THE TRANSVAAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10631, 28 March 1896, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL.

THE UITLANDERS IN COURT.

At the preliminary investigation, which began on February 3 in the hailoE the Secoad Volksraad, Pretoria, Mr Van de Merwe, mining commissioner in Johannesburg, gave evidence tlrtt during December every opportunity was tnben to incite the populace, to uorast. At the end of Decsmber he received information that arms and ammunition were baing smuggled into tho town, and on Dacembor 29 he knew positively that arms and ammunition were being stored in the mines. When the news of Dr Jamesou'j invasion became known, the arms and ammunition were distributed. The beating of the insurgents won at that time impertinent, bu!; they qnietened down on the issue of the proclamation by the High Commissioner. A rumour, added witness, was spread that the arms in question were intended merely for the protection of life and property, but I solemnly declare here that life and property were never in any danger, and that, therefore, the warlike preparation mast be openly regarded as a brutal rebellion against the authorities. Witness, continuing, said he beard of the existence of the Kefornv Committee whoa its members—Colcnsl Rhodes and Mflssrs Hayes, Hammond, Strange, Newman, Hillier, and Bell—interviewed the Government commission, of which he was chairman; The deputation were informed that the Government did not acknowledge any body styling itself the Reform Committee. Witness further; stated that in the course of conversation tjn one oensdra Mr Max Langermann remarked to him, ""We have only commenced. The country will soon be ours from Capetown to the Zambesi."' A certain Bsttiiigton showed witness a'document setting forth the conditions for the enlistmsut of volunteers to fight against the Transvaal Government. On December 30 and 31 theofficia! machinery was at & standstill. It was not in the power of the authorities to disarm the reijals. The whole town was. in their possession, and they were apparently masters ,of tbe situation.. There were 100 troops in Johannesburg not under the Transvaal flag. They wore armed with gnas and had armnuuibion. ■ Witness saw Maxim guns being transported' through the town on January 1. Commandant Sehntfce and he saw 250 rebels march through the town with a cannon.

; Evidence.was given by Mr George Nitcfo, manager of the Standard Bank, Johannesburg, that there was in existence a fund styled the relief fund, amounting to about £70,000. He denied that there was an account in the name of the Reform Committee, bat admitted that there were accounts in the names of the National Union and the Development Syndicate. ......

1 Mr Nathaniel yon den Berg, first criminal landdrost (police magistrate), deposed that on January 1 he was compelled to send the police out of tho town by order of the Government, and orders wero also given that no shots should be fired. No police escort for prisoners being thus available, bis court could not sit for some weeks, and on January 1 there were no fewar than 680 prisoners, charged with ..various offeaces, in gaol. No food was obtainable, the commissioners being without cash, and the prisoners were fed on sardines. Had those people been released, added witness, there would have bees set at liberty a'band of men more dangerous than the whole of the Reform Committee.

When the court resumed next day, Mr Thomas Sheffield, managing director of tha Argus Printing and Publishing Compsny, admitted, in answer to the State Attorney, that a proclamation, the purport of which he did not remember, was set in type, and fee proof submitted to the Reform Committee. An order was afterwards given that the proclamation should not lie printed, and the type was distributed on January 4. The preamble of the proclamation, witness said, was to the effect that Dr Jsmeson was expected to come in next day, and that therefore in fear of disturbance it was necessary to form a Provisional Government for Johannesburg.

Polieo Commandant D. Sehutte gave important evidence. He deposed that on Dscember 27 he received reports that the rebels were endeavouring to cause'a-collision with the police, and, instructed1 by the Government to avoid a collision, ho withdrew the police. Mr Laugermann came to his house and stated that the people would take possession of the town, but that the officials would not be interfered with. They would appoint their own officials. "You and the Mining Commissioner," he said, 'A will be kept on a while longer, for tha reason that you know too much." Witness had conversations with Mr J. W. Leounrd in different pluces, and Mr Leonard told him he (Leonard) wan a true Afrikander, and that the peop!,; wanted anothee Government. On December 31 a body of armed insurgents marched out of Johannesburg to take possession of the reservoir at Nazareth House. Witness went immediately with 280 police aud volunteers to protect the gaol. The same day Mr Langermann came to witness and