THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 24

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH <MR KRUGER. CAPTURE OF~A CONVOY. SOME INTERESTING DOCUMENTS. GALLANT COLONIALS. PROMOTIONS FOR BRAVERY. LONDON, July 9. Commandant Scheeper’s commando entered Murraysberg, in the midlands of Cape Colohy, eighty miles south of De Aar, burned the public buildings and a number of houses. There was no British garrison in the town. Two rebels who have been convicted jpf the. murder of an English soldier at *Aliwal North ar© to be treated as ordinary murderers and executed. A dozen cablegrams were exchanged between Mr Kruger and General Botha, the lattcraft*ging the acceptance of Lord Kitchener’s terms. The influence of Mr Kruger and Dr Leyds, however, prevailed. Mr Kruger’s obstinacy is embarrassing the pro-Boers. The “Daily News” declares that fighters alone and not the intriguers on the Continent, who are oub of reach of the guns, are entitled t° k e heard in peace negotiations, and adds that the -British Government was unwise in allowing General Botha to communicate with Mr Kruger. Rimington’s Scouts took a position on the sth, capturing nineteen Boers, including Barkhuisen, an oath-breaking, train-wrecking commandant. Th e fight was sharp, and at clos© quarters. * The bayonet was used, one Boer being killed and two, others wound" Great Britain declines to release American subjects who have been taken as prisoners of war in South Africa. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Herald” states that Colonel John Hay, United States Secretary of State, agrees with Lord Milner that anybody serving with the Beers as a belligerent loses nationality. “Daily News” reports a smart envAgement in the north of Orange River Colony. A British railway guard stationed southward of Kroonstad quitted a blockhouse in order to intercept a Boer convoy which was crossing the railway. Other Boers occupied the block-house. The British, who wer e between two fires, took cover and defended their position until the arrival of an armoured train, which emptied the block-house. Six Boers were killed, thirty wounded and the remainder and tk® convoy captured. A Blue Book has been issued dealing with a number of captured documents. On e shows that General Botha, in an address on 15th March, told the burghers that he had informed Lord Kitchener they were fighting for what they would never surrender —their indepen* dence. He also complains about the incomplete restoration of Boer independence in 1881. In October General Botha, in order to prevent surrenders, threatened to confiscate the property of surrenderee and burn their houses. In November a report was propagated that France was ready to land troops in South Africa, also that the Canadian and Australian troops were withdrawing On 10th May, Lord Kitchener, replying to General Botha’s request to facilitate the despatch of envoys to Mr Kruger, declared that he recognised only Boer officers in ihe field. Since the Ist July forty Boers have been killed, twenty-seven wounded and 182 captured. Three hundred and twelve 'waggons, 7000 cartridges and many horses and cattle have also been captured, and twenty-one Boers surrendered. LONDON, July 10. M. Duplessis, a minister, of the Dutch Reformed Church at Lindley, implored the Moderator of the Synod of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies to send mediators to Lord Kitchener and the Boer leaders. Three columns under Lieutenant-Gene-ral Sir Bindon Blood marched from Middelburg, on the Delagoa railway, southwestward to Springs, the terminus of a short line of railway running east from Johannesburg. The Boers slipped between the ad* vancing columns and escaped. The enemy is being gradually reduced to an irreconcilable nucleus, which Jis likely to prove more troublesome than thousands ready to fight. Mr Bennet Burleigh, war correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” reports that the Eastern Transvaal is so bare that the Boers must surrender or go elsewhere. The women are tired of the w:ar, and are urging their husbands to surrender* Lord Kitchener’s despatches show that between March and May*6th, the British troops captured thirty-five guns, including two Long Toms, one Creuzot, and one 4.7 m gun; while 7084 Boer belligerents hav© b<3©n killed, wouncied, or captured during the last three months. The Hon Messrs J. X. Mernman and J W. Sauer, the Afrikander Bond ael*J En (A an d. have

