KRUGER'S IDEAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 204, 2 October 1900, Page 1

KRUGER'S IDEAL

Mb, Qabbsit, of the Gapi Timet, says that Kruger's ideal of government was a sort of oligarchic theocracy, with Paul Kruger as its Melchiaedek, priest and king in one 1 He sees the fathful Bitting each under his own gumtree, on his own Btoep, and as far as bis eye ranges that ia his own farm, and his cattle are on a score of hills. The young men are stalwart, great hunters before the Lord, and the yonng women are grossly built and fraitful. And to each farm there iq a made road and a dam, and the stranger in the land pays lor the same. The stranger keeps to himself in the city, and is more or less godless, for he is not of the chosen in the Promised Land. Bat he gives no ' tronble, for he iB " well disposed," and looki to the Raad for his laws in doe season' The burgher has his Kaffirs, who do hia work; but they are not oraelly used because they obey. The sons of the soil are not too much educated, because thatspoils an Africander; but enoogh to be able to hold all offices of State, that these may be purged of the Hollander and the German, no less than the accursed English or " Eog- . lish hearted Africander." And the nations of the earth come vying the one with the other for favours ; (Germany and France and England, all on the one footing, And above ali< sits Paul Krnger, father of his people dwelling in the house that the concessionaire Nelimapius gave him, wealthy but thrifty, living as simply as he used to live on the farm, save that sheep's head—and trotters—come round somewhat of eener. And the judge come to him to know how they shall judge, and the Baad members to know what laws the shall make; and on Sundays all come to the little chapel near to hear him expound the Word of God and the truth as set forth by the Separatist Reformed brethern. And there is peace in the earth. And it is flat, and the sun goes round it. A sergeant of the E Squadron of Kitchener's Horse, formerly a sergeant in the Ist Surrey Biflcß, who had been a prisoner of war for about four months, in writing to his sister from Waterval on May 6, says Oar liie here is not so bad considering. We are eicamped in a place about the size of Kennington Park, hedged in by a triple fence of barbed wi re, and armed guards every iew paces witVi a maxim ■p in one corne. Food iB the chief drawback. We get enough in a way, but no variety. We gen a loaf of bread a day, 21b. of flour, 21b. of mealie, lib. of rice £lb. of sugar (salt and pepper as wanted), and |lb. of tobacco every week. This alone is rather tasteless, but now and again we get a few shil ing?, with which we boy baking powder pound), and pork fat (Is par twice a week we get potatoes, for washing we stream running at the sqd of our -aid, For pleasures we have a football and cricket set. Then we have cards draughts, and so on. Sometimes we have a concert,