The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 96, 16 January 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal.

Capetown. Jan. 11. Lord Melhuen is keeping up a desul iory practice upon the Boer trenches. General French is making a recon naisance with a strong foice from Geneial Gata eve's beadquaiters at Stei-ikstroom. He retook a quantity of flour at Molteno mills, which had been seized by the Boers. The British also leuiuvcd a portion of the milling tnnchiuery. The details of the night attack upon the hill near Colesbeig, when seventy of the Suffolk Regiment were captured show that the attacking force marched to the hill in close column. The Boers •were pre-advised of the advance, and reserved their fire to within thirty yaida. Adjutant "Watson and two car' r.r.a f t'H °t the first volley. Snrueboiiy ir.ea shouted ' retha,' and the ifcar coujpaiiies ran down tho hill. Of eleven officeis accompai> iii q tho force' one escaped. The Boers helped to bury the dead, and sang a psalm over the grave. General Methven is making a rail way along his front. General French found that the Boers occupied a Btrocgly foKtiiiod poutioa

at Stormberg. The lines extended two miles.

Jan. 12. Further details of the Storinberg disaster show that the guide after leading the British into the trap, pointed to the Boer po3ition and eaid " There's your enemy," and galloped off. General Gatacre shot him twice with his revolver saying, "You've done me; you go first." He cried like a child, exclaiming, "My poor boyB I"

Durban, Jan. 11. Correspondents heliographod from Ladysmith a few details of Saturday's fight. The place swarms with spia3. The gaol is full, but nobody was shot-TwaiAy-one have died at Ladysrnith from enteric fevei.

Jan. 12. Laclysmith reports that the broad and meat supply in the town is good and plentiful.

Jan. 13. Potgieter's drift north of Zwartskop bridge, which General Buller seized on ■Thursday, consists of a feny boat worked by a wire. The country north of the diiffc is oppn and suitable for military opera tions. Ladysmith cavalry, in a drenching rain, destroyed a biidge over am er near Inhlawe, thus isolating the Boers.

Melbourne, Jan 12. In the Assembly, statements were made that the saddlery supplied to the second contingent is very inferior. Tan saddles are m^de of sheepskin in stead of pigskm. Some of the stirrups and spurs, it is said, coulJ. be broken in the hand. In thy Assembly, Mr Madden siiJ that the saddlery ai.d aceoutieuieiHs were a disgrace to chihsulion. The Alimster ot liduesition replied that the matter was aheady uuder the consider ation of the Cabinet, and that a most beaiohiug investigation was bciing md.de. Saddlery expeits have been appointed to leport. >Jo man would be allowed to depart unless adequately eq.uppcd. Orttic crowJis xvaichod the rnaLch through the streets and tha shipment ot iho coutiugrfut's hoiscs pr or to ffluc l v *.la' ! ruirfc to uiovrov/j wheu ihyie v\ r ill bo the oiuoial send oil.

Jaa- 13. The board appointed to examine the contingent's saddlery lopoiled that, oonbideimg the rush, it uus aa axera^'O lot.

Jan. 14. The city was thronged yesteid&y to witness the departure of the second contingent.

Berlin, Jan. 13. Germanj' has requested Krupps. gun manufacturers, to cea&e supptyn-g guns to bt-iligKieuts.

London, Jan. 12. Great Britain has determined that food stutts bhall be regarded as neutral, and ships destined tor ueutral poics hhail not be liable to eeizuie unless the manifests show they are dt&tined for the enemy. The Aruerican cargoes of flour seized will therefoie be released The StaudauVs corespondent at Frere states that prior to Saturday's fighting at Ladj smith Piesident Xi tiger asked at headquarters why Ladysmith was not attacked, and was told it would involve a gieat bacrifice, <md he replied, " Put the Fiee Slaters to the front." The Free Staters stuck to their posi tv n? till bA^onetted in the ditch, but tha Transvaalers, in the faoe of the counter attack, xetired, the Free Staters jeering them. All the available Boers were brought to Ladysmith from the lines fronting Genet al Euller on the Tugela on Saturday, and some from confronting French. The Boers engaged in the battle numbered five to one Englishmen. The Biilieh soldier's steadfastness proved the salvation of the garrison, as they did not allpw the Boers to gain a real strong hold. They terribly punished the enemy with the bayonet, the battlefield being strewn with tho slain. The Daily Mail's Ladysmith correspondent states that the British losses are estimated at 14 officers killed and wounded, 800 men killed and wounded The Boers engaged in the attack numbered 20,000. Their t casualties are estimated at 2500.- . It transpires that when Lord Methven was wounded in the battle of Modder River he wa« thrown from his charger and injured his spins. The recent seizures of American and German steamers in Delagoa Lay has bi ought prominently forward the question of the contraband law, which is admittedly vague. Great Britain took time in establishing a sound precedent in seizing tha vessels. America shows a friendly, patient spirit over the matter. Germany is tolerant, but German shippers are irritated,

There are persistent rumonrs that Lord Methven is to be invalided, Major - General Hector Macdonald succeeding him. The Channel squadron has been ordered to ssa on tho 31st to relieve the particular service squadron at Gibraltar, whicli proceed to the Cape. " Lord Hopetuun has placed a v/ing of Hopetotin House, his family seat in Scotland, foi the use of Scottish soldiers who are wounded in the war.

Jan. 13. Signor Eaggieri, a well known African traveller, states that the Boei irmy numbers 80,000, and that the goldfields havo been mined against attack. Later detail* of the sortie from Mafekuig on Decombar 25Lh, show that Captain Vernon and Lieutenant Paton were killed whilst firing theii revolvers »vith fists thrust through loop holes in the enemy's fort.