Commandant Soheeper extorted a sum of money from the Standard Ban]- during the temporary occupation of Murraysburg by the Boers. During” the sitting of the Treason Court in Cape Colony fines to the amount of £20,000 were imposed on rebels. In Natal additional penalties were imposed to the extent of £IB.OOO. LONDON, July 11. All the following are mentioned in despatches and promoted. New South Wales.—Sixth Imperial Bushmen, Corporal W. Fyfe; Fourth Imperial Bushmen, Sergeant F. Williams and Private Porter, for special services. Victoria.—Lance-Corporal Gregg, for crossing bullet-swept ground, and rescuing a man at Wolmaranstad. Queensland. —Acting-Sergeant Thadforth, for rescuing a dismounted private under heavy fire at Boschekop ; Privates Alford, Cullingford and Holland, each for capturing single-handed several armed Boers at Driekinlen. Th“ following members of th© New South Wales Sixth Imperial Bushmen are promoted for individual acts of promptness and successful daring in the Vaalbank fight:—Sergeant Thompson, Lance-Corporal McClymont, Corporal Newlands, Privates Rhodenback and Fewk®s. The following officers are mentioned for conspicuous services : New South Wales.—Sixth Imperial Bushmen—Major O’Brien, for handling the men who captured the guns and convoy at Vaalbank in the pursuit on March 24 th. New Zealand.—Captains Walker and Arthur, for the capture of De la Rey’s guns and convoy on March 24th; Lieutenant Reid, for the exceedingly smart capture of Commandant Schroeder, fortyone Boers and a Maxim near Commissie Drift on April 2oth. Queensland. —Major Tunbridge, for the engagements of February 7th and 3.2 th. Victoria.—Major Clarke, for the excellent execution of orders at Zuurberg, where he was well backed-up by officers and men. Captain Sturdie, for riding half a mile under fire to the aid of the wounded. Lieutenant H. Anderson, for his coolness and determination in extricating a patrol at Rhenosterkop. Lieutenant Patterson, of the Medical Corps, who was under close fire for two hours assisting the wounded. The following New Zealanders are mentioned in despatches and promot-ecl:—Lance-Corporal Turnbull, for capturing Boers at Aick Cave, Dwarsvlei; Private Phee, who, with Sergeant Rouse, captured two or arms and ammunition at Potgietersrust. The following are promoted in connection with the Vaalbank fight in March: New Zealand Corporal O’Dowd, Privates Rundle and Drinnan, for charging and capturing a gun; Private Thurlow, for exposure to fire while sending waggons to the. rear; Private Wyl\e, for charging alone and capturing a gun, killing two out of four gunners. ''Among the New Zealanders who have been awarded distinguished conduct medals for bravery is Private Langham (Fourth Contingent, Woodviile) for gallantry at Vaalbank. The following have been awarded distinguished conduct medals- Their claims are based on eulogistic mention c f their bravery : —Sergeant Davenport, First Australian Bushmen, twice severely wounded at Rhenoster Kop ; Corporal May, Sixth Australian Bushmen, Privates Angell (since dead) and W. George, West Australians, for gallantry at Zeeberg Pass. Additional names mentioned in despatches for conspicuous services are : Sixth Imperial Bushmen, Lieutenants E. H. Thomas_and R. D. Doyle, for capture of D© la Rey’s guns and convoy on 24th March; Lieutenant Christian, New South Wales A Battery, for the admirable manner in which he handled his section (he is also described as a very good gunner and horse master). The following are mentioned in despatches:—New South Wales—-Sergeant Major Weir, First Australian Bushmen, for dressing Sergeant Davenport’s wound 3 under fir© at Rhenoster Kop ; Private Selby, Sixth Imperial Bushmen, for gallantry at Gatsrand. Victorians — Sergeant Handford, Lance-Corporal Legerwood, and Trooper Browning, for rescuing a man who was pinned to th© ground under heavy fire; Lance-Corporal Willing, for attending wounds under a close fire; Corporal Walker, Staff Sergeant McKenzie, Troopers Butler, Jameson and Duncan, for special services at Wolmaranstad; Sergeant Ward, South Australian, and Private Stocker, Tasmanian Bushman, for getting behind Schroeder’s laager and enabling the British to surround it. A rebel named 9 Marais was executed at Middelburg. The leading inhabitants were ordered to witness the ceremony. The Delagoa Bay correspondent of the “Daily Express” reports a fight between Machadodorp and Lydenberg. The Boers were defeated, losing heavily. Fifty were killed and many wounded. A great meeting was held at the Guildhall. Stockbrokers formed a procession and marched to the building cheering and singing. The meeting unanimously supported the Government’s South African policy. The speakers included the Lord Mayor and City members of Houses of Commons; There was tremendous enthusiasm, and an overflow meeting filled facing the Guildhall.

lians, the Fourth Queensland Contingent, Victorians, Tasmanians, South Australians and New Zealanders have sailed from East London for Australia. LONDON, July 12.

Speaking in tlie House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said, with reference to General Botha’s inquiries from Lord Kitchener with regard t© a peace settle- . ment, that Great Britain declines to ac--cept liability for debts contracted since the beginning of the war, but does not repudiate the State loans issued previously so far as they can be provided for out of th© Transvaal funds. Lord LansdoAvn© informed the House that Britain intends to differentiate between bona fide investors in the Netherlands railway before the Avar and those who invested at a later date. Foreign Governments, he said, had communicated with Britain on the subject. Instead ©f indignation being aroused over the Vlakfontein affair (the shooting of wounded) Anglophobia is the result. The German press declares that Great Britain is but reaping Avhat she has sown, the act being retaliation by the Boers for farmhouse burning and the sweeping-up of the enemy’s property. General Louis Botha has informed Mr Kruger that there qre 7000 Dutch rebels in the Boer ranks, and he is receiving fresh accessions daily. The “Daily News” states that a British force is operating from Kroonstad southwards towards Brandfort (on the railway forty-five miles north of Bloemfontein), where De Wet’s commando is. Duploy, the escaped Boer prisoner who was arrested on landing at New York, has been fined as a stowaway. An American sympathiser paid the fine, and guaranteed that he would not become a pauper. After discussions in Parliament respecting the accuracy of the reports of Reuter’s Agency in reference to the reported capture of Commandant Beyers’s convoy at Warm Baths by Kitchener’s Scouts under Colonel Wilson last month, Lord Kitchener admits that th© Scouts surprised and dispersed Prr* iorious’s, not Beyers’s, commando while escorting a convoy. The “ Daily Mail ” advises Lord Stanley, Financial Secretary to the War Office, to secure the evidence of Lieutenant Hear, of the Imperial Yeomanry, with regard to the alleged shooting of wounded men at Vlakfontein, which was tendered to Lord Kitchener after the latter’s official contradiction of the shooting of wounded British gunners. The “ Daily Mail ” publishes letters from members of the Yeomanry confirming the shooting of Avoundecl. In the House of Commons, Lord Stanley, replying to Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, M.P. for Fareham, premised to inquire into the “ Daily Mail’s ” statements with reference to the shooting of wounded at Vlakfontein. If the statements were found to be false, the correspondent would be most severely dealt with. In the House of Commons the Hon W. St. J. Brodriclc, Secretary cf State for War, explained that in response to his telegram inquiring as to the truth c£ “Edgar Wallace’s” ' statements in ihe “Daily Mail,” Lord Kitchener had replied that he had received th e testimony of seven men who saw Boers nhoot wounded men at Vlakfontein. Mr Brodrick added that orders would he given to take the evidence of these persons on oath. As the result of night operations fifty Boers Avere captured and eighteen surrendered near Edenburg. Lord Methuen surprised and captured a laager near Zeerust, capturing fortythree Boers, tAventy-nine rifles, 2000 rounds of thirty-eight waggons and 600 hags of grain. Forty Boer" families wer e also captured. The “Daily Mail” says that sixty Boers, dejected and ragged, were brought into Bloemfontein. De Wet’s commando is near Bloemfontein. Mr Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, announced in the House of Commons that Lord Kitchener’s despatches contained no suggestion of the independence of the late republics as the point whereon peace negotiations failed. LONDON. July 13. Lord Kitchener explains that when th© contradicted the report of the discomfiture of Commandant Beyers he was unaware that anything had been telegraphed relating dispersal of Commandant Pretorius’s fore© west of Warm Baths. He adds that he deprecates magnifying minor successes. Lord Salisbury, in acknowledging the resolutions in support ©f Government policy in South Africa carried at the Guildhall meeting, said that nothing would tend to prolong the hopeless struggle more than the encouragement derived by th© enemy from pro-Boer ut_ terances. , • The Government, he stated, was firmly determined to bring the war to a final and successful issue. Th© Boers attacked a body of constabulary posted at Houtkop, north-west of Vereeniging, and captured an old seven-pounder gun. The attackers were eventually driven off. Three of the constabulary were killed and seven woundfid. BRUSSELS, July 8. The “Independance Beige” describes the action of Mr Kruger in continuing the war as criminal. WASHINGTON, July 9. The Hon John Hay, Secretary of State, is satisfied that the of rUMtefhnaUfrrfitifflint n t prisonera

VIENNA, July 9. Kapuscha, a pro-Boer agitator iri Vienna, has been sentenced to five years* imprisonment for embezzling funds sub® scribed by sympathisers of the Boers. ALBANY, July 9.

