NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10129, 12 May 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The following is an extract from a private letter recei in England from a correspondent as Johannesburg, and which has been published in a London journal. It is dated Marob 8. The writer says" Judging by your letters the people at home seem to have a very vague idea of affairs out here. Be assured that if the English Government do not act with mora promptitude the time is not far distant when yon will hear of another rising at Johannesburg, The mines are beginning to close down for the want of labour, and in consequence hundreds are thrown out of work. The natives are afraid to come into the town while it U under the Boer Government. Chamberlain's prestige is falling considerably, and it really makes one sick to see how he is soft-soaping Paul Kruger. One would think that England , was afraid r -f a handful of Boers, Had we but a determined man at the head of affairs when we were all armed, and had not listened to the specious statements of Sir Jacobus do Wet, we should have walked through the Transvaal, You must not suppose thut the Boers are the fine men you see represented in the London illustrated papers—many of the sketches make us roar ; nor are they the dead shots you read about. The very fact of the few men of Jameson's that were killed proves their want of skill,"

As regards Dr, Jameson's march, Mr. .T. C. Bodenstein, Boer Field Cornet of Krugerfrforp, tens A romantic tale. He states that be first heard of it in this wise. A member of the Bechuanaland Border Police had a weethearfc at Luipaard's Vlei, near Krugersdorp. During December he wrote and told her that he hoped to pay her a visit New Year's Day, but that he would not be alone, as all the force was going. Mr, Bodenstein heard of this, and made equities as to its truth. On December 27, a German gentleman from the Orange Free State told him that Jameson was coming in, and so Field Cornet Bodenstein hurried off to Pretoria with th? nqws. Oorn Paul heard what be had pay quite calmly, flaying that he knew all about it, while Geserfti Hubert promised to eend down alt the ammuuition that was wanted. And yet the simple Boers were taken by surprise 1 It should be remembered that Mr. Bodenstein J« a' Government official, and so gealoos for the honour of the Boers that he recently staked a thousand pounds, which, he offered fcQ pay to anyone who oould prove that more than five Boers were killed and four wounded. Sq that at least the story comas from a source friendly to the fiber* :

Madame 6 y &'f?nao, wife of the present Minister oljpVar at Paris, has long complained of fibit of a broken needle being in ; Her ham She went to the • greatest surgeons, vlo probed in tain, and feared she must fcte been the victim , of her imagination A few (lays ago aha was taken to & Ecole Centrals, where Professor Ohajjy applies the Rontgen system of photogi )hy. A negative of surprising clearness x s obtained after an exposure of two minufc . A point of a needle came out Weil in ti photograph, which she afterwards too to a surgeon. Ho had no difficulty ii iperating successfully)although the point the needle was in a knuckle joint. Even Ro gen's rays will pale before the discovery t it M. Nicola Tefzla, the famous electrician, :laiins to have made. After experimental for several years, ssys Ihi Mew I'orli correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, 4 To«la has come to the conclusion thai it will soon be possible to dispense w» telegraph wires, paid to transmit meWes to any place on e.irth or even the ne&jr planet*, by the scientific utilisation of lectrio waves. Theosophiats will doubtlesdfclaim that the Mahatmas anticipated bis supposed discovery. M. Teszta hopes en long to demonstrate tha practicability of m plan. The Dutch preK is assuming a mort friendly tone in r<W to the Transvaal situation, but the (-* press is as violent) in its denunciation ofMr. Chamberlain for defending Mr. RhodesU it was in its commerits on the article I the London Times regarding the invitokon to President Kruger to visit England On that occasion the National Zeitung sail"The Times, it seems, suspects the Pryidents of the two Boer Republics of conspiW together, and charges President Krugoiwith contempt) of the laws of common courttsy in obstinately leaving Mr. (Jhambjrlain's ' invitation' unanswered. One cannct read the articles in the Times I withoit a feeling of repulsion for Isuch lontinuous and systematic hypodisy. 3s it not grotesque to hear the Tines giving lessons of politeness to the Chi Magiitrate of a State upon whom Enj and his had the impertinence to serve, rough me of her

Ministers, a summons to appear it London ? Is it not revolting to flkl the Times still arrogantly maintaining tint ho oW Power except England has the i\ght to niter ink direct relations with the. South African Republic ?" A force lias ben sent from' Buiuwayo to junction Wh Mr, Rhodes' troops at Gwelo. Thte is said to be six thousand Dervisljg at Berber. The Khalifa is preparet for instant flight in case of disaster. ',ord Salisbury is appealing to the other Poera to prevent the forcible conversion ofthe Armenians. His appeal is more diretfy made to Russia. The Italians have decind to hold Kassala at all aosts. Owing o several of the American crew of the fi. bustering vessel captured by the Spaniarc being condemned to death, the Unite> States Government have interfered, bu\ | so far without any success, the Spanish I Premier informing them that) the law ol nations must take its course.