THE TRANSVAAL

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 7 July 1899, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL

THE VOLKSRAAD GIVING WAY.

A LIBERAL FRANCHISE PROMISED.' BRITISH TROOPS RKADY. ' INDIAN TROOPS ARRIVING. PRETORIA, July 6. A caucus attended by twenty members of the Yolksraad showed a marked inclination to grant a liberal franchise to the Uitlanders. The Burghers are widely evincing a disposition to give the Government a free hand, and are willing to waive the question of naturalisation. LONDON. July G. The "Pall Mall Gazette"' states that the Marquis of Landsdowne, Secretary for War, in ready to despatch from 40,000 to 50,000 troops to South Africa. •" Great Britain is nevertheless anxious to avoid anything suggesting a menace. It is affirmed from Pretoria that President Kruger has accepted the recommendations of Mr Hofmoyr, the Leader of the Bond Party at the Cape, and Mr Fischer, of the Orange Free State Executive, for modifying his proposals with reference to concessions to the Uitlanders. PACIFIC EFFORTS FAIL. | BLOEMFONTEIN, July 6. President Steyne, in proroguing the Orange Free State Yolksraad, said the pacific efforts of the State towards a settlement of the Transvaal difficulty had failed, but he did not despair. He trusted the Transvaal would act pacifically. Then she could not be chargeable with war. The Volksraad authorised President Steyne to proceed to Pretoria. _^ A UITLANDER MANIFESTO."" PRETORIA, July G. The Council of the Uitlanders' League has issued a manifesto endorsing Sir A. Milner's proposals.

The Council urges the establishment of an independent High Court. They also desire that any settlement of the difficulty between Eng- • land and the Transvaal shall be perj manent, in order to ensure- confidence | in the'future. | The Council further claims auto- ' matic periodical distribution of seats as the various districts grow in importance and muncipal and electoral reform. SYDNEY VOLUNTEERS. SYDNEY, July 0. Nearly 600 purely volunteer forces have offered for service in the Transvaal. The Commandant of the Forces considers that the position is very critical, and favours the despatch of an ■ Aiistralian contingent. j An Imperial officer just from- the Cape states that British troops from the Indian frontier are arriving there by every steamer, and immense quantities of army supplies and forage are being accumulated.