The transport Orient, which has arrived here from Capetown, will not be allowed to berth, owing to there being a cas© of small-pox and several cases of measles among the troops, consisting of over a thousand Australian Bushmen. Two captured Boer guns are on board the vessel. BRISBANE, July 10. The representative of a South African firm is purchasing 520 cattle for shipment to Capetown. MELBOURNE, July 13. The troopship Orient has arrived here with eight hundred returned There are twenty-eight cases of sick* ness, mostly measles. The Victorian portion of the contingents marched to the Exhibition Build* ing, where the Earl of Hopetoun, Gov-ernor-General, presented the men with war medals. RETURN OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CONTINGENTS. ARRIVAL OF THE TAGUS. DUNEDIN, July 10. The troopship Tagus, with members ©f tk® Fourth and Fifth Contingents returning from South Africa, arrived outside the Heads at 2 p.m., and anchored. The Government steamer Tutanekai went alongside. Dr Hodges, the Health Offi* cer, informed the captain of the Tagus that the Avould be boarded and inspected, and if all was well, admitted t© pratique to-morrow afternoon. It is intended to tranship all the men. to the Tutanekai and Te Anau, and take them down to the Bluff. It was ascertained that Trooper A. Kendall, of Hokianga, died this morning. Death is believed to have been due to peritonitis. A list of those on board will not be available till tG-morrow. DUNEDHN, July 11. The Tagus brought ten officers and 285 men of the Fourth, and thirteen officers and 375 men of the Fifth Contingent; and twelve men belonging to corps not connected with the colony. The invalids are Farrier Wilson (Second), Private Me Kinder (Third), Private Boyes (Sixth), Sergeant Smith (Sixth), Privates Wooller and Martin (Sixth). The details are Private W. Hutchison and Corporal Humphries (Seventh), Lieutenant Lundon (Second), Sergeant Fraser (Second). Ther© ar© twenty-eight men in hospital (the majority suffering from pneumonia), and sixteen Eleven of the cases in hospital are somewhat serious. The forty-four men invalided and in hospital will be landed at Port Chalmers. After all arrangements had been made for the military funeral of Gunner Heenan, of Hokianga, a request came from his friends to have the body sent on, and this will be done. The cause of death was embolism. The men were transhipped this afternoon, and left for the Bluff. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) The men belonging to Wellington district are as folloAvs : Fourth Contingent—Captains Davy and Pringle, Quartermaster-Sergeant Mason, Farrier-Sergeant Hardham, Sergeants Fraser, Grant and Vallance, Corporals Orford, Renall, Rolleston and Smith, Farrier Merson, Saddlers Greenough and Harland, Bugler Hickling, Privates Baghurst, Bell, Blisset, Boddington, Bench, Carver, F.. N. Dixon, N. Dixon, Easther, Franklyn, Gardiner, Hall, F. H. Hill, J. Hill, Isherwood, Jackson, Johnston, Keeling, Le Sueur, Mansell, Monaghan, McArtney, McDonald, McGregor, D. Mclntyre, M. Main tyre, McKenzie, Mcßae, Osborne, Pearce, Rusden, Saunders, Sexton, Sheehan, Sincox, Smith, Simpson, Trengrove, Vennell, Vile, Westmoreland, White, Willoughby, Wright, Young. Fifth Contingent —Lieutenant Haselden, Sergeant-Major Fletcher, Quartermaster Sanderson, Sergeants Bell, Fletcher, Kent-Johnston, Morgan, Corporal Thomson, Buglers Bell and Moody, Privates Anderson, Bodley, Brasell, Brewer J. W. Baker, Burge s s, F. G. Baker, Bartlett, Blake, Bavistow, Barnett, Cor® let, Charles, Coffey, R. Campbell, Davidson, S. A. Campbell, Dyer, Dorset, Dixon, Eade, Early, Fleming, Fletcher, Fernandos, Grove, Harding, Higgle, H. C. Hawke, F. Hawke, Hills, Hodder, Harcombe, Hayward, Holmwood, Hurley, Hamilton, Leech, Lankshear, Lock, Leitchfield, Minifie, Menli, March, Momnock, McWilliams, Mundell, Newman, Neilson, Pritchard, Pedesta, Parsons, Price, Roydhouse, Rutherford, Retter, Renall, Reid, Smith, Schofield, Sampson, Skeet, Shiell, Scott, Thompson, Vickery, J. L. Wilson, Watkins, J. b. Wilson, Wood, Weir. The above list is not official, and ther© may be a few more Wellington men amongst the troops, those whose addresses are not given in the rolls. DUNEDIN, July 12. The men who returned by the TaguS say they had a capital time in. Worcester, where the New Zealanders collected prior to sailing; but during thir stay a brawl arose in the natives’ quarters, and as a result an Imperial officer was killed and a New Zealander wounded. The men also say that amongst South African soldiers Badeh-Powell and other

