The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 105, 6 February 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

Capetown. Feb. 1. 1 Colonel Hood, in command of the Australians, offered to transform the "' fife companies intd mounted infantry j Jsitiid the British Comtuander-in-Chief J Accepted the offer. | The Boers have commandeered 300 British at Barkley East. '\ A thousand sheila were thrown into ) Kimberley in the last three daySi !J The population largely reside under- 1 ground. \ Mafeking reports all Well. Colonel 1 Powell urges the British not to attempt -, to relieve him lest the besiegers become more active elsewhere.

Feb. 2. 1 The Boers are constructing forts at i Storruberg. , j The British forces, with artillery, »1 occupied Prieska's Drift, Orange River, | without opposition. ' ij General Buller hold* various drift* across the Tugela, The Cape police captured 1000 bead of cattle belonging to rebels in Dordrecht District. , ] Trooper J. Hurford, of the Kew \ Zealand contingent, is seriously ill with heart disease. j| 1 Mr Jourdain, private secretary to | Mr Rhodes, has been captured- whUe->| carrying verbal messages. r - \ Lord Roberts w rapidly organising the forces. Addressing the London volunteers, he said he hoped that his arrival would coincide with a turn in *i the tide. " J At a meeting of the Capetown | branch of the Africander Bond, Mr | Hoffrneyer, who presided, condemned [i. the action of Britain towards the Cape 1 Ministry's advice, and in compelling 1 farmers to wear badges. ' I General French has arrived at Cape- | town for the purpose of consulting with 4 Lord Eoberts. i

Durban, Feb. 3. j Colonel Dnndonald reconnoitred at j Hongerspruit without molestation. *> At Spion&op ths British shot a c corporal who was shaking hands with ] an acquaintance in the enemy's lines. - : ]

Sydney, Feb. 3. 1 Letters from the Lancers show that ; some friction exißts.over the coinbina- ] tion of the Australian troops s under ] Colonel Hood, the Victorian. The New South Wales men allege that | their officers are re'egated to junior "A positions owing to the officers of the ; other colonies having appointments, i dated, before them.

Feb. 4. The Warrigal, with the "A " Battery has arrived at Durban. Brisbane, Feb. 2. ; ' The Government has decided to send 200 bushmen and a party of ambulance bearers. . ' '„ '

, London, Feb, 1. '' Owing to British pressure the' Port' ugtiesehave imposed more stringent regulations "re admitting foreigners into Lorenzo Marquez. ,

/ , * r ' . - Feb. 2. • Colonel Williams of the 3$W South Wales Army Medical Corps, has been ( appointed principal 'medical' officer - to' '- the Austr&liatf forces. "" ".',"' v ' The Government has ordered 100,000 ' suits 'of kharki r ; and" Beveral" motor cyejesk . ",'■ :V: V '''* '**'.! '"-. < A Hanoveiian __ c^nel on Mardnirei l staff declares; ihat; 10,000 Jrain^ European soldiers,', with 800 officers, '' are assisting -ilab, Boers/ i\ :"-,~: "-,~ „*', ColonejL{Baiden- Lowell,., under: date Januarjr Wtiii reports that iKe'garriTOii forced |n^-Bdera/tb'feirfoVe se^er^l bi^' guns; :^o'lnesective pdsitiqnsi „■ j; ' . '.We^prbjfoundiy dwgrSted : with' th'eKW^crpffice^^ pul^g^obsfc^le^in^&V-'wa^to^ttief -BcruitiiS^.oi Hoinertgiments, >^ f \r ''#' -

