THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11871, 24 January 1902, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

A RUNNING FIGHT. LORD METHUEN CAPTURES 'A LAAGER. TWENTY-THREE PRISONERS TAKEN. NIGHT MARCH AGAINST. BOTHA. TWENTY-SEVEN BOERS CAPTUBED. ENCLOSING DE WET. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (BeeeiYed January 24, 1.3 a.mj London, January 23. Lord Kitchener reports that Lord Methuen. in a running fight" for eight miles captured a laager, also 23 Boors, and much cattle, at .; Boschpoort. General Bruce Hamilton, in a night march against Botha, captured 27 at Witbank. The blockhouses, constituting ••.; a parallelogram 140 miles by 60 miles, and enclosing De Wet, are almost completed. CAPTURE OF MEN AND POWDER. . (Received January 24, 12.55 a.m.) I London, January 23. Colonel Colenbrander captured seven of ; Steenkamp's ; men at Magliesberg, and unearthed 20 barrels; of gunpowder and 200 rounds of shrapnel.

DR. KRAUSE. •'■■ (Received January 24, 12.55 a.m.} :/■'/ London, ; January 23.' ■, The Middle Temple has disbarred Dr. Krause. SENTENCES REDUCED.' London, January 22. \ The sentences passed upon Lieutenant Botha and others belonging to one of the Cape district mounted corps, for misbehaviour and, cowardice in surrendering at Doornbosch in October, have been reduced, Botha's to one year's imprisonment, the others to lesser periods.

ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS. Sydney, January 23. Representatives of the meat export trade consider the admission of the Argentine into j contracts for the supply of the British army i in South Africa -will have a bad [ effect oh Australia. One says that it will mean that very little Australian meat will eventually be used, because the quality of Argentine meat is higher, and it can be supplied at less cost. Another says the worst outcome will be the establishment -of regular -./lines/ of steamers between South America and South Africa, which, apart from the meat trade, would be impossible.

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT. [BY telegraph.—press association.] Wellington, Thursday. .■; The Auckland squadron, ; as guests ', of Mr. WStljeford, M.H.R., had an enthusiastic reception on ■ arriving: from camp "to attend the Opera House last night. The Garrison Band headed the men. The streets were lined with spectators as the men \ marched to the Opera House, on the balcony of which were Mr. Seddon and family, and the Mayor of Wellington, ■-; General % Babington, % wife, and daughter, and Captain Campbell. The bearing and physique of the men{ was ■ most excellent, and elicited continued cheering. The officers of other companies also attended at Mr. Witheford's invitation. It has been definitely decided that the North Island section of the Eighth, Contingent leaves Wellington by the transport Surrey next Wednesday.

NEW ZEALANDERS ILL. [by telegraph.— association.] ';.; Wellington, Thursday. The Premier has been advised: by cable, from South Africa, s that Corporal Kifney and Private William Cameron were dangerously ill on the 18th and 19th inst3 the former from enteric fever. The ■■ disease from which Cameron was suffering is not stated. Both men belong to the Sixth Contingent. The same cable message also states that Sergeant W. Moore, of the Seventh Contingent, is ill with enteric fever. [The Sixth Contingent roll contains the name of Private William Cameron, of Itemuera, a labourer, his father ; being Mr. James Cameron, of South : Dunedin.. . The name :of Corporal : A. : ; T. Kitney, whose address is Marton f. appears on the roll, but no Kifney.] THE NINTH CONTINGENT. Up to the hour of closing last evening no instructions as to enlistment': of volunteers '\ for the Ninth Contingent had been received by the local Brigade Office. It is expected that in the course of a day or two further information will be to' hand, and this will immediately be made known to those interested. . Mr. Geo. Fowlds. M.H.R., has ; received the following reply from the Premier to his ■ request that the North Island portion of the Ninth Contingent should be encamped at Auckland: — You will be pleased to learn that the North Island battalion of Ninth Contingent will be encamped, equipped, and sent off from Auckland. .Tenders will be called .for stores, V clothing, saddlery, and other equipments in each of the four centres. Samples have already been sent to each centre, and an advertisement will appear in the course of a day or two."

THE SITE OF THE GAMP. There wall probably be some trouble with, reference to a site for the camp for the Ninth Contingent. The Outer Domain is the spot likely to appeal most strongly to the Defence authorities, and it is quite possible that the City Council may not look altogether with pleasure' on such an arrangement. At last night's meeting' of the Council, Mr. J. J. Craig,' who has leased the; Domain pastures, claimed a rebate of £50 on the ground that the pasturage had been destroyed by volunteer and contingent encampments. The Council have had to face this difficulty before, and if the whole of the North Island battalion of the Ninth Contingent is camped in the Domain there will no doubt be further claims on the Council. The matter was not discussed in its bearing on the Ninth Contingent last night, but Mr.; Hewson urged for a proper settlement as to the control of the Domain, stating that an officer wHo was formerly in command of the Auckland district} had '; stated that encampments would be held in the Domain whether the Council liked it or not. He pointed out in connection with | Mr. ' Craig's claim that ; there was really no surplus to the credit of; the Domain account, and that if Mr. Craig claim was held to be good the money would, ; have ;to "come out: of the Council's general, account. The matter was, after a short discussion, referred to the Legal Committee and it will no doubt be heard of again in connection with the Ninth Contingent., I • :■.,:■:■ ■ -.:'Vr. ■; ;,: .:: w:.^-- : ,:y ,.■•:: r "*-- v ; '■.'>.' ■' ] : v>.;.':■■>';>■ : ''■■?:'... : ;'«-'X-'S v^i^^^i^S^^-fivßi