the colonies are not thought much of, whilst on the other hand Buller and Methuen are idolised, and Kitchener is highly appreciated. The latter is said to be particularly severe on some Imperial officers who hang about the towns playing polo and so forth. Of the officers commanding their own contingents the men have most praise for Captain who though hot personally popular, is a splendid leader. Captain Bauchop, Lieutenants J. R. McDonald and Poison are also warmly praised. As for Lieutenant Seddon, they say that though h© had f©w chances he has certainly proved to be plucky. Of the Wellington men, Davy and W. Hardham are looking well, and Sanderson seems none the worse for his trip. He did not go south with the others. As to the men who. died at sea, Kyle took ill after being three or four days on the ship, and- Gunner Kendall was apparently well up to a few minutes' before his death. The men on the Tagus were grievously disappointed when informed they would be sent to the Bluff, and petitioned Colonel .Davis to be allowed to land in Dunedin ; but they were told they must obey orders. Private F. W. Forbes, who returned by the _ Tagus, suffering from severe pneumonia, died to-day. He jpined the Fifth Contingent from the Thames. H© had friends in Dunedin, and the present intention is to give him a military funeral on Sunday. DIJNEDIN, July 13. Very large ctowcfs assembled in the vicinity of the railway station to welcome the contingents returning from the war. The day was beautifully fine though with recent frost and snow was somewhat damp under foot. The train was over half an hour late, by which time the crowd had lessened somewhat, those persons living on the city outskirts having realised that there was little chance of seeing much. A volley of cheers greeted the train as it steamed into the station. The men got out smartly and were drawn up in a triangle, where thev were formally welcomed by the Mayor and Colonel E. R. Smith. There was much cheering, remarkable for its heartiness. It had been arranged that the men should be taken to their quarters by Volunteers, and Colonel Penton was just congratulating the police on keeping a place clear for the purpose of arranging the men when the friends and relatives of the • men drifted rather than rushed through the ranks of Volunteers and police, and in a few seconds the returning troopers were surrounded. It was at once seen that the men of the Fourth and Fifth outside Otago had made many waim friends while in camp at Forbury before their departure and these friends now took possession of them. It wa s perhaps a heartier and more appreciated welcome home than a more formal one would have been, as each trooper was surrounded by a small knot of men, women and children, and taken away to some home. The men were entertained at a “social” to-night. DUNEDIN, July. 14. The men who returned by the Tagus and were removed hospitals are getting along -favourably, though, of course, there is not much change for the better. A large proportion of the men are suffering from colds, which the tramping about in the wet at Invercargill did not improve. The military funeral of Gunner W. F. Forbes, who died on the Tasrus, took place to-day, and was largely attended. Dense crowds lined the streets, and the city and suburban Volunteers were strongly represented. The Governor was represented by the Hon C. Hil’-Trevor, the Ministry by the Hon C. H. Mills, and the defence force by Colonel Penton and Major N. L. D. Smith. Wreaths were sent by th© Government and Colonel Penton, and the coffin, on one of B Battery’s <mn carriages, was covered' with flowers. About 120 of those who returned with deceased attended. Forbes father before coming to the colony with his mother. When she diea friends in Dunedin sent him hQme to Els relatives, but be returned five years ago and resided in Auckland, where he joined the contingent. INVERCARGILL, July 12. Brilliant sunshine made the Invercai* gill decorations look gay to-day, as the troop train steamed in at 11.39. Its arrival was the signal for rounds of cheers from a very large gathering of people. The contingents having been formed ug outside of the station, where , a stand had been erected, the Rev Mr Luxford offered up prayers. The Ven Archdeacon Stocker, addressing the men, said they would never realise the an* xiety that had been felt for them until they sent sons on a similar mission. Alter singing the Old Hundredth, Lord Ranfurlywas received with cheers. He said it had been his painful duty on many occasions to bid farewell to the youth of the colony when starting at an hour of strain on the Empire’s resources for the seat of war. To-day he had the extreme pleasure of welcoming those m front of-him back, they having fulfilled the task allotted them with credit *o themselves and the colony. The assistance given the Mother Country would malice a chapter in the history of the Empire which would have a lasting m° fluence. It had been shown that the spirit of our ancestors existed in us, and Great Britain alone had not to be reckoned with. Her sons in Greater Britain

