A BOER GENERAL'S HOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6781, 25 August 1900, Page 4

A BOER GENERAL'S HOME.

The correspondent of the Auckland H>rald states : -Jjieutenant Hughes oroceeded to the farm of Mrs Erasmus, the wife of a Boer General, who is still lighting against us, and aftpr whom the new fort to the north of Pretoria has been named. No forage was comnaanleered, the Nanier lieutenant taking

away maize and oaten sheaves, for ivhich receipts were given, also a note ;o all whom it concerned that forage had been taken for the British forces, md that the remainder being required for the use of the owners' horses and •mile, was not to be touched. The louse was splendidly furnished, an organ beingin/lmost eyery room, while s.he dining room and drawingroom were at ranged with taste. Mrs Erasmua and her daughters, all becomingly dressed 'iid well-educated girls, extended a hearty welcome to the New Zealanders, and entertained theofficersat afternoon tea. The wife explained that her husband was at one time in somewhat bad odour with the Beers, as he idvispd them not to fight against England, for they would be beaten. The Federals accused him of being a .-sympathiser with the British, but he that while he was against fighting, he would, of course, take up arm* •f the Republics went to war with Great Britain. Mrs Erasmus also sUted that there was liltle or no discipline among the ranks of 'he burghers. " They are all leaders," *\\p pair!, " I hey are all generals at times." But what surprised the wife of the Boer general wa« the fact of New Zealanders leaving their own colony to 'ialit against thf enemies of England, the good lady filing to understand that we were pa:t of that great Empire over which the Union Jaca proudly flies. "If you rOHil>t to defend your own country," ihn said, " I coul.l make it out; but to come thousands of miles to fight against the Dutch—it's wonderful."