MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 54, 17 March 1900, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

. (Received 16, 9,35 a.m.), v London, March 15,

Persistent statements are circulating frqm Delagoa Bay with great preparations being made to mite the mines .and batteries and dtstroy Johannesburg. General Gourko, the Russi-.n military attache in the Transvaal, haf cabled to the Czir that he was perfectly amazed at the energy in action and the endurance of the British infantry.

The burgbeis' wives are anxious foi their husbands to return from fighting The B;er prisoners at Simonstown were the recipients of water melons containing messages showing how plotting for their escape was being carried out.

Five transports have been selected to convey the Boer prisoners to St. Helena, H.M.S, Niobe escorting them.

The breach between the Free Staters and the Transvaalers is widening. (Received 17, 1.20 am.) London, March 16.

Mr. Chamberlain, having regard to i threats to wreck the mi nes at Johannes- c burg, stated that Kruger had been t warned at the outset that he would be held r<sponsible for any uncivilised acts. < CECITi RHODES' 11KPLY TO THE 1 PKiiMIKK. , Wlllin'oxux, March 16. ] In rf ply to uiessage on Urn relief i f Kimberl y, the ( Pr mier h«s j'ist received the following , c< le from the Right Hon. Oscil , RholeF, dated Capetown, 15th:— , Thanks for telegram. We were very pleased to see your men at Kimberlsy, The siege was getting monotonous after . four months. It was also pleasant , that the war should have been the . means of our knowing each other. I hope some of your men will stop here." PROCLAMATION BY THE QUEEN. "Wellington, March 16. The following proclamation by the Queen, dated December 27th, is gazetted ; —" Whereas a State war exists between us and the South African Republic and also between us ' and the Orange Free State, and whereas, therefore, it is expedient and necessary to warn all our subjects of their duties and obligations towards us, our Crown, and Government: now, therefore, we do hereby warn all our subjects not to enlist or engage themselves' in the military service of the Government of either of the said Republics, or in any way to aid, abet, or assist either of the said Republics in the 1 prosecution of hostilities, and not to carry on any trade with or supply any goods, wares, or merchandise to either of the said Rt publics or to any. • person resident tLe-ein, or to supply any goods, ware?, or merchandise to aay person for transmission to either of the said Republics or to any person resident, therein, and not to cutty any goads,' [ ware?, or merchandise destined for either cf Lhe said Republics or for any ' person resident therein; and we do hereby further warn all persons that whoever iu contravention of the law sball [ commit aay of the aforesaid acts will bs liable to such penalty as the law . provides,"