would stand shoulder to shoulder with her. No conscription, no pressing, was required, for at the trumpet call the colonies had shown that they would spring forward in far larger numbers then needed. New Zealand was proud of the way her sons had conducted themselves. Some had been taken, and their memories would ever be green in the annals of the colony as brave men who had given up their lives ffor their sovereign and the honour of their country. Personally, and in the name of the people of New Zealand, he heartily welcomed them home. (Cheers.') The Mayor then extended a heartfelt; welcome to the men on behalf of the citizens, and the Hon C. H. Mills, who apologised for the absence of the Premier, on behalf of the Ministry, and Parliament, expressed a hearty welcome. Three cheers for the Governor and contingents having been given, the contingents and volunteers corps, the Garrison, City, Pipe and District Bands marched along the streets to Zealandia Hall, where luncheon was in readiness. During the afternoon the troops went to Queen’s Park, where his Excellency distributed medals and witnessed a march past and programme of sports. The troopers were afterwards taken off by their hosts to tea. In the evening a conversazione was held, and a torch light procession passed through the principal streets of the town. Many business places were decorated and illuminated. The railway station made a fine display, an electric light plant being imported for the purpose. With a few exceptions the returned troopers looked very well. THE TAGUS INVALIDS. The Premier received the following telegram from Brigade Surgeon Lieuten-ant-Colonel H. A. D© Lautour, at Port Chalmers, respecting the sick troopers on board the Tagus: 1252 Corporal Bell, Wellington, malaria, serious; 2437 Sergeant Wm. F. Bell, Marton, pneumonia, severe; 2365 Private F. W. Forbes, Thames,pneumonia, very severe; 2304 Private J. Nicholas, Auckland, pneumonia, severe; 2601 Private E. A. Harley, Christchurch, rheumatism, improving; 2630 Saddler W. Murphy,Cheviot, malaria, convalescent; 2533 Sergeant A. Webster, Hokitika, malaria (taken ill this day); 3641 Private N. T. Martin, Dunedin; 1108, Sergeant-Major L. Murphy, Invercargill, malaria (taken ill this day); 1109 Robert McAulay, Portobello, pneumonia, convalescent; McKechnie, Napier, enteric, dangerous; 1121 Private H. Campbell, Invercargill, pneumonia, convalescent ; 1015 Private J. P- Heenan, Dunedin, abscess of liver after enteric, very dangerous; 1359, Lance-Corporal D.Trengrove, Pahiatua, colic, convalescent; 2613 Private F. Knox, Ashburton malaria, convalescent; 2380 Private A. E. Mikklesen, Auckland, malaria, convalescent; 1326, Private R. Rylie, Wellington, pneumonia, convalescent ; 1137 Private J- D. Maloney, Dunedin, convalescent; 1680 Private J. S. Robertson, Kelso, dislocation of shoulder; 2241 Saddler G. Fernandos, Wellington, jaundice, convalescent; 2724 Private F. W. Speck, Taranaki, pneumonia, convalescent; 1512 Private J. W. Groves, Wairarapa, bronchitis, convalescent; 2441 Farrier W. E. Brown, Nelson, pneumonia, convalescent; 1453 Private B. Patton, Auckland, pneumonia, convalescent; 2687 A. W. Johnston, Taranaki, malaria, convalescent; 1091 Trumpeter W. Cheeseman, Wellington, malaria (taken ill this day); 1402 Sergeant J. L. Long, Te Awamutu, malaria (taken ill this day); l6u Corporal E. Massey, Oamaru, bronchitis and sore throat, convalescent. In addition to the above, there are several invalids who require watching. Surgeon-Captain Watt remains in charge of the invalids. HOW A TROOPER MET HIS DEATH. A GALLANT FIGHT. The Prenfflpr has received a communication relating the circumstances under which Trooper Wookey met his death, from Captain Denniston (captured by the Boers), of C Squadron, Canterbury Company ,eof the Fifth Contingent, at the big fight at Paardeburg. The