Jan. 14. The Morning Po3t demands the dis missal of the Government, and alleges that the military preparations we^-e determined by the Cabinet's own view of the political situation. All the unionist newspapers con fcimie to assail the Government, and hostile criticisms have increased since General Buller, late commandant at the Cape, advised tho use of 120,000 troops. [

Lisbon, Jan. 12. The Portuguese Government ha^ decided that nobody shall enter the Tran&vaal without a pas&port and a consular guarantee that ho does not intend to fight. This will put a stop to the Boers receiving reinforcements via Delagoa Bay.

Ottawa, Jan. 12. Canada wislie3 to bear the whole cost ot her Transvaal contingent. Lord Stratiicoua has otiV red to equip and 111.111. ta.:n tour hundred northwestern teriitory rough udeis at a cost of a million dollar*..

Jan. 13. Mr Laurier, Premier, speaking at Sheibiook, Quebec, said that the voluniet r movement sprang from the •-ooiittiueouo will o* bhe population, and the cJoiiifs voluntaniy stood behind the jloiheilcf^d.

Wellington, Jan, 12. The Iloiclikisa battery, which it is deiimtcly decided will leave for lha (Jape with the second contingent on Waivveri, is not practically complete in its Lumbers. It is expected that when the detachment readies Cnca town it will there ruceive instructions upon Hotclikii.3 gans from an expert, a id will then proceed to the front with the four guns presented by Lord Armbtroug'fe company. Captain Smith, formerly of Christ J church Colifge Rifles, and latterly | t,tu£t" ofricer to Colonel Penton,. has been appointed to command the liotchkiss gda battery. Tha contingent and local volunteers will havo a sham fight to morrow a*; Miraniar, on the hills surrounding the camp. Captain Reid, of No. 1 Company, arrived m camp to day. The contingent are to be reviewed by the Governor next week. So far no alteration in the date fixed for their departure (the 20th) i 3i 3 spoken of.

Jan. 13. The Government have decided to grant freo passes to volunteers desirous of taking part in the departure of the contingent, provided halt the strength of the company attends. It is finally decided to hold the demonstration in honour of the contin gent at Newton Park, and to escort the men to the wharf through the principal streets with a pro"c"ess l on of bands and volunteers.

Christchorch, Jan. 12. < It is proposed to send four nurses and dres&ers to South Africa by the Lincolnshire, from Lyfctelton, next week. A ladies' fund for t^e South Island has bee-> started, headed by Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes with £100, and Mrs Heaton Rhodes ,6100. Work on the "Waiwera i 3 proceeding day and night at high pressure. She may leave to morrow if possible, but at lats-t on Monday. At the athletic and military display at Lancaster Park last night ever 8000 people were present, The affair was a pronounced success, and there was much enthusiasm. The proceeds will be devoted to the Canterbury war fund. The receipts in connection with the display at Lancaster Park last night were ,6238 13s 4d. Lieutenant Hame, the officer in command of the Permanent Artillery at Lyttelton, who was accepted for service with the siege train being formed in England, has handed his command to Sergeant- Major Burbery, and will leave for Wellington tomorrow.

WANGANtri, Jan. 12, The " more men and horses fund " BQW <?^s9?ds £500, and it is oxpected to

reach £1000. This is irrespective of over j£5OG already subscribed for refugees aiid wounded soldio v s.

Sydney, Jan. 12. It is practically certain that the contingent will get away on tho 17th. The Bushmen's fuud is over £21,000. A polic9mau in the country district has been rerao\ ed fioni the force for disloyal utterances.

Jan. 14. A few volmticerfi of fiie Isiibullieii'^ contingent, being infonued that pay would uot coramenco till ihe final teots weie passed, withdraw. The Ta&ruai^ tan Premier wired Mr Lyne that bo could not raise suiiieiuut good shot* to go to the Tiansvaal as a separate corps and asking if he will enrol those will ing to volunteer in the New Uuiuh Wales Bushmen's contingent. In view of the Brisbane attempt special precautions will be taken to guaid the troopships a!; Sidney. It is undeistood that the police hj-vesevei.il suspicious foreigners under surveillance.

Jan. 13. The second contingent is now com plcte. A New South Wales infantryman writing from the front 6tates that the Boer waggons have a red cross painted upon Uioiu, at)d when opened wore found to contain badges in the front r ind rear, but in the centre were full cf j umiiunition. He aLso states that the -.t, itionm.'ibter at De Aar u;ib shot for being a f>py. He was caught receiving a maxim gun for the Bo^rs in paits Libelled " glass wiln cuie." lie \va<. only given half an hour's grace. Bra^BAhi.;, Jan. 12. The Daily Te\agi»\A\ h.i-, btditeJ a shilling war fund, headed with 1000 shilhugs.

Jau 1,". The Maori King, with the tfcoaj contingent, is expeotud to got a«a;, to-moirow. A sensational attempt war, mado to set fire to the troopship Maon Kuijj at the South Brisbane wharf. The lire was discovered at the edge of a coul buukei', a lutlo distance fiom which was found a dium full of tar, with two holes perfouuecl in the bottom, allow jng th« 3 tar to 00/e out in tho direction ot the coil. The are wj.s quickly ex tinguished. Since the vessel armed, detectives ha\e been watclniaj, as two or three foreigners weiu s"eu «bont the \e>3&cl se\eia,l times. It is ruaiOuiud that two arrests will be made before the vesbel sails.

Jan. 1-1. The second contingent embarked on the Maoii King yesterday afternoon. Ihe Lieutenant-Governor fareWelloJ by a patriotic speech, and there was a lepitioa of the eutnusiasm at the first contingent's departure, thousands crowding the Btieets and wharf, and fueling ran nifjh over the attempt to buru the troopship.