CABLE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 274, 21 November 1901, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

Bz BLEOTKia TXUMBAPH—oomiam BOER WAR. ! GENERAL ITEMS, I PISB PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 London, November 19. | 'The Daily Chronicle exposes a projßoer cabal to capture the National Liberal Federation. Dr. Leyds declares there will be no peace without a guarantee of independence. By the middle of January Lord Kitchener's columns will bare been thoroughly freshened, and will also possess an abundance of remounts. JL dozen militia battalions are also going to South Africa. Lord Kitchener's werkly report shows 43 killed, 16 woundtd, 291 prisoners, and six surrenders. Fouche is north of Jamrstown, retreating rapidly towards Barkley Bast. Malan, Hugo, and Latigao, with SO men, were pursued hard for several days towards Oalvinia, and all their spare horses were captured. Montz, with 350 men, has been driven across the Berg River northwards. In the last eccounter with De Wet, Frinoe Radziwill, of Kitchener's scouts, was dangerously wounded. Lord Salisbury, in acknowledging a voie of confidence at a meeting at York, said England was the only country where, during a great war, eminent men were permitted to write and speak as if they were enemies. Berlin, November 19. Students were mainly tesponsible for the anti Cinmberlain movement in Geimany. At an anti-Semetic meeting in Berlin the lecturer urged the Boers to asßßSfinate Chamberlain, " thus ridding Germany of a rascal fit for the gallows." Some meetings uked the Kaiser to personally rebuke Chamberlain's im« puJeooe. The Yeteracs' League abandoned the outcry after receiving a hint from the Government. Sydnk?, November 90. With reference to Major Ganrfng* i ton's request for more men of the > Bushmen type, two squatters offer , £SOO each towards the cost of sending a suitable contingent, ANGLOPHOBIA IN QEBHAMY. BULLEfI'S SUCCESSOR. ' Beoelved 20,10.10 p.m. Bkblw, November 20. | According to German pro-Boer organs the anti-Chamberlain demonstration' will be resumed, and will be cf a wider ' and more distinct anti-British character. The Berlin Post declares that Lyell's speech is a leeson to those Germans re- ' fusing 1o undei stand Germany officially ( preferring good relations with England, , lLStiud of demonstrative coolness, London, November SO. The Daily Mail states that Lord | Roberts's nominee to the command of the Fifth Army Corps is MajorGeneral Pole-Carew.

The Times states that the pan-Ger-manic Leajzue convened a crowded meeting at Zurich. The Swiss express sympathy with the Boere, but protest against the Germans' abuse or hospitality. SIR HENRY OAMPBKLL-BAHNIBIU* IN EXPLANATION. Received 21,1.8 a.m. London, November SO. Sir Henry Campbell • B&nnerman, speaking at Plymouth, denied uttering a syllable that could be twisted into I encouragement of the Boers. He had never even expressed ordinary pity for or sympathy with the Boers. Great Britain could only govern them with their willies; help; not despite their enmity. Peril would remain while Mr Chamberlain and L?rd Milner were in office. A Cabinet of business men was impracticable, unites formed on business lines. The Standard denounced the proposal to gratuitously sacrifice the national self-respect, and s*ys Sir Henry admits that the Boer independ* ence mutt be withheld, NEW ZKALANDBa KILLED, Received 21, 1.19 a.m. London, November SO. Private W. Thomas, a New Zea* lander, has been killed at Vogelfo®« tein, Wellington, November 90. A cablegram from Mr, Pilcher gives the names of the three men returning on the Wilcannia with Lieutenant Joyce as 4495 Fnirclough (Dunedb), 3527 Morrish (Marlborough), 9871 Tatham (Duneoin). Tho message states that 3358 Delaney (Wellington) has an injured knee and is returning soon.

A TAR ANA KI TROOPBR'3 LETT**, Mr W. Healop, of Sentry Hill, haa kindly banded us a letter which ha has received from his son, who is exI pected home next week, prior to hit leaying for New Zetland. The latter, which is written from Johannesburg, where the writer says'tbe bag bam weather-bound for six day. l , " nothing but rain," says: - There are rumours now floiting through the country about u i returning to New Zealand at the end of thia month, but as to how much truth they contain remains to be proved, an thia is not the firct time that report-, of like nature have been in circulation. I wrote about a fortnight ago saying I had been up tbe eastern railway line, and across the border into Poriugueie territory, to a small drinking and gam l liuji fetation called RemnoGavoia. I will describe to you tome of the incidents of interest that I noticed, and al>o the land through which I patted. Koomati Poors is a station just about ho If a mill? from Grocodi'e-river, and about two miles from the bolder. K.P. i» the Custom House Station where all merchandise and luggage i* overhauled by the British authorities b> ft ra being allowed to proceed inhnd. It is si tutted in a valhy of broken shrubs and brushwood, the suiroundiug hills are of a hard tiioty format on, and are tupposed to con'ain that pteciius metal which is the root of a i de*l of quarreh ell over the world. The population by census taken prior to the present outbreak of hostilities wis about 200. On nicour't of t.o many deaths Viking place t litre evtry y< ur, it ia termed th« " white man's giavw" Very few women evtr lived there. Malarial fever is very prevalent for about six months of tbe year, and persons who have once gone through it aa attack every year. When tie troop were travelling through th* oooßtrf