particulars show that Trooper Wookey met his death whilst making a plucky attempt to escape, after he had fallen into the hands of the Boers. Captain Tuckey, of the Fifth Contingent, was sent with the C Squadron to join a squadron of Cape Police, and a Maxim, to surround a farmhouse at Doornbut, in the Orange River Colony. Captain Tuckey sent one troop under Lieutenant White, to work around to the left of the house, one troop of the Cape Police being sent to the right, and the remaining two squadrons with the Maxims being left to deliver a front attack. Owing to the flanking parties losing their way, Captain Tucker’s party did not reach the farmhonse till just at daybreak. The Boers sighted them and made off, and the flanking parties found their way blocked by a barbed wire fence. As soon as th© fence was cut down, Trooper Wookey, who rode a fast horse, dashed off without orders from Lieutenant White, who did not know he had gone. The matter was reported to Captain Tuckey, who sent out a search party. This party followed Wookey’s “spoor’ till it ran into the Boers’ “spoor; ” then they returned. The remainder of the

narrative was picked up from the Boers. The Boer account states that a soldier rode right into them, thinking that they were the flanking party from the right. They took him prisoner, and sent him with an escort of two men. They came to a wiro fence, and whilst they were getting through it Wookey suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot one through the body, and the other through tb e wrist.. 'The one first wounded has since died. Wookey then started off to e s cape, but the Boer who was mortally -wounded opened fire at him, but did not hit him till lie was over 600 yards off, when a bullet hit him in the head, killing him instantly. Captain Tuckey found the body, and the Royal Engineers are' to erect the marble cross which the New Zealand Government has thoughtfully provided for the graves of th© New Zealanders who have fallen in South Africa. The Premier, through the Governor, has received! the following telegram from the General, Capetown: —Britannic lef £ East London th July, having on board for Wellington Lieutenant Elder Ulrich and twenty-seven men of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent. The Premier stated on Friday in the House that he regretted very much to have seen that there were eleven cases of dangerous illness on board the Tagus, and thirty-two other cases, and that one poor fellow, Trooper Forbes, of the Thames, had died. It had been recommended that the cases should he taken from the boat and put on the Quaran tine Island; but his instructions were “No,” that it was too bleak and cold, and that separate arrangements would have to be made for them. There were not sufficient beds in the Dunedin Hospital ; and he had given instructions to use th© beds available, and remove the serious cases to the public and private hospitals at once. Mr Charles Hill, who acted as secretary to the committee appointed to arrange for a presentation on behalf of the citizens of Wellington to Major-Geueral Baden-Powril, has received the following communication from Mr Walter Kennaway, of the New Zealand AgencyGeneral : —“Dear Sir, —Referring to my letter of the 14th ultimo, I have now to inform you that Mrs Baden-Powell has returned to London from South Africa, and has asked that your letter and the gold cigar case for her son General R. S. S. Baden-Powell, may he placed in her charge, with the many other presents which she is keeping for him at her house. The Agent-General ha s accordingly handed them to her.” SLIGHT HOPES OF PEACE. PROBABLE LE~NGTH OF THE STRUGGLE. SHIPMENTS OF HORSES AND MULES. SAN FRANCISCO, June 20. Mr W. T. Stead writes from London that after hearing all that can be gleaned from every source, he is of opinion that the war in South Africa is not near its end. He discussed affairs with Mrs Botha, wife of the Comman-der-in-Chief of the Boer army, who recently left London for the Hague, and though he speaks of Mrs Botha as a very reticent woman, th© little she had to say was important. Mrs Botha is on good terms with General Kitchener, and by his permission she was permitted to visit her husband immediately before her departure for Europe. She found General Botha in a much better condition than she anticipated. He and his men are well clothed, well horsed and well fed, and according to all accounts capable of carrying on the war for two years to come. Their determination is to go on fighting