The Transvaal WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 11622, 8 August 1901, Page 6

The Transvaal WAR.

BRITAIN'S FIRST DOTY. FUTURE OF THE COLONIES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ' LONDON, August 7. The Hoqge of Commons, by 196‘against 59, voted a grant of six and a-half millions in aid of the annexed South African colonies. Mr Chamberlain, dealing with the vote for the South African colonies, said that our first duty was to our friends. Energetic action would be taken on behalf of loyal refugees. The resettlement of farmers was intended at the earliest possible date. They would also introduce humane laws dealing with the natives. • LORD MILNER’S RETURN. LONDON, August 7. 'The Times’ announces that General Neville Lyttelton and Lord Milner start for South Africa on Saturday. W. T. STEAD’S LATEST. CONTINUES HIS SLANDERS. LONDON, August 7. (Received August 8, at 9.15 a.m.) W. T. Stead vainly urged M. Ernest Brenner, President of Switzerland, to intervene against Great Britain’s alleged violation of the Hague Peace Convention concerning the usages of war. Stead then asked for a general statement and references of Swiss sympathies towards the Boers, but the President of the Republic declined to be drawn. LORD KITCHENER'S REPORT. THE WEEK’S WORK. LONDON, August 7. Colonel Scobell has inflicted heavy losses on Commandant Latigan’s commando. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report states that 48 Boers were prisoners, and 57 surrendered. A pom-pom, 141 rifles, 8.660 rounds of small-arms ammunition, 186 waggons, and many horses and cattle were also captured. DEATH OF TROOPER HEENAN. Death has c'a’med another of our returned troopers. Trooper Heenan, of the Fourth CnntiiyrenL died at the Dnnedin Hospital af three q’clock this morning. Deceased was a son of Mr D. Heenan, of this Citv. Trooper Heenan underwent an operation while the Tagus was at Albany. On arrival at Dunedin he was found to be suffering from an abscess on tbe liver. He was again operated upon, and though for a time he appeared to be making progress towards recovers, h:s strength gradually ebbed away, and ho died this morning. * SOUTH DUNEDIN’S WELCOME. Naumann’s Hall, South Dnnedin, was crowded to the doors last evening, when a concert and social were given by the residents of St. Kilda and South Dunedin to tiw troopers of the district "who have returned from South Africa. The welcome was characterised by the utmost heartiness and enthusiasm. The Mayor of South Dunedin (Mi A. Todd) presided, and the following troopers took their seats on the stage:—Corporal Mathie, Troopers Morton, Cairns, Duncan (of the Fourth Contingent), and Corporal Goodman. Troopers Lear and Pellett (of the Fifth Contingent). Before proceeding with the musical programme, the Chairman said that he esteemed it a great privilege to preside over such a large gathering, which showed that the patriotic spirit had not yet died out in the district.; Some people said that they were making too much fuss over the returned troopers. He did not think so. These inert had gone away, none of them sure they* would come ba-ck a£Tam, and surely it was only right that they should give them a hearty welcome when they returned home safe and sound. He was glad to see that in tVs matter the people of South Dnnedin and St. Kilda were not going to be behind those of other districts. The. ladies who had in getting up the concert and social had displayed a great deal of energy, and to their efforts the whole success of the gathering should be attributed.

The first part of the programme was opened with a selection by an orchestra headed by Mr F. C. Martinelli. Miss M’Kechnie gave a seauntreus in Highland costume; Miss M’Donald followed with a. coon song ‘Hush-a-bye, my babe,’ and Miss Rose Blaney received much applause for her rendering of ‘ Killamey,’ as an encore to which she gave ‘Cornin’ through the rye-’ _ Mr Mills amused those present with a recitation on Influenza,’, and returning he gave a second, dealing with General French’s march to Kimberley. Another selection was given by the orchestra, and then the Mayor of St. Kilda made a presentation of gold medals of Maltese cross form, and appropriately inscribed, to the troopers. Mr Hodges referred to the groundless fears that had been expressed when the proposal to send New Zealanders to the front was first made. These fears had long since been dispelled, and the men sent'from New Zealand had A '’f rt kily ujjheld the prestige of the colony. All those who had gone from Sonth Dunedin and St. Kilda with the Fourth and Fifth Contingents had been spared to return, and he, with tbe Mayor of South Dunedin, thought it only right and proper i ij residents of the two boroughs should extend to them a hearty welcome Turning to the troopers, he congratulated them on their safe return, and said that he wished to present them each with a medal as a recognition of the valuable services they had rendered in South Af [ ,c l a ' and the manner-in which they had upheld the prestige of the colony.—(Loud applause.) ■

The troopers were heartily applauded as they stood up to receive their medals. The audience sang ‘ For they are jolly good fellows, and followed this up with three hearty cheers. Trooper Pellett returned thanks on behalf of himself and his comrades. He said he was not much of a speechifier,' 1 and would sooner face the Boers than an audience. They appreciated very much the entertainment, and the hearty manner ii. which those present had received them. He reciprocated their good wishes, and hoped they would enjoy themselves thoroughly.—(Cheers.) _ The orchestra, then played, and Mr J . T. Carter contributed ' Because I love yon, so ’ (encored); Miss- Blaney sang * The dashing whit© sergeant’; Miss Easton gave ‘Whisper and 1 shall hear’: and Mr Neil Black was recalled for his rang ‘True to the last.’ pie volunteer’ was contributed by Miss M. Black, who appeared in costume, and was greeted with an enthusiastic encore. "^■ r . Gray gave a recitation concerning an incident that happened on the Natal railway, and Mr W. Mills gave the amusing piece"‘On a farm’ and also ‘A-wee Scotch night.’ Miss Pollock gave ‘Little red cross ’; ■ Mrs King, ‘ The holy city ’; and Mr Carter, ‘ Two's company ’; the programme being concluded with a fourth selection by the orchestra. The bulb of the accompaniments were played by Herr Paul Sonderhof. Votes of thanks having been passed to tho performers, the floor was cleared • for dancing, mnsic for winch was supplied by Messrs Sonderhof, Briggs, and Haig. A large number stayed to enjoy this part of the proceedings. Messrs W. J. Gore and T. Gallagher acted as M.C.s. rtjTrooper Palmer was accorded a welcome home social in the Taieri Month Hall on his return £om the front, and a large number to honor the guest He was presented with a gold albert and greenstone pendant on behalf of his many friends. The Governor.; has received a cablegram stating that Trbdpcr John Whyte, of the Seventh Contingent, is dangerously ill’ of enteric at Genniston. . i

Tfca Northern tampers whoretnrned from South Africa by thq Waihora left tbit afternoon for their homes on the saqhe steamer. There wcre between twenty and thirty of them. One :of the members gave a -wildly enthusiastic hioka. as the: train movpd off: ■