surrounding K.P., quartz was found by various member* among the different forced represented, and Steinaker's Hone, whe are stationed there doing police and patrol duty say they very often come across indications of reef gold on their marches. The next station coming from Koomati Pcort to Pretoria is Kaapmuiden. There eeems to be no change in the strata of the land, except that the hills around are more rugged, and densely covered with brambles and shrubs. Kis the junction of 'he line from Barberton, its population are coloured people working on the railway line, with a few gangers, and it all being in one way or another connected with the railway. From Kaapmuiden to Nelspruit, the line travels through a gorge very similar to the Manawatu, the hills on both sides being very much steeper, and there is no loose soil, but a bard granite rock which must have made work very tedious and glow. Nelspruit, a small township on a little plateau, has a very good view of the surrounding country. This was the pi are that Lord Roberts made his headquarters on his march from Pretoria to the border. As it is only a small place with all the houses bunched together, I will not spoil much paper by describing details: Most of the houses

are built of earth and of a circular

shape, with four doors, and are ou the day very cool. The country from Nelspruit to Waterval Onder is very rugged and broken, and the last mentioned place is situated in a valley with very high walls going up very abruptly from the valley. Tfais place is one of the main I.M.R. depots on the eastern lin . From Waterval Onder to Waterval Boven, distant about seven miles, the line passes through a long tunnel and up a very steep hill, which is travelled by a cog-wheel engine, which travels on a lite especially laid down for it; the grade is Ift. in 20ft. On arriving at the top of the hill we reach at Waterval Boven, which is a very small place; the houses of many are hidden from view in Bmall valleys. Waterval Boven is splendidly situated for invalids, being high and very dry, obtaining plenty of fresh air from the surrounding heights. From here to the next station, Machadodorp, we begin to leave the tall height and to spaed across open country. Arriving there, we begin to look around for the township, after seeing so much in the papers in connection with Kruger's hurried flight from Petoria to the border. After seeing the place I am cot at all surprised at the old gentleman remaining in his state carriage in preference to dwelling in the shanties which help to form the township. In time of peace it will become a headquarters of the garrison, and as it is situated on small undulating hills, should be very healthy on account of easy drainage, etc. It is no* a large depot of the A.S.C. Befast being the next station, is a small township of about 300 inhabitants, has since its occupation by the British, been subject to numerous attacks from the Boers, none of whom have been successful in obtaining foothold in the township. It is splendidly garrisoned, with earthern walls thrown up all round. The soil is of a dark chocolate colour and very light, and would, in my opinion, be suitable for cultivation. The line from Belfast to Middleburg is across a wide plateau, and as this is the largest and principal town on the eastern railway, I will endeavour to deecribel it so you will be able to realise what most of the townships are like. The railway station is about a mile and a quarter from the main part of the town; very little of it can be serin from the railway line on account of a small rise. The town itself is on a terrace, facing eastwards. The population in time of peace, I think, would be about 1500 inhabitants. Tbe land is very much lika that of Belfast ; but by the Bward of grass is a lot richer. It would be very goed country for cattle or for cultivation on account

of being easily iirigatcd. From Mic dleburgwa pass Groot Olifants Rive to Withmk; this place is noted for iti coal mine, which is the main dfpot o: the I.M.R. It is a very bleak ane barren-looking place; very little tim< or money being spent to improve the land. Btlmoral being the next place that I have made any note of is now s great A.S.C. depot. It is nice and cosily situated .in a valley, with low kopjes all round ; h&3 been a great place for repeated attacks from the Boers. Splendid groves of fruits can be seen on a'l sides, the principal frui* being peaches, lie soil is of a dark brick-red colour; very likely ground for grazing. The next station of importance is Esrste Fabeiekeo, Famous for its large d'stillery plant, which is the mainstay of the place. Th 9 brand cf liquor manufactured here is Heatherley. The dis ance from E.F. tc Pretoria is |l2 miles,|md the countrj is very rugged and of very little use for farming, but reputed to be verj rich in minerals. I have also been down to Kleerksdorp, and while there I met a number of old friends. ] I arrived there at sundown, and surprised Sergeant 0. Sm th (Napier), sth Contingent, at mess, aftir which 1 went out to a picket-post and mel Trooper Err est Pettit, who, using hi; own expre.B:on, "you could knock m( down wifh a feithsr." He was verj much atmieti; g me. Aftei making my e'f known tu others wh( were comrades in- irra. c , ar.d talkiu> about virious things of tte past, 1 returned to crmp. N;xt morning ] met Lieu'emiit S 'X'V, who was i quiring after his bi other, who is :n th( 3rd Contingent. I went out on f coup'e of pttrols with Ernie, acd aftei seeing what there was to we at Kbcrks dorp I J-tarted to |rot-nrn to Pretoria The land between Kleerksdorp anc Krugirsdorp is very suitable for cattl. grazing; bus as long ir >n ehirnn?ysc« be seen at varioas distances, it wiil b< better underneath than what is on thi surface. Pofa hef&ttoom, the old Trans vaal capita], which Has S3- n some upi and downs sinca 1881, is a very liici town situated about half way fcetweai Kleerksdorp and Ki ugersdorp. It ha changed hinds three times since th British first occupied it during th' campaign. I am leavicg the 1.M.2 Pol'Ce en account of New Zeikridoi not being allowed to »ign on fo I.M.R. work and will be rtjoiniu; the regiment agaiD, which is now dowi in the colony giving De Wet a goo? shaking up. My opinion about thi country is that it is a splendid placi for a man of money to try his fortune as money makes money ; but it ho'di out no gold-lined clouds to the pcoi man, everything being so dear. He must be able to expend his shek3ls without looking for any return for three or more years. N.B.—This is written in reference to farming. Cattla cojnmand a very high beasts worth in New Zealand £o a>e valued at between £lO and £ls. Frozen meat wiil have a largo run here when the m'nes open. Australian beef is reckoned a superior

article to the local meat, and as it can be obtained at a lower figure per lb., it is in great demand. So what sort of chance will New Zealand meat have ?