SOUTH AFRICA.

Evening Star, Issue 11607, 18 June 1902, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE BURGHER SCOUTS. A CANADIAN PATRIOT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. "LONDON, June 16. ' The officers of the National Burgher Scouts wore entertained at dinner at Pretoria. Colonel Girorard, in the course of a speech, said that he was a French Canadian, sitting between two Frenchmen, exCommandants Vilonel and Celliers. He dilated upon Canadian freedom, instancing the Premiership of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, himself a French Canadian, over the whole Dominion of Canada a* proving the liberality of the Constitution. The speech caused a deep impression. The Scouts disband to-day. UNPRECEDENTEDLY COLD. SERIOUS LOSS OF STOCK. LONDON, June 17. (Received June 18, at 9.41 a,m.) Unprecedented cold is being experienced in Cape Colony, where thousands of stock and sheep have perished. THE PRETORIA PLOT. LONDON, June 17. (Received June 18, at 9.46 a.m.) The Pretoria plot was discovered through an officer understanding Dutch overhearing the plotter while he was accosting Commandant Beyers in the street. THE CAPE CONSTITUTION. LONDON, June 17. (Received Jone 18, at 11.11 a.m.) The Hon. T. L. Graham, Acting-Premier, Cape Town, is opposed to the suspension of the Constitution. It was unnecessary, he says, to brand the colony with the stigma of rebellion because 2 per cent of the whites were rebels. RECEPTION TO RETURNED TROOPERS. The following returned troopers, who arrived at Wellington by the Zealandia last week, came on to Dunedin by the express last evening:—Trooper S. J. Sell (Roslyn, Sixth Contingent): Troopers F. C. Chittock (Pomahaka), W. C. Hay (Macraes), A. R. Leadingham (Romahapa), R. Taylor (Kaikorai), Ronald M'Danald (Hillside), and C. H. Taylor (Kaikorai —all cf the Seventh. The Pipe Band played a welcome as the train drew up to the platform, where there were assembled His Worship the Mr C. R. Smith (representing the Patriotic Committee), Colonel Smith and Actini-adjutant Freeman (representing the Defence Department), Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., and others. On behalf of the citizens of Dunedin the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to the men. He commended thfm for their gpod work in South Africa, which had been anxiously watched by the citizens, and referred with pleasure to the fact that amongst the returned troopers were some of the famous Seventh Contingent, which accomplished such good work at Bothasberg. The crowd here gave hearty cheers for the men, and when quiet had been restored, Mr Park paid a tribute to the members of the Sixth Contingent for their valor. He intimated that the Patriotic Committee had arranged for billeting those men who did not be ong to Dunedin until their departure for their homes, and invited them to return to the City on Coronation Tsay, 26th inst., when thf citizens were giving a dinner to the returned continsrenters and the veterans. He said he would not detain them with a lengthy speech, as their relatives and friends would be anxiously aw;iitinc; them atfer their lengthy absence. At the conclusion of his remarks the mayor ca'led for three cheers for the returned troop°rs, and the crowd responded lusti'y, after which Colonel Smith called for special cheers for the " Bothasbera: Boys" (the Seventh Contingent). This brought the forma! proceedings to a close, and the men retired to the welcomes and congratulations of their relatives and friends.