ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8463, 13 June 1907, Page 5

ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

NEW LEGISLATURE. Received June 12, 7.44 a.m. LONDON, June 11. The letters patent conferring a constitution on the Orange River Colony provide for a Legislative Council of eleven members, nominated in the first place by the Governor, with a right to be converted into an elective body by the Legislature, after four years; also* an Assembly of thirty-eight, of which five represent Bloemfontein. A separate Land Board is created for five years, with security for pensions for such officials in the Land Settlement Department as are retained. A liberal construction is put on settlers' rights. King Edward expresses confidence that the inhabitants will increasingly enjoy the prosperity and contentment distinguishing the Orange River Colony in the past. The newspapers hope that risks are minimised after General Botha's speeches, and the fact that such a typical Afrikander as Mr Smuts (Colonial Secretary for. the Transvaal) has now drafted an Education Bill. This Bill is welcomed by the whole of the Transvaal press. It seeks to make a thorough knowledge of English universal and withdraws patronage from separatist Dutch schools. Mr Smuts, speaking at the Het Vlok Congress, remarked that edu- . cation has superseded the rifle as the . weapon of the Afrikander people.