, for Europe. General De Wet will join them on their way to the coast. DISTURBANCE IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP. A disturbance occurred at Diyatawala concentration camp on the 13th owing to some Boers who did not agree to signing the terms of surrender. Twenty Boers were injured, also one man of the Gloucester Regiment. TRADE REPORTS.

The British Trade Commission in South Africa reports that there is a suprising influx of German traders. British traders were only beginning to awake. , The Americans were alert, especially with regard to the specialisation _of trade lines. One traveller was seeking orders for files alone; others were acting similarly with other specialties. English firms, the Commission states, expects a traveller to deal with twenty articles, and the result, was that the market , was not thoroughly worked.

The freights for fine Manchester goods to South Africa by the Houston (Liverpool) line of steamera has been fixed at ten shillings a ton. BOER LEADERS.

General Botha, at Capetown, in thanking the Africanders for the reception given him in the ball of the Dutch Reformed Church, urged the necessity for co-operation, as Africa was the only country they could call home. General De la Rey declared that the Boers had buried their Mausers and their flag, but not their traditions. Many Englishmen were present. MAYOR OF BLOEMFONTEIN. Mr Kellner, Mayor of Bloemfontein in 1900, interviewed at Berlin, eulogised the British conduct of the war, the deep concern of the officer over the earlier mortality in the concentration camps, and their efforts to improve the sanitation. Mr Kellner added : “ Annexation by Britain assures freedom, progress and prosperity."

COURT-MARTIAL SENTENCES. The King has approved the appointment of Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, Mr Justice Bigham, and Major-General Sir John Ardah as a Royal Commission, with Mr Gilbert Mellor, barrister, as secretary, to inquire into court* martial sentences passed while martial law was in operation in South Africa, and to report upon the expediency of the reduction or remission of the sentences.