South Africa.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 276, 30 October 1902, Page 1

South Africa.

London, October 27

It is officially announced that Mr Chamberlain, with the King's and the Cabinet's approval, visits South [Africa at the end of November, to jexamine into problems there, and confer with the different interests respecting future policy. He expects to return to England early in March. Lord Milner cordially approves of the visit. Mrs Chamberlain will accompany Mr Chamberlain. Loid Onslow conducts the routine business while Mr Chamberlain is away, and Mr Austin Chamberlain will reply to Colonial qu<-stionsin the House of Commons.

The "Times," commenting on the decision, says the new departure canhardlyfail to exercißea profound influence on the future devlopment and consolidation of the Empire, and hopes it will become a precedent for visiting the chief groups of the Empire year by year. Personal investigation of problems will accelerate progress brush aside impediments, and powerflully promote the growth of Imperial sentiment in all the colonies. It suggests that Natal deserves the honour of first welcoming Mr Chamberlain to South Africa.

I The "Daily News" regards the lundertaking as the most pregnant mission of Mr Cnamberlain's life, and wishes him Godspeed. All the papers approve of the journey. It is positively stated in Brussels that General De Wet sails for South Africa on Friday, Generals Botha and De la Rey following after visiting Mr Kruger and Mr Steyn. [ The "Daily Express" states that after leaving the County Council istand the Boer Generals received a | hostile demonstration. General De Wet was bonneted, but the policn rescued and escorted him out of the crowd.

Dr Leyds has informed the jformer Transvaal officials, now in [Europe, that the Government is [unable to compensate them owing to lack of funds. He added that nothing was decided on their behalf at the Vereenigiug Conference, when the terms of settlement were discussed. He refused to advise them to serve Britain. As the result of Dr Leyds' disclosures, a committee has been appointed to proceed to London to interview Mr Chamberlain.

October 28.

Thft UrupnisjL Liberals applaudMr Chamberlain's visit to South Africa, and anticipate valuable results from ifc.

The Daily Telegraph says that Mr Chamberlain's recent cab accident has rendeied a respite from work necessary. Failing to obtain through a semiofficial channel a second interview with Mr Chamberlain, the Generals abdndened the attempt.

General De Wet states that the other Generals go to America. The roughs mobbed Messrs Kruitzinger, Foucbe, and Joubert after lecturing at Cambridge. The police escorted the visitors to their hotel.

Capetown, October 27

Speaking at a banquet at Johannesburg, Sir Arthur Lawley announced that the difficulty of supplying the burghers with seed bad been overcome. Out of- 40,000 repatriated Boers, none had returned to the concentration camps. Thirteen thousand cattle had been [distributed, and twenty thousand more would be distributed by December. This was in addition to nine thousand horses and many mules and donkeys.

Lord Mi!ner stated that the Government has no intention of placing burdens on the Transvaal which will prevent or delay the progress of the colony. The Government aimed at freetrade throughout South Africa. A meeting of working m6n at Capetown requested Sir Gordon Spngg to warn artisans and othec emigrants coming to Africa of the scarcity of employment at the Cape.

During a debate in Parliament on the agricultural vote, in Committee, the Afrikander Bond members objected to increase the salary of the chiefinspector of sheep on the ground that he acted as an intelligence officer during the war. Dr Smartt declared his party would debate the matter for a month, if need be, in order to prevent the man from being punished for hia loyalty.

October 28.

j The Cape Argus Bays that tbe loyalists are especially delighted at [Mr Chamberlain's visit. The paper adds:—"The Cape future is more insecure than that of'the Tiansvaal."

The Cape Times says that Mr Chamberlain is unable, without a 'personal examination of the conditions, to accept the responsibility of declining Lord Milner's representations regarding the necessity of taxing the Transvaal moderately.