THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 36

THE TRANSVAAL.

Pretoria, April 28. Four of the members of the Reform Committee—Mr Hammond, Mr Phillips, Mr Farraraucl Colonel Rhodes (brother of Mr Cecil Rhodes—have been sentenced to death.

Sixty others have been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, fined .£2OOO, and banished from tho country for three years. London, April 29.

Mr Chamberlain has telegraphed to President Kruger staling that tho Government has no doubt it is intended to commute the sentences, and that he has assured Parliament of this conviction. The announcement of the sentences

created great excitement in the House of Commons.

Washington, April 29

The American Consul at tho Cape has cabled that Mr Hammond's sentence will bo commuted.

Both Houses have carried a petition to President Kruger for the pardon for Hammond.

Congress and the press are unanimou in the demand for the commutation of Ihi sentence.

Pretoria, April 29

There is great excitement throughout the Rand, and trouble is feared unless the sentences are commuted.

President Kruger, in the course of an interview on tho subject, said he trusted the Johannesburg populace would calmly await the decision of the Executive, which would meet on Thursday to consider the mat lor.

There is now a strong revulsion of feeling in favour of Mr Cecil Rhodes among the Afrikanders.

The death sentences passed on four members of tho Reform Committee have been commuted.

The Executive having commuted the death sentences, is discussing what action shall be taken ill respect of the other sentences. London, April 29. Tho Times points out that the prisoners adhered to the terms which President Kruger asked, and says it is incredible that a civilised Government will hang them because they did not obtain a personal indemnity.

Capetown, April 30. South Africa is excited over the result of the trial of the Reform Committee.

Tho Rand Exchange is closed, and has asked the sympathy of London. Business is suspended. The Judge, in passing sentence, stated that he was compelled to pass sentence in accordance with the Roman and Dutch law, but he hoped the Executive would show a clemency similar to that displayed towards Dr Jameson and his party. The people of Pretoria, including tho Boer jurors, petitioned for the commutation of the death sentences.

Capetown, May I

Telegrams put in as evidence at the trial of the Reform Committee at Pretoria went to show that Mr Rhodes, Mr Beit and MiHarris (Secretary of tho Chartered Company at the Capo) swayed the Reformers' movements, and that there was a daily exchange of cypher messages from December 7th to 30th regarding tho raid and arranging plans. It was also shown by telegrams that Mr Rhodes instructed Dr Jameson, and that Mr Harris wired, "Wo cannot have a fiasco."

The key to the cypher was found in Dr Jameson's papers at Doornkop, where the decisive battle was fought with the Boers. PIIETORIA, April 30.

The Reform Party is very bitter against the seveie sentences passed on the prisoners, and considers that their pleading guilty was ill-advised. The majority of tho accused declare that they would have been able to prove that they did no more than sign the manifesto. A number of leading burghers have digued a petition asking that the imprisonment shall not be enforced. . .

The Volksraad of the Orange Free State is in favour of large purchases of war material.

Paris, May 1. Tho Pretoria correspondent of Le Temps states that the Transvaal Government possess proofs that Lord Loch in July of IS9I, at which period ho was Governor of tho Cape, discussed tho invasion of the Transvaal with the Reformers, and offered to assist them, and, further, that ho enquired from Mr Phillips, one of the Reform Committee, tho extent of their arms. London, May 1.

Tlio Times considers that recent events .-how beyond the possibility of a doubl that Rhodes, Beit and Harris wore privy to Jameson's movements, and that this circumstance is gravely damaging.

The paper adds that it is clear (hat Mr Rhodes consented to support Lord Loch, which indicates that he was aware of the intention el the Uitlandors to forcibly redress their grievances. Berlin, April 30. The National Zcitung, referring to 1 lie matter, states that Mr Chamberlain adopts a suzerain tone towards the vassal. Paris, May 1.

Several Parisian newspapers fear that if the sentence of exile passed in the Transvaal on the members of the Reform Committee is carried into execution, such a step will result ill dani'igo to the I,'and, and that the places of those exiled will be taken by Germans, which may injure the French bondholders.

They, therefore, that M. Ilanotaux, the Foreign Minister in the new Mcliiie Ministry, should advise President Kruger to commute that portion of the sentences. Pretoria, -May 2.

The interdict proclaimed over the Reformers' property is to be removed, except in regard to Leonard and Woolf. Tho Hollanders and Doppcrs obstruct tho measures taken for lenient sentences. Perth, May 2.

Walter Davies, one of tho sentenced Reformers at Pretoria, is the son of an old colonist here. It is thought possible that the Government will make some representations on tho matter. London, May 3. In the House of Lords, Baron Loch, exGovernor of Capo Colony, explaining a statement by the Pretoria correspondent of tho Paris newspaper Le Temps, said the residents of Johannesburg urgently requested him to visit the town, pleading tho grievances they wero suffering from. ° President Kruger, ho adds, dissuaded him from doing so, fearing that tho Governor's presence might lead to an outbreak. He, however, received a deputation at Pretoria, to which he pointed out the futility of a rising with

only 1000 rifles to depend on. Ho did not offer to assist them, and the statement in Le Temps to the effect that he did was wholly unfounded. Tho newspapers, commenting on the explanation, admit that Lord Loch's statement is perfectly correct.

Capetown, May 4.

The Volksraad of the Orange Free State has notified Sir 11. Robinson that the extradition treaty with the Chartered Company is terminated.

THi: TRIAL OF DR JAMESON. London, April 2S. The trial of Dr Jameson, Sir John Wi.lloughby, and other officers who are charged under the foreign Enlistment Act with making war en a friendly State, was continued to-day at the Bow street Police Court before Sir John Bridge, Evidence was given to tho effect that: a bicyclist sent by the Reform Committee informed Dr Jameson on January Ist that 2000 men were ready to match to his assistance, and that Jameson replied that ho had no desire to fight, but that his march would be useful as a demonstration.

Tho trial has been further adjourned till June 11th.