PRO = BRITISH BOERS. Their Work for the Empire.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 83, 1 February 1902, Page 8

PRO = BRITISH BOERS. Their Work for the Empire.

LATELY we have been treated to news altogether unpiecedcntccl in histoiy, raid if fuithci lcfutdtion of foieign calumnies weie lequaed, this news should foi ever close the mouths of the critics .Fighting on the Butish side in South Ahiea theie aie now regiments of Bocis ready to sacufice themselves foi the British Empire, to bring the disastious Anglo-Boer campaign to a dose Many of these burgheis, who fought sturdily for what their leadeis told them were their rights, have thought the position out for themselves, and are noAv so fully persuaded of the duplicity of those leaders that they aie giving their expert help to quell the irreconcilables. Thice hundied prisoneis at St Helena have volunteered for service against their own countrymen— not that they love their country less, but that they are peisuaded of the utter futility of prolonging an unhappy stiuggle Many ex-prisoners are now duly enlisted soldiers, forming pait of the Ceylon and Indian garrisons No foice has been brought to bear on these men, or on any burgher in the field The offers for seivice v, ere voluntary Could anything be more clearly indicative of the thinking Boer s feelings towards the aich deceivers and hireling calummatois of Britain on the Continent? i. + ■* It is the highei type of Boers who aie with us in the struggle now. We have the curious contrast of Piet De Wet a man of brilliant intellect, fighting on the side of the "brutal Butish, and of Christian De Wet, the plain, untaught farmer, his brother, using his untutored skill m endcavouimg to destroy what he is unable to undei stand, because he is still unconvinced that Kruger and Co. are the cause of his country men's downfall From the point of view of the trusting and unthinking Boer, who is still fighting for what he deems his rights, the pro-English Boers are deserving of the worst of deaths They are, m their eyes, deep-dyed traitors, because they have at last thought out the position for themselves. * * * It is reasonable to suppose that captures by the pro-English Boers will lead to great increases in these burgher corps. The loyal support of convinced Boers is probably the surest sign of the rapidly-approaching pacification of the malcontents. There have been up to now no cases of treachery reported of pro-English Boers, and their energies are generally concentrated on the capture, and not the killing, of their old comrades Every means that can be employed to hasten the end of this war — an end that shall make Boer and Briton brothers — should be hailed with delight by all sides, and the brave remnant of misguided Dutchmen who still hang on to a lost causs will possibly live to bless their brother Boers who, m striving to end a hopeless struggle, are their truest fi lends * ■* -A New Zealanders are, like the proBritish burghers, convinced .hat the stiuggle should be brought to a rapid termination The largest body of men New Zealand has yet sent on service is just about to lea\e our shores The equipment and despatch of the Eighth Contingent have aroused the loyalty of the people to almost Mafekmg pitch, and hundreds of men who have aheady taken a leading part in the war are returning to give their skilled help The New Zealand Brigade will be heard of in a couple of months May it prove that they, a ] ong with the reconciled burgheis and the soldiers of the King from the four ends of the earth, will hasten the end

The visiting and local bowlers and then wives were entei tamed by Mr. and Mis John Duthie at their residence, Peiuval-stieet, on Thursday evening. The house was brilliantly lighted, and seemed, to shed rorth a. hearty welcome to the guests, who were genially leceived in the drawing-room by the host and hostt sb, assisted by their daughter-in-law. Mrs. Duthie wore a black silk, with white chiffon vest , Mrs. Jack Duthie>, roit'-coloured silk, Parisian lace collar, Mis Batham, black silk, white fichu, Mis. Muir, black silk, Mrs. McLean, blue silk, with cream lace, Mesdames Littler, East on, Newell Ponsfoid Captain and Miso Ferns, Mr and Miss Cameron, and a great many more whose names I was unable to get were present. A mcely-arranged programme by Mr. McGiashan was gone through, Miss Whi to and Mr. Aithur BaJlance contnbuting very largely to the enjoyment of the visitors. Miss Ferris (Gisborne) sang two songs very sweetly Mr. Muir and the Rev. Wyndham Earee also sang the la«t-named gentleman playing his own accompaniment A recherche supper was spread in the billiard-room. The table was most artistioally decorated with pink and lilac, ■sweet Dea, and lycopodium leaves. A beautiful silver pperrgne standing fully four feet high, on a white satin table centre w orked in gold oriental embroider- a,nd fringe, was very much admired. Mr. Blvthe (Auckland) made a very pleasant little' speech, in which he thanked Mr. Duthie (who, by Hhe way, is president of the Wellin^^on Bowline; Club"! in the name of those present, for his Wndness. to which the host fittingly replied.