THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 37

THE TRANSVAAL.

Pretoria, April 22. The Volksdem newspaper, which is recognised as tho organ of tho Transvaal Government, advocates a prompt movement for the imposition of extreme taxation in connection with the gold and diamond mining industries, with a view to the exclusion of foreigners. Pretoria, April 25. At the trial of tho members of the Reform Committee in connection with the Jameson raid, Judgo Grogorowski (of the Orange Free State) presiding, Colonel Rhodes, Mr Philips and Mr Farrar pleaded guilty of treason, and the other prisoners of Use majeste without hostile intent. Tho remaining counts were withdrawn. Tho proceedings were quiet, and were not marked by vindictive feeling. The prisoners are to be sentenced on Monday. It is expected that severe sentences will be passed, but that they will bo afterwards remitted. Berlin, April 22. A despatch from the Rand to a Hamburg paper states that the Boers are relying on support from the Orange Free State and the Afrikander party, and are prepared for war unless their demands are conceded. London, April 22. Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of Stale for the Colonies, has been entertained at a banquet in London. Replying to the toast of his health, lie said he was confident England would soon regain tho sympathy and support of the Afrikander section in South Africa, when the Boers would not refuse to redress the grievances of the Uithnulers. lie said that personally he would exhaust all persuasion and argument in the negotiations to renew the good feeling between the two races, and at all cost would resist foreign aggression. It was not intended, unless in case of emergency, to send large reinforcements of Imperial troops to Mata-

beloland. The local resources wore considered sufficient to cope with tho rising. The Times says that, apart from tho Matabele trouble, the troops at the Cape ought to be reinforced. London, April 24.

In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain, replying to a question with reference to tho Transvaal, stated that Sir Hercules Robinson bad suggested the increase of the Boor-patrol on the frontier in order to prevent the spread of the rinderpest. Berlin, April 24. Tho German press is incensed at tho tone of Mr Chamberlain’s remarks at the London banquet. Capetown, April 25. It is officially announced that President Kruger will be unable to visit England at present, as his presence is needed in the Volksraad. Pretoria, April 27. President Kruger objects to a discussion on the question of reforms on the grounds that Great Britain cannot interfere, and that if the latter is unwilling to discuss the revision of the Convention, without reforms, ho prefers that matters should remain unchanged. Referring to tho demand for an indemnity for Jameson’s raid, lie states that lie does not require a guarantee against any foreign attack. The acceptance of the Transvaal basis of discussion of the matter would facilitate his visit to England, but at present it was necessary to postpone that visit. Amsterdam, April 20.

A great scheme for tho emigration of Dutch labourers to tho Transvaal is being organised here.