JOHANN COLENBRANDER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7374, 28 January 1902, Page 4

JOHANN COLENBRANDER.

Colonel Johann Colenbrander, the commander of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, who did such good work last week, may be classed with F. C. Selous as a hunter and pioneer, with "8,P." and Major Burnham es a scout, and with Rimington as a leader of irregulars. His knowledge of South African warfare and the South African native, over whom his personal ascendancy is extraordinary, is probably unequalled, and the story of his adventures and wanderings would fill several books could ho be induced to write it. He was one of the original Matabeleland pioneers, and had great influence with Lobengula, which, however, was not strong enough to prevent that unfortunate monarch from defying the Chartered Company. In tb.3 second Matabele war he and Mr Rhodes, accompanied by a war correspondent and the chief native commissioner, went alone and unarmed into the Matoppo Hills and talked' the rebellious chiefs into subnrssion, and there is little doubt that Colenbrander's personal in- i fluence contributed largely to the happy result. In person Colonel Oolenbrander is short, "stock," tanned by years of wind and pun, bearded, and sparing of speech. The untimely death of his wife a few years ago was a great blow to him. Mrs Colenbrander, whom some aptly termed the •• Diana Vernon of South Africa," was an exceedingly bandsome, high-spirited woman, a magnificent rider, a dead shot, and one to whom fear was unknown. She was also one of tha few women whose opinion and judgment Mr Rhodes considered worthy of attention.

Just reoeived, another lot of ladies silver keyless watches, £1 each — a nice Xmas present foz a girl. R. W Sargent, watohmaker andj jeweller] Hawera.— Advfc,