TwnWraa^d fifteen P. Ws^ ,i..i,v; from «nionkop. belong.** The Mayor of ff~h«I«"T ha* **>' » aff » that the rftfc-m wll on*w by* privation- in defence of their ilMJgfa otate* that the Boors were the act of abandoning Sp.on Ko, w the British retirement induced I create ft aiveHon *rrt day fore h-Hn ? of the abandonment. £ r Wvndh«m. in the Honw of )rnm on,.^d that bv the February thero would b P 180 ©0, ,ops in Ponth Africa. indua.Mg 7^3 Lai and Cape mnn. and the to.«l ounted boop, would be »7 80O; and ,ere would be 452 gon., 110 ber. R eavy and the rest field guns. The ocrs had 60,000 men and 110 guns. rs or to the ultimatum General BuUcr Mi expressed himself as satisfied with ,c proportion of cavalry arranged for. at in oidcr to gratif; the splondzd atrioti.m of the colonies, Binain ronldghcthe colonial troops imme Jate place at the front. Tb- coloma overmenta had been united to send jana^Ab'e i^intß of a hundred and ,-,nn* fiven^n. The Goveinment'e Jne «as to mert the wishes of the aloni-s, whose LopisUtures hdd ac epted the u.i!nary disappointments m wajr that others, neaior home might tt ve imitate. He admitted that w laps at the disposal of generals did e j, include the terutory between .adysuuth and the Tugela, but .romised early military reports. Sir Sdward Grey desired that the assistuce o£ the Opposition would ceaws Vl th the expulsicin of the invaders ( rom Brmsh territory. The debate vould have collapsed only the whips iad arrauetd a division for Tuesday.

Feb. 3. The Times announces that the sup jlenientary estimates will provide g£o 000,000 to covor opeintions until Apul. Advices from the Cape uige the ltu Mediate despatch of reiutoicomeutd Geueiat fuller's corps are being seived with double lations. Joubert's pres&nos at the Uppei Tugpla is taken as an indication that be expect* a lenewal of the attack. The Moipmg Leader affirms that General JJuller b.us begun a fresh movement with the mention of turning the Uoui'h position at Oudorbiock •and Lriobk-r* Ivioop. Tlieie are indications that the Srith. Se\bi>l'n, anJ Eighth Divisions will re infoice Genaxal Melhueu, making his .force of a total of 6U.000. General -Methven will also be leinforced with unore guns. ■ Mi Go-chen has made a powerful :re.xssunug speech. He claimed the Cabinet s fall and collective responsi l,iLi-v. Tv,'v.fc;t! Novell Ji'CJt" l were ftjntil , bur 'he iji/V -.Lt.nit.Jt \'a-. a.lne to the g'a<U;' of the -uuauon, and v,de flnboKui q olpv fur sT.t^s ; faefoiy Jlomcdtfuce He v.iimlv congratulal.id Mr Gbambt-ilain vpcii TMnning the affection of the colonies. fThe }>fiVcrioi) of the coJouieb for the Motherland was unstinted, and ttitir loyalty and geneio&ity liad arousod the world's admiration. It was appa -rently a letum lor past consideration. News has be3a reconed that t'je [ British Flying column has reached [ Northern Zululand. It consists of - experienced colonial scouts, and wA* probably haiass the Transvaal line of communication above Ladysmith. A thou-.ai d Boers, with three guns, are in the \ i-janty of Veyheid. ':'li» Pfuh jMail states that the (J(.r\euiu:iiiit piopo^e to atienghten the Butish Auu>, with fifteen new bat tuhpua of infantry. The Queen has been touched by the 'receipt of a message from the Mayor -of Mafeking, *.ent on January 27th, milking the hnndredth day of the siege The Mayor stated that they ■were resohed to maintain Her Majesty's supremacy. The Victoria Cross has been conferred on the late Hon. Roberts for 'Conspicuous bravery in assisting the guns at the battle of Colenso. The Times eonespondent at Sterk•stoim stateß tha*; the Boers are dis : ' tributing pamphlets in the Basuto langu>age, inciting the Basutos to rise, and promising them restoration of their territory. In his speech, Mt Goschen said the Admiralty had assisted the army with 'heavy guns, without impairing the resources of the navy. Several 'Victoria Crosses will be conferred for conspicuous .bravery in assisting the gnns at tho battle of Ooleneo.

