SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1069, 1 May 1879, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS.

(erom late cafe papers.)

SIR BARTLE FRERE'S PLANS Pietermaritzburg, March 14.

Tub following memo, has just been brought to light. It is not prematurely published, nor is it now made public with official sanction. It has been produced to show that the military were misled as the true asjpect of the political situation, and it is held to account f6r the laxity which Avants some such explanations to be conceivable Avith which operations were conducted at the outset. " Confidential. — For His Excellency the Lieutenant-General Commanding m Scuth Africa. — I enclose printed copies of a memo, on tli3 appointment of a Eesident m Zultiland. It is drawn up on the supposition that Cetewayo may acquiese m the necessity for a-British Resident. Will not be materially lessened. We have reason to hope that a considerable number of tho influential chiefs with many of the common people, wDJL separate their interests from those of the Avar party, will accept the uuquestionod supremacy of the British Government, and agree to govern their people on the principles of European civilisatioti, instead of according to the practise of Chaka. Should this expectation be fulfilled, a British Resident will be as necessary as if CeteAvayo submits, though the .position of the Resident Avill be different and his poAver someAvhat greater. I propose to His Excellenoy the Lieutenant-General commanding m South Africa to undertake, temporarily, the duties of Resident, as soon as we learn Cetewayo's answer, and I would further ask him to select for himself, and to forward to me for confirmation, the names of officers qualified to iindertake the duties of assistants to tho Eesident till such timo as the possible necessity of active military operations m the field shall cease, and a permanent Eesident, with suitablo assistants, &0., oan be appointed. There Bhould, I think, be at least one such assistant with each column of his Excellency's forces. — H. B. E. Frere, Governor and High Commissioner. — Pietermaritzourg, December 11, 1878. Cetewayo's Brother Surrenders. Colonial Secretary's Office, Cape Town, 13th March 1879— Telegram from the High Commissioner to the Colonial Secretary : Qham surrendered to Captain MoLeod m Swazieltnd,; and arrived at Luneberg from Derby Avjth between 600 and 700 followers on the 7th. They Avere to leave for Colonel Wood's Camp, Kambula Hill, on the 10th, if Pongolo Eiver was fordable. Relating to this event the Cape Argus says -.—This event is one that may be easily understood. Oham was never on good terms with the Zulu King, and was generally considered as the rival of Cetewayo. Seeing the small number of followers he has brought over with him, it is probable b. 9 has come oyer for personal reasons, it may be m the hope of taking Cetewayo's plaoe when the kin" 1 has been deposed. It may be that the Zulus are demoralised,' but we take leave to doubt such a statement, coming from a man m the circumstances of Oham. The Situation at Ekowe— Provisions. Only Sufficient to last to End ov March.

PIETERMARITRBURG, March Ift. No great change m $he military situation has aocurred' durhig the past week, hut signs af a-reto to activity have been prece^ible 'tmm waa astertaanetl.that

reinforcements are comparatively clobo at hand. The Shah's complement, already landed, is noAV en route for the Lower Tugels, where Colonel Law's expedition for the relief of Ekowe's is m course of organisation. It is believed, however, that the actual movement will not take place for some little time to come, the expeditionary force being still wanting m a native escort sufficient large to ensure safety to the fourteen oompanies of Her Majesty's regular troops now assembled at the Lower Tugela. During the last week the gauntlet has not been successfully run, and several attempts from this side to establish comunication have met with no recognition from Ekowe. By the utmost pinching.it is believed that Pearson's supplies will not Hold out beyond the present month. The border post being the lower Tugela and Daw's Drift are being strengthened by reinforcements of natives levies raised within the oplony. These levies are no longer officered by Europeans m the proportion of one to ten ; they are to fight m their own way, and serve under leaders understanding the native language, and personally known to the men under their command. The restriction which formerly .left ninety per cent, of the native contingent without guns has been removed, and all available firearms are noAV being served out. A very much larger portion of the levies are now mountedi

The Zulus are suspected of an intention to make a supreme effort to frustrate the contemplated ( relief of Ekowe', whether it be by forcing throug a conyoy, or by bringing away a portion of the garrison. Native runners are frequently sent from the fore to the Tuajela, but only a small proportion succeed m running the gauntlet. From the most recent arrived of these messengers, it is gathered that the enemy has broken up the road traversed by Pearson's column m its march up to Ekowe. The locality of the fort is one of the most salubrious spets m Zululand, aud the health of the treops there is reported to be upon the whole satisfactory. . Small foraging parties are repeatedly sent out to' raid upon the enemy's mealie gardens, and one of such party recently succeeded m getting as far as Cetewayo'B old kraal, which was committed to the flames.

Intelligence received from. Ekowe reports a great scarcity of provisions. Many of the oxen have died from starvation.