THE SITUATION IN THE TRANSVAAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2606, 28 July 1881, Page 2

THE SITUATION IN THE TRANSVAAL.

Tin) “Natal Mercantile Advertiser” Bays ;—lt lias been ascertained that important evidence on th c salary question lias been laid before the Commission, and that no less important testimony of the feeling of the Natives in reference to the proposed withdrawal of the British Government from the country lias been adduced. One Zoutpansberg chief named Frederick Molapo, has stated that lie represents chieftains holding sway over about 20,000 Natives, every one of whom will surely rise up against the Boers should the country be handed buck to them. There can be no doubt that this is the feeling of the great mass of the Natives in the Transvaal,and that a large Native rising will take place in the event of England withdrawing. Already trouble of this kind has broken out- in the north-west.

The Boers are fighting with Montsiwe, who protected loyals during the late hostilities, and it is said that they are being assisted by a neighboring chief, Mankoroane. Cronje, the commandant who kept the news of the armistice from the Potchefstroom Fort garrison until after he had secured the capitulation thereof, is said to bo fighting with the Boers against Montsiwe, he not having been yet given up to the mifitary authorities. P. J. Joubert has gone to the sceue of hostilities, with the purpose, it is stated, of stopping them if it is possible to do so. It is certainly hard that Montsiwe should be put to any trouble for having protected loyals during the war, but in the face of all that has been done in other ways it is hardly surprising that even this should be permitted.