LETTER FROM GENERAL BOTHA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, 24 October 1916, Page 5

LETTER FROM GENERAL BOTHA

The following letter has (says the Auckland Star) been received by his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson) from General Louis Jiotha, in acknowledgment of the presentations made to himself and General Smuts, in recognition of the part tc.:k hi capturing South-West Aii-ioa iruin the Germans and repressing the Jioor revolt:

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. Prime Minister's Office, Pretoria, August 22 3 1916

"My dear Mr Mayor,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December 24 last, acquainting me of the dispatch of two caskets containing addresses to myself and General Smuts, and enclosing a bank draft for £50 to be handed over to a. South. African fund for wounded soldiers.

"The beautiful caskets, with the addresses, duly arrived here last month, during my absence in German East Africa, and I hasten now to express to you and the people of New Zealand my heartfelt gratitude for their token of appreciation of the small service I was able to render to that great Empire to which we are all so proud to belong. I most heartily thank you for the kind expressions of good feeling which is cherished towards me by your fellow citizens, and so ably, expressed in the beautiful address. I need hardly say that I am deeply touched at the sentiments therein.'

"General Smuts, as you no doubt are aware, is in German East Africa, conducting the campaign there, and on his return I shall have great pleasure in handing him the casket and address intended for him.

"I am causing the draft for £50 to be handed to a South African fund for wounded soldiers, which I feel sure will greatly benefit thereby. "In conclusion let •me again thank you and the people of New Zealand for their most substantial tokens."

Believe me, Dear Mr Mayor, Yours mofet sincerely, (Signed) LOL TIS BOTHA J. H. Gunson, Esq.,

His Worship t^e Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand.