NEWS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 74, 25 September 1900, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WAR.

A WELLINGTON MAN KILLED. Mr. H. JE. Richards, of Wellington, this morning received a letter from the front containing the sad news that his son, John Arthur Richards, had been killed whilst on patrol duty at Krugersdorp Farm on 15th August. Private Ricnards was a member of the Railway Pioneer Regiment, whoso commander (Captain Stonestreet) sonfc the news of death. The deceased soldier was a member of the Zealandia Rifles of this cit>. CHASING DE WET. NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE RUNNING. Writing from a camp ten miles west of Vredetort, under date Ist August, a member of our First Contingent bends a Wellington friend the following interesting particulars of a busy tiino at tho front: — We, the unfortunate forty who were left behind when i|JC troops left for Tiuabanchu, have had no letters since the beginning of May, and will not get any until wo reach Pretoria, where all mails are sent. We started a fortnight after the troops left, quite a respectable column, with 60 New Zealand remounts, hoping to catch ou-r fellows. However, after pushing on. at a good rate, including one freezing cold night on which we covered 35 mile.3, we got to Kroonstadt to iind they had left with General French two days before. We were delayed a few days at Kroonstadt, but eventually gofc as far as the Vaal, where wo rested lor a day. This was May 3rd, the day on which Johannesburg fell, and we celebrated the event by swimming the Vaal River into Transvaal territory. We then went on to Johannesburg, and got orders to proceed to Boksburg, where a commando was giving trouble. This fizzled out, and we got back to camp to find orders waiting ua to entrain south, as Do Wet had blown up tho line and captured a train. Wa travelled all nighfc to the Vaal, the lino being blown up again soon after we had passed over. We then rode from the Vaal to Vredefort Station, and solidly froze for two nights, our waggon carrying the blankets having broken down behind us. However, things got warmer at daylight, when De Wet shelled the camp, and wo drove him cit' without any ca..iua!t\'. That day we were joined by Methuen's column, and next morning advanced on De Wet. After a good fight, we drove him out of his position at Rhenoster Spruit, and camped in his laager. The large number of 28 New Zealandcrs (to, which we were now reduced) had no casualities, excepting one hor&e shot, and we were once more mentioned in despatches to "Bobs. Wo had rather a rough time in this camp, being on, short rations. Wo were then sent to Heilbron, where Macdonald was cm-rounded. We got in all right, after a fight, to the de'ight of the Jliglanders, and the representatives of Maonland were attached to Maqdonald's Brigade as scouts. Once more we Avere on the move, this time to Frankfort and Bethlehem, and then back to Heilbron, which is tho most Engliya town in tho Orange River Colony — a pretty place, with plenty of trees. Here wo got orders to entrain for Pretoria, but our usual luck sent us to Kroonsladt, and then to Lindley, where De Wet -had collared the town. We got near and struck the enemy, who gave us a bad time, and eventually surrounded us. Tavo of our felloAvs were captured, but managed to escape. Next day the Boers cleared, being pressed by Broadwood, and Aye joined him in following De Wet up here, where we have been for nearly a week. However, ho is surrounded hoav, and I hope we will get him, as he has giA r en us a nice lot of running about after him. You can hardy imagino how ragged Aye are. We have had no neAV clothes. I hardly know where to put the next patch. We are getting quito used to being Avet through and then lying down on wet ground to sleep in a hard frost. I One can hardly imagine frost in Africa, but the realisation is convincing.

The case of William Dew v. Thomas Riddler, a claim for the division of a piece of land in the Hutt district, 94 acres in extent, was begun in the Supreme Court bafore Mr. Justice Edwards to-day. Dew, for whom Mr. Hislop appeared, is in occupation of the land, which he wishes divided into two pieces of equal value, one piece to fee for himself and the other for certain persons for whom Riddler is trustee. It was stated that there was a mortgane on the property, and Mr. Hislop suggested that if the land was divided each part might bear one half of the .mortgage. Mr. Ollivier appeared for the defendant, who objected to the proposal to divide the property. After some evidence had been taken the case was adjourned for a week.