so long as ammunition is to be obtained by any means. . Mr Stead believes, however, that if General Kitchener were allowed a free hand he might make a settlement on the following basis : —First, an amnesty for Cape Colonists who have taken up arms in support of the Boers; second, the rebuilding and restocking of farms devastated by order of British generals. The sum named at a previous interview between Botha and Kitchener, a million pounds sterling, is declared to be entirely inadequate. Five times that amount would not compensate the burghers. Thirdly, there is to be no question of giving votes to Kaffirs, a point to which Boers attach greatest importance. Fourthly, a of Crown Colony government which is to be an interregnum between the present state of things and the establishment of responsible self-governmnt, to be reduced to shortest definite period, and that in the consultative council of the Governor of the Transvaal, leading burghers such as Botha and De la Rey should be permitted to sit. If these concessions were offered in good faith, it is possible many burghers would be content to lay down their arms and recognise the authority of Lord Milner as the representative of Great Britain. Such seem to be the smallest concessions the burghers could contemplate accepting. That being so, the chances of any cessation of the conflict are of the slightest. Mr Chamberlain main* tains Lord Milner is the one person with whom the Government cannot afford to break. Lord Milner, therefore, has oily to threaten to resign to bring

the Cabinet to terms. Lord Milner is absolutely opposed to any concession of the natur© above outlined, and declares it is impossible to regard the burghers as if they were a national unit. These burghers are a stubborn breed, however, and as their constitutional. . obstinacy is well reinforced by religious belief, it appears probable the war will go on and the drain on both sides will continue. England will continue to lose two million pounds per week and three thousand men per month; the Boers will lose in killed and wounded and prisoners about seventy men per day. There are at present nineteen thousand Boers in the prison camps in Africa, India, St. Helena and Ceylon. The fighting Boers in the field can hard* ly number more than fourteen or fifteen thousand. Men with arms in their hands in the midst of a black population of seven hundred thousand who hav© enough to eat can hardly, starve. ' _ A dispatch from New Orleans dated Jun© 17th says: —British activity here, which slackened suddenly a month ago, has been revived. Orders have been received to keep rushing horses and mules to South Africa, at least through th© summer. Within twenty-four hours two special trains with twelve hundred head wSte rushed in from the West, and eight of the largest transports to be had ar© steaming here for loads. Up t 0 date in round numbers a hundred transports have taken to South Africa one hundred and twenty thousand head of horses and mules, and to accomplish this more than twenty-five million dol* lars have been spent in the United States by Great Britain. Captain Marshall, who has represented th© British Government here since the purchase of stock was commenced, has been recalled to London for a conference with the. War Office. He is succeed by Captain Fenner. The ‘Daily Mail’s” Capetown correspondent says: —Mr Cecil Rhodes, speaking at Buluwayo recently, predicted that federation of the South African States would come in three or four years, hut he contended that to grant self-government to the late Republics before federation would, render federation impossible. Th© Associated Rress has obtained a statement from the German Foreign Office authorised by Count Yon Bulow which declares—Neither Great Britain, France, nor Russia ever approached Germany to participate in any action aiming at ending the South Africa war. Germany has all along distinguished between . offering good offices and intervention. Ta ren* der good offices would he possible if both parties requested it, but it wiU be remembered that Great Britain only joined the Hague Conference on condition that the Boer States were excluded. There is no doubt that Mr Kruger came to Europe to obtain the good offices of several of the Powers to end th© war, but there is also no doubt that Great Britain does not want their good offices. At least, it is true that since the war began Great Britain has never verbally or in" writing, confidentically or officially, broached such an idea.