A Boer Threat Made Sixty Years Ago.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22217, 24 March 1900, Page 2

A Boer Threat Made Sixty Years Ago.

An interesting record of the proceedings of a meeting of the Volksraad of the Dutch emigrants in Natal exactly 60 years ago is to'be found in John Bird’s ‘Annals of Natal/ The following extracts are-takendrom a manifesto which was the result of that meeting. The document, which is headed .‘Declaration and Protest of the Assembly of Emigrants,’ in the course of a long preamble refers to the alarming statement in' a local paper to the effect that a part of Natal had been sold to a number of English emigrants, and then proceeds to proclaim: Now that we may expect every moment the arrival on our shore <>f thousands of poor deluded strangers wi-h the view of driving us from our dearly-purchased and lawfully acquired new country, the Assembly have, for the maintenance of our indisputable right to this land, obtained by virtue of treaties with the Chief D'ingaan, and afterwai'ds ra.ifh’d by tlie Chief Panda, as well as for the maintenance of our independence, honour, and safety, come to the following resolutions: That in: case of any landing of strangers as emigrants in the port of Natal, without the previous consent of the Assembly having been obtained, such emigrants shall be considered as enemies of the State.

That should the arrival of emigrants be attended by such military force as shall he enabled to prevent us from opposing their landing we shall then retr at into the mountains and kloofs which surround the bay in every direction, as did the oppressed Spaniards, and, according to the principle of Don Carlos, neither give nor take quarter until we shall have recovered wliat is virtually ours. That the several commandants and captains of the armed burghers be called together to moke further arrangements with regard to tlm division and command of the several forces entrusted to them. That a sufficient number of slaughter cattle and a supply of maize and other necessaries of life be brought together in the vicinity of the bay for the maintenance of a guard of 40. men to be placed! on the Berea height, for the purpose of watching the movements of Panda, as well as the surrounding tame Kaffirs. That part of the ammunition be p’acod under the care and responsibility of the local Landdrost. The declaration is dated November 11, 1839, and is. signed by J. S. Maritz, .T. W. A, Pretorious, P, T. van Stadon, ¥m. A. Botha, G. F. Seodolf, J, J. Burgher, M. van Deven'er, and- G. P. Kemp, members of the Assembly.