THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL.

DEBATE IN THE VOLKSRAAD.

FIERY SPEECHES.

TROOPS ON THE FRONTIER,

BOERS THREATENED BY SWAZIS.

AN ULTIMATUM PROBABLE.

THE FEELING AT THE CAPE.

PROMPT ACTION URGED.

PREPARATIONS IN ENGLAND.

STRONG FORCE READY TO SAIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. Pretoria, September 6. Mr. Reitz, on being interviewed, said the Transvaal preferred a conference to a joint inquiry. Mr. Colstei, speaking in the Volksraad, asked why troops were massed on the frontier, and whether a fresh raid was intended. The British proposals with reference to the dynamite monopoly and the franchise were, he said, pretexts towards a supremacy which the Transvaal had never accepted. A Progressive member asserted that England was negotiating to unsheath the sword and cause a panic. Mr. Rasmus said Mi. Chamberlain, in inviting a conference, carried water in one hand and fire in the other.The debate was postponed. The Transvaal has sent 1000 Mausers to the Orange Free State. The Swazis threaten, in the event of war, to attack the Boers. London, September 6. The Cabinet meets on Friday. An ultimatum to the Transvaal is probable, owing to the unsatisfactory reply regarding a joint inquiry. It is reported that Transvaal regrets that the five years' franchise was not accepted, and assumes the offer has lapsed. It denies British suzerainty, and asks for further information regarding the conference. Capetown, September 6. Mr, Pakeman's arrest is everywhere considered as the commencement of aggression. Meetings here and in Natal urge prompt action. The Boers are seeking to procrastinate till the rainy season sets in. London, September 6. British preparations indicate the gravity of the situation. The First Army Corps has been warned that it will probably be required. Everything is in readiness to despatch a strong force. The First Highland Light Infantry and the First Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers have been ordered to be in readiness to embark. Pretoria, September 5. The railways are unable to cope with the exodus from Johannesbirg.

AN IRISHMAN'S EXPLANATION OF THE FRANCHISE LAW. The Pretoria Press publishes the following explanation by an Irishman of tho new franchise law' of the Transvaal. He says: "Look here, if a man comes into the country before the law is passed, ho can set the franchise nine years after lie has bun seven years in the country, five years after the law wae passed, or within five years after ho has been hero two years, provided he lira been here two years ,provided ho has been horo seven years after ho came here nine years ago, provided he can prove to the satisfaction of the Fieldcornet, the Commondent, the State Secretary, the State Attorney, and the Undcr-Slato Secretary of the Green Tape and Sealing Wax Offico that he has always been a man of good character, and has never played less than penny nap. He must then give six months' notice that he intends to apply five years after he has been horo nine years, or two years after he has been here seven years, and the Fieldcornet shall then take his namo and address and forward the same to the Commandant, who shall forward it to the State Attorney, who shall forward it to the Landdrost, who shall forward it to tho State Secretary, who shall call a special meeting of tho Executive Council at once. Any official who shall fail to do these things, fhoil he banished for life to Rhodesia to search for gold. The tiling's as clear as mud. I can't seo what all this fuss is about."