NATAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8117, 11 April 1906, Page 5

NATAL.

NATIVE DISTURBANCE. SEVERAL WARRIORS CAPTURED. AN ARMED SPY SHOT. Received April 10, 9.3 a.m. PIETERMARITZI3URG, April 9. A Zulu witch doctor is exercising great influence over Bambaata's followers, alleging that she can render them bullet proof. Largft numbers of cattle belonging to the rebels have been captured and numerous prisoners. Several of Bambaata's indunas hare been killed, and an armed spy has been shot. The Government is closely watching Mekopeli, who controls five thousand warriors. TO BE STARVED OUT. Received April 11, 12.21 a.m. PIETERMARITZBUKG, April 10. Bombaata, with one hundred and fifty followers, has crossed the Tugela River, and taken refuge with others he gathered along the route, in tho impenetrable Ukanehia where ho will be secure till starved out. His crops and kraals have been destroyed. The militia are about to be'dismissed, and the natives are returning t3 their homes. "SEETHING WITH DISCONTENT." Received April 10, 9.32 a.m. PIETERMARITZBURG, April 9. The Natal Mercury blames the optimism of the Government in regard to the native outbreak, when it must have known that the natives were seething with discontent. If Natal is unable to pacify the country, the Mercury saya there are tens of thous* ands of experienced fighters in the other colonies who are willing to help. COMMENT BY THE SPECTATOR. Received April 10, 8.36 a.m. 1 LONDON, April 9. The Spectator, commenting on South Africao affairs, says the action taken by the Home Government was unjustified on the facts and wholly unjustified by Imperial practice. Lord Elgin's interference, the paper declares, has certainly done no good, and Mr Winston Churchill's remark that autonomy had been given too readily will not tend to soothe nSatters.

Received April 10, 8.41 a.m. LONDON, April 9th. The Speotator eulogises the attitude of the great self-governing colonies, and the olear, temperate cone of the colonial press m upholding the true dootrine of Imperial relations. Autonomy once given cannot be whittled away. The journal adds that Lord Elgin was not justified in interfering with the court-martial sentences. The Johannesburg correspondeat of The Times says the hands of the clock of conciliation have been put baok many years by the events of the last few mouths. The Boer leaders have been encouraged in the belief that they will obtain political supremacy, and they are unlikely to calmly watch the hopes deliberately raised by the Liberal Government dashed at the eleventh hour. If the Government is resolved to uphold British interests it must expect a recrudescence of racial antagonism in its bitterest from.