South Africa.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 238, 5 August 1902, Page 1

South Africa.

London, July 31. General De Wet, on being interviewed, said that the oversea colonials knew the Boer methods and tactics, and that their resourcefulness dismayed the Boer leaders. Mr Chamberlain's speech has been well received on the Continent, except that portion dealing with the exclusion of suspects from South Africa. Capetown, August !. A deputation from England addressed a meeting of churchmen at Johannesburg in favour of federation of the Church throughout the Empire and abroad. Lord Milner, who sympathised with the movement, urged that, inasmuch as Britain's power as a nation throughout the world stood higher tjian ever, the Empire itself needed more perfect organisation than' 1 in the past, otherwise it was endangered. Wellington, August 1. The troopship Britannic, with the Eighth Contingent and a number of members of other contingents on board, arrived from bouth Africa, via Albany and Melbourne, this morning. The southern men leave at six o'clock to-night, and all the other troopers will start for their various homes in the morning. There was a good deal of sickness on board, caused to a laige extent by cold and the crowded state of the ship. Between forty and fifty men were in hospital suffering from a variety of diseases. It was decided to send to the Wellington Hospital ten of the patients who are convalescents from typhoid. The remainder, chiefly pneumonia and measles patient?, will be removed to-morrow to Somes Island. There were three deaths on the voyage, all from pneumonia. Private Lawrence, of Christchurch, died on the trip from Melbourne. The Britannic had a crew of 158, and 1017 officers and men were on board. The crowded state of the ship made it difficult to deal with cases of siekm-ss. Colonel Davies cam 6in command. The names of the other officers, including Lieu* tenant-Colonel Ohayfcor, were telegraphed from Capetown. August 2. The troopship Britannic, with the northern details on board, sailed this evening for Auckland. Christchurch, August 2. The Mararoa, with 316 Orago and Canterbury members of the Tenth Contingent, arrived at Lyttelton this morning, with Captain Fookes in charge. The men landed at Lyttelton without official welcome, but were met by the Mayor, several Councillors, and Colonel Webb, and briefly welcomed at the Christchurch railway station. About sixty men went south by the express this morning. From an interview it appears that about sixty men from the whole brigade are remaining permanently in South Africa, and others intend to return. Dunedin, August 1. The general committee for the reception of returning troopers have accepted an arrangement to entertain the men at tea in the open air on their arrival, and if the weather is wet, in the Garrison Hall. 'J?he men by the Britannic and the other returned troopers are invited.