The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1901.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12551, 12 July 1901, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1901.

The " Times," commenting on the Defence Bill introduced by Sir John Forrest into the Commonwealth Parliament, says that it is thorough, -without; laying excessive burdons on the people., It anticipates that the scheme will prove successful in- supplying an object lesson considerably affecting the rest of the Empire. The Federal Senate (rejected- an amendment io the Postal Bill, that all ocean mail contracts should fltipuiate for tie employment of white labour on steamers. 'During the sitting of the Treason Courts lE. Capo Colony, fines to the of £20,000 were imposed on rebels, and in INatal the fines inflicted amounted io an additional sum of £IB,OOO. . 'By a fire at Lyttelton yesterday, three children; wero burned to death. Lord Kitchener's despatches show that between .Ifkrch and May 6 it-he British cap-tured-35 guns, including 'two "'Long Toms, - ' one Creuzot and one 4.7 in gun, while 7084 Boer belligerents were killed, wounded or capEured. The enemy. is being •gradually reduced to an irreconcilable nucleus, -which is likely to prove more troublesome tihan if thousands were ready to fight. ■Mr Bennet Burleigh reports that the Eastern Transvaal is- so bare that; the -Boers- must either surrender or go elsewhere. The Boer women, are tired of 'the war, sndi are urging their husbands to .surrender. ■■Messrs Morriman and Saner, the Afrikander Bond delegates who were sent to England, novo returned to Cape Town. There was no demonstration on their landing. It has been ascertained that four men lost their IJves. by the fire at Horderu's emporium, ia Sydney.