SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 44

SOUTH AFRICA.

LONDON, August 20 A Blue Book, which has been issued dealing with the late war shows that General Buller, a fortnight before the battle of Colenso, had accurate information regarding General White’s Slln ' plies a t Ladysmith.

Lord Roberts, on the 26th January hearing that Spion Kop had been aban doned, suggested to General Buller that if lie was not confident of forcing his way into Ladysmith he should waif at- the Tugela till Lord Roberts hnnrelf was in the Free State.

General Buller, on the 4th F ebruary wrote, regarding an expected attack on Ladysmith :—“General White affects to be confident, but I don t know if fie really is. Ido not think your move into the Free State will much affect the position here.”

The first four hundred Boer prisoners from Ceylon; on arriving in South Africa, wrote to .the captain o'f tho transport Templemore thanking him for his kindness on the voyage, and adding“ln claiming the hand of friendship with you as Britons, we hope to prove as loyal and bravo as time Britishers should be in upholding the glory of the Royal house and the Empire.” Four hundred families nave been repatriated, and have settled in the Rouxville district, Orange River Colony. They possess a hundred thousand slieep, twelve thousand cattle ana five hundred horses.

LONDON, August 21. The “South African News,” published at Capetown, has declared that it will support a policy securing for South Africa autonomous freedom the same as Australia, which is consistent with complete loyalty to the Crown. Lord Milner, speaking at Barberton, declared that good progress was beiinr made in settling the country in all directions. The congestion between the coast and the inland towns would soon be relieved.

General Cronje and 997 prisoners have sailed from St. Helena for Capetown. The increasing difficulty of obtaining native labour is causing uneasiness at Johannesburg, and repatriated Boera are unable to work their farms for the same reason.

Reuter’s Agency estimates that there are only 620,000 natives available for work in South Africa. Ahe importation of Chinese is being seriously considered.

“The Times” says the appointment of a Colonial Commission to inquire into the operation of martial law in Cape Colony, as desired by the Afrikander Bond, would be a deliberate slight to Britain, since Lord Alvestoiie’s Commission has already been appointed. The Progressive members of the Cape Parliament have deposed Sir Gordon Sprigg, and have elected Dr Smartt leader of the party. CAPETOWN, August 21. The Cape Assembly unanimously adopted ail address of congratulation to the King on his recovery. The address stated that none of his subjects rejoiced more at his Majesty’s restoration to health and at. the Coronation. They were proud to belong to the Empire, and would always be ready to maintain its integrity. The Speaker, in a letter to the Governor, has formally protested against the suspension of the constitution. The Speech of the Governor (Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson) at the opening of the Cape Parliament announced the introduction of Indemnity' Bills covering martial law and unauthorised expenditure. * -

Progressive members criticised the absence from the Speech- of any promise of legislation dealing with the- repression of sedition and tihe importation of arms.

The Afrikander Bond members, as the price of their supporting Sir Gordon Sprigg, claim the appointment of a Colonial Commission to inquire into the operation of martial law and award damages, moral and other. CAPETOWN, August 22.

Sir Gordon Sprigg (Premier) states .that £270,000 has already been paid in Cape Colony in compensation for losses sustained through the war. Britain contributed £200,000. Neither Britain nor the Cape Colony, said Sir Gordon, intended to< compensate for losses caused through the second invasion or subsequent rebellion. Another thousand Boers have left St. Helena for the Cape. The “Natal Witness” says that Wakkerstroom will be excluded from the Transvaal territory recently ceded to Natal.

The Governor has received the following cablegram, dated, the 17th inst., from the G.O.C.:—Bungareo left Capetown on 15th. having on board Captains H. Tuckey and H. R. Potter, for Wellington. The Paparoa left Capetown on 11th, having on Board Captain R. F. Rhodes and two men for Lyttelton. The Suevio left Capetown on 10th August, having on hoard Captains E. W. Dalrymple, H. D-. Courts, Lieutenant H. Riddick and three men for Wellington.