CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12537, 26 June 1901, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

Although the South African were not very sanguine about the

mbs botha’s HUSSION’.

result of Mrs Botha’s recent mission to Mr Kruger, they all expressed a hope that the courageous lady would succeed in persuading the ex-president that further resistance to the British arms was utterly hopeless. Before her departure, she stopped for a few days at one of the principal hotels in Durban, and was seen by a number of her personal friend.:, to whom she made no secret of the nature of her mission, or of the fact that it wag being undertaken with the full approval of Lord Kitchener. Mrs Botha had previously appealed to her husband on two or. three occasions to abandon the useless struggle; hut all these attempts failed to induce the General to surrender, and then. Mi's Botha conceived the idea of going to Europe with her petition to Mr Kruger. Every facility was given to Mrs Botha by the British authorities in. carrying out her mission, but it is very likely that their efforts were entirely misunderstood by the people who have most to gain, from the conclusion of peace. .The Boers are so accustomed to double-dealing themselves, that they cannot understand anything but the most selfish motives directing the actions of their enemies. When some private citizens of Cape Town started* a fund the other day for providing at few simple comforts for the wives and children of the men who are fighting against, the British, they were promptly changed with trying to bribe the “ brave burghers ” into submission. A similar charge was mad© against Lord Roberts, it will be remembered, when he promised to protect. the property of Boers who came into the British camp. It has been the easiest thing in the world to make large numbers of the burghers believe that Lord Kitchener never thought of suggesting terms until his military resources were exhausted. But Sirs Botha knows better than that. -She was in Pretoria for some time after the town was occupied by the British troops, .and.speaks very highly of the kind treatment the Dutch women received from the military authorities; 9be was accompanied to Europe by several of her lady friends,' and though she did; not manage to convince Mr Kruger of the error of his ways, she probably left some impression on the mod of the wily old schemer.

The demand* fou fighting men in South Africa still . continues, and the advertisements in a recent num-

men fob. SOUTH AFRICA.

ber of the “ Natal Mercury ” show that the terms offered to suitable recruits are attractive enough. Steinaecker’s Horse, we learn from, one announcement, required seventy men, at 8s a day, with everything’ found,' until the end of the war. Men willing ‘to enlist for three years would get am increase to 8s a day in six months, and to 10s a day in a year. Seventy-five per cent of these men, however, were required to speak the native language fluently. “ Good men, able to ride and shoot, would receive 5s a day as members of the Gommonder-in-Chief’s (Bodyguard, everything found.” The Bushveldt ' 'Carbineers advertised “ special inducements to oversea colonials. Every facility given to those desirous of leaving, before the conclusion of the war. Immediate disbandment on Pretoria on conclusion of hostilities.” “A few good recruits ” were wanted for the Scottish Horse on a six months’ engagement at 6s a day. Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts advertised “special inducements to good men. Full equipment issued free. Terms of service, six months, or less on cessation of hostilities. Pay, 5s a day, and 5s 6d a day in lieu of rations if not drawn.” Merme’s Scouts, the Johannesburg Mounted (Rifles, the Cattle Rangers’ Corp, and the “8.M.1.” also wanted recruits “at once,” at 6s and 6s a day, with equipment provided. Cyclists were wanted “to accompany columns operating dm Cape Colony. Engagement for two months, after which terminable by fourteen days’ notice on either side. Pay, 5a a day, or 7s if cyclists provide their own bicycles. Free rations, and an issue of clothing on an approved) scale. Bicycles, if provided by the Government, to become the men’s property after three months’ service.” ' Even those who objected fo the dangers and hardships of active .'warfare were provided for, as the Imperial Hospital Corps wanted “reliable men, who need not be able to ride or shoot, on same terms as other regular corps. Congenial work in healthy situations. Regular meals.” The advantages of enlistment are no doubt, somewhat exaggerated* but it is-evident that young, strong men still have no difficulty in finding profitable employment in South Africa.

PUBXJCHOUSE HEFOBM.

Towards the close of 'last year, Earl Grey, who is Lord • Lieutenant of the county of Northumberland,

J f found himself in a rather curious position. He is interested in a colliery which is situated at Broom-hill, in. that county* Owing to the growth of the population, and for other reasons, puMiohousa accordl- - was desired in tfee district, anil it was stated that some of the usual parties, publicans or brewers, intended to apply to the justices for a new license for the locality. Rightly or wrongly, Lord Grey considered that if a license was to be granted at all it should he given to him, as,the person chiefly interested in the district. He accordingly made a personal -Haaiaab'

the license. Ho immediately discovered that, under Britain’s peculiar licensing jaws, he had acquired a very valuable property without rendering any equivalent service to the community. He was .informed that offers running into thousands of pounds would be made for his new acquisition, valued prospectively at no leas a sum than £IO,OOO. Being troubled: with a conscience, he decided to manage the house on the lines of tire Bishop of Chester’s scheme* giving the manager a commission upon all trade in food and non-alcoholic drinks. The Gi’ey Arms, in fact, was to he conducted as a refreshment-house, and not as a mere drinking-bar, and rhe profits were to he devoted to the improvement of the district. The outcome of the movement thus started has been the establishment of a number of limited liability companies, one for each county in England, which will carry -out Lord Grey’s ideas throughout the country. The Arms will he controlled by the Northumberland Publioheuse Trust Company, whose prospectus, recently issued, gives the capital as £IOO,OOO, divided into 99,999 ordinary shares of £1 each, and 20 deferred! shores of Is each. The dividend on the ordinary shares is nob to exceed 5 per cent per annum, and will be cumulative. Then follows the somewhat unusual provision, that the deferred shares are to carry all th© surplus profits and 'SO per cent of the voting power of the company, and will be allotted exclusively to trustees, who will be chosen by the council. The trust is. to be administered for the benefit of the whole country, the objects to which the money is to be, devoted being geb out in. the deed. Among those backing the schemle are the Duke of Northumberland and Lord Goschen. " -