Feb. 2. It has been ascertained that 40 British, who were reported to have been killed at the battle of Magersfontein, are prisoners.

There is an entire absenc; of war news. |

Auckland, Feb. 4. Over 200 names have now been rp ; ceived foi the thud conriiigent from: Auckland city and country, of volunteers, ex-volunteers and others. The process of selection will take place this week.

Wei^ington, Feb 2. It is believed the amount being funded by further subscriptions throughout the colony will enable & second contingent of rough riders to be sent. At a meeting of the executive of the Third Cooling^nt Committee, it was resolved *h;it the Premier be asked to instruct the Defence Department to tako charge of the men and horses, and provide accoutrements, on the pledge that the funds contributed by the public shall be handed over to the Government. The Pioinier was asked to cable to the Imperial Government, asking if they could r»ro\ide tran^poit for tbe third contingent.

Fbb. 3. The Agent General cable" : — " Kinibei:ley ispionor.need.soCe now, and Maleking was pronounced soon January 20th."

CuEisTcnnifCH Feb 2. Ten men were rejected, it, is under stood, because they failed in the liduig test. Among those who were rejected waa one man who had sold out a I blacksmith's business, and anothei who had sold his farm m order to 30m the contingent. Th«re are at present 120 horses in camp, of which 37 aie Government, troop horses. The borrowed horsub are gradually being returned to then owners. It is probable that Major : Jowsey will uot assume his command until the final selection bus been made. At a meeting of the Patiiotic Fund Committee, the chairman stated that .Sl5OO had been lemitted Home, and he had in hand £1637, which would probably be increased to -fc'2ooo In regaid to several applications from subscribers to the Patiiotic Faivl that l.hoii subscriptions should be tians feuvd to the ay Fund, tlif conv-.nVci' dfcid'-cl thdt it could not accede to the n qci°st, but it was ro-,ol')Cd r.ot to rtunt any moie money to London for the time bomg. It was also dot'id« d to ask Go\evnn'>ent vh.it had bpen done in rcgaid to nisunng lueuabers 01 the contingents.

Peb 4. Mfijni Jowsey will probably assnino charge of fciu camp to cUv. It ib thought that the followng licuteuauti, will be chostn : — lot Lieuto<;unt, Cupfari Louis. Bourne, Xdjut.u't or t he SoutD Gauieri/ .iv B'UWi.on , 2nJ Lieutenant. .\Jontaguo uhui, tor uicriy of the C.V 0., but now ot tho E Battery, ChiiPichurch ; and 3id Lieutenant, Fredenck Tuckj-, of the Aoi.buiton Ga.a-d. It is thought tlut Aci-i 1 j 'oig^aiu Kjse, an ex.i (aiii.ui) yf llu- L;»ttoli.oD Nrf-vals jiini and for bfci.oi.iil yPu'is a member of the, j C Y C . will be .)M.2e Sergeant-Major. { Fuii\ oIjU'J people visKtJ the camp on | buii^y. O\ei ii5J \/j^ collccii'J by the bal. j of ied, r vh'tt> mjJ o'.ue nob. n& al the [jimiji^.il in aiu 01 cue Cauieibui^ Wai I'li.i'l,

Colonel Webb, c^.j.wi.i.h'ig tlu di^iiict. his 17<3 xiamen olo l iKujO ulio ua\« ofaftied tor the third contiugent, and \t is e\peou j d that those who h,i\e not gone fco Chi'istchurch will oiTei foi a fourth contingent. Ten men fioin Cluolia have volunteered, anJ it L anucipateJ that as soon as a selection committee is appointed and those desnous of joining know who are te go. there -vill be /a large number o! applicants.

Feb. 3. The Hon. Mr Seddon buggebts Satuxday, March 3rd, as the date oi embarkation of the contingent from Port Chalmers. It will comprise at least 300 men of whivjh Otago and Southland section will form part. The Imperial Government were cabled to-day asking to forward a transport ship. The Premier and other Ministeie will assist at the send-off.