The warship Porpoise is to leave Auckland on the 2nd prox. for Wellington. Tho Jewish New Year .began yesterday. A special commemoration service was lieJd in the Jewish Synagogue, at which the Rev. H. Van iStaveren, assisted by Mr. I. Van Staveren, officiated. There was a large congregation present in honour of the occasion. The annual report of the Swifts Ama-. teur Swimming Club, which is to be submitted to the general meeting of members to-morrow evening, draws attention to the lax manner in which the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association at Christchurch has acted towards the club. There is great dissatisfaction amongst the officials of the local clubs concerning this neglect, and steps are being taken to ensure a more satisfactory state of affairs. he report shows the club to be in a prosperous condition, due largely to the efforts of the captain (Mr. W. T. Churchward) and Mr. T. Hamer. A successful year is anticipated, the club being now firmly established. The weakly meeting of the Benevolent Trubtess was held this afternoon, the Rev. J. K. Elliott presiding. The Secretary reported, that tha number of inmates iv the Ohiro Home was 74 — females, 16 ; males, 58. Several applications for relief were considered and dealt with. In the Magistrate's Court this morning, judgments went for plaintiffs by default as follows : — To Aro Loan Company v. W. Rice, £20 Is, with £2 16s costs; T. Ralph v. E. li. Kibblewhite, £2 18a Bd, costs 10s; Dwyer and Co. v. Eliza O'Hanlon, £1, 6s costs ; same v. Alary Ryan, £2, costs ss ; Dr. Mackin v. M. Dalton, £2 ISs, costs 10s; kamc v. H. Belcher, 15s, costs ss; Ballinger Bros, v. Charles Maddox, £5, costs 5.3. Mark Green sued Charles Koroneho, claiming £5 13s for a suit of clothes. Defendant contended that his employer had undertaken to discharge the liability. His Worship did not consider that the evidence showed defendant's freedom from liability, and he was therefore ordered to pay the amount claimed with £1 16s costs. The fountain which has been erected in Napier in memory of the ten citizens who lost their lives while endeavouring to rescue the flooded settlers at Clive on 16th April, 1897, is to be unveiled on . . ednt^day. The fountain is a handsome and invoo'sing structure, of monumental Gothic design, with a bas>e 19it wide and a total height of 3&tt, weighing in all 51 tons. On each of the iour sides is a drinking fountain with cup attached. The third section is of Timaru blue stone, elaborately and artistically carved, and the remainder of tho memorial is of local crystalline limestone supplied by the Napier Harbour Board. Each side has a marble tablet bearing an inscription, that on tho north and south sides being as follows: — "Ihis monujnent was erected by the people of Napier to commemorate an act of heroism by which ten men lost their lives on Good Friday, 16th. April, 1897, while endeavouring to rescue the flcoded-out settlers of Ciivc." The tablets xacing the east and west bear the names of the gallant men referred to, namely — Arthur M'Cartney, Harry Brierly, Frederick Ansell, Frederick Cassin, Florence O'Donovan, Alfred Stephenson, John Rose, Herbert G. Oborn, John Prebble, and George Chambers. Under each list of names appear the following lines — "Greater lore hath no man than this, that • a man lay down his life for his friends." Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., repeated his lecture on "Earthquakes" before a large audience at the Congregational Schoolroom, Newlown, last evening, and received a vote of thanks at the close of hi 3 remarks. The excursion steamer Duchess will run to 'Day's "Bay to-morrow afternoon at the usual hour.' ' Messrs. W. Littlejohn and Son announce the arrival per s.s. Whakatane of valuable additions to their stock in the shapo of silvor and c.p. goodE, cutlery, jewellery, theodolite, thermometers, Goerz binoculars, etc. Inspection is invited. Messrs. Morshead and Gicsen. auctioneers, Fcilding, advertise to-day an important salo of building sites in that town. Tho land although practically in the town, is quite free from borough rates, nnd affords a good opportunity to speculators and others. Tho homestead contains nina rooms and first-class grounds, and forms a very desirables country residence. Messrs.- Kirkcaldio and Stains are now showing their new shipment of silks. An inset in to-night's Post gives full particulars. Bargains in jewellery, watches, plate, etc., aro advertised by Mr. Chisholm, watchmaker, Cuba-street, who is now holding his annual sale. The Empire Tea Company advertises the prices at which its teas aro sold. Owing to the reduced tarif? a corresponding reduction has been made in all of tho company's brands of tea.