SOUTH AFRICA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2056, 26 May 1896, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

The sentences of four of the leaders in th" Johannesburg revolt, have Iv-en commuted to fifteen years' imprisonment, but it is hoped thfit this will be further modifi-Mi. The 'limes A'notinc.'. the

punishment as rigorous and excessive. Tlie refusal to a-n-ede to the Reformers' petition for clemency must delay other revisions. The Times declares that the Transvaal objected to .Sir Graham Bower being nominated as successor to Sir 3. S. De Wet as British Consul. The Standard refers to President Kroger's giradging cl< meto-y as mere <xpediency Kight of the Beform Committee in tlvj Transvaal have be n discharged, four have received a year's imprisonment, nineteen received three months, eighteen were directed to r« petition in five months, four, lor refusing to petition, had their sentences maintHiiicd. All the fines imposed are to be enforced, hot banishment from the country is sa< p tided if the prisoners agree not -to

engage in politics. 'Sir Hercules Wohitison teiogr siphs th-it the s ntenees p-o-sed on Colonel Rhodes, Messrs Phillips. Hammond and f/nrrer, the principal members of th. Reform Committee, is a mutter of form, nnd will be revised in a week. iVir Chnmbi'rlain, speaking nt. the South African dinner, said be wa-: deeply disappointed at ibe iwu ( <if the revision of tiie li'.'lbrmers' sentences by the Trsnsvaal Executive T. l ;e severity shown most result, in delaying a. reconalitiiion be.'ween the two races, i ngiand would adhere to the policy which she had so far pursued. Or. Leuls inquired the reason ol massing lnr.-e forces near Mafelsing. Sir H. U'-binson replied that he was surpri-ed that such obvious falsehoods were credited, and advised the Trtnsvnfll authorities to take proceedings for libel 'a.rains- those who spread tin trues reports. The situ.il'on is regarded as critical. rinderpest nnd genrral want of confidence paralyse trade. Mr Damn to has close) his mines, ami a thousand men have been thrown out of employment) Pretoria is in a shockingly inn-iiiitary condition, and tin epidemic is feared. Communication witli Buluwayo, which was interrupted by the rebels, bas besn restored.. Tbe colonial forces have i.'fT.'ct-d.R junction at the town, and are prep ring to attack the rebel position at .vlatoppo Hills. President Kruger desired that a line should be imposed on the reformers instead of imprisonment, but the Executive Council overruled him. The B >ers of Pretoria are said to be irritated at the severity of the sentences, and consider the chance of reconciling thr> race 3is lost. Bismarck's organ declar. s that Great Britain's offensive policy in South Africa forces Germany to cuter on military preparations on a scale which proves her intentiou of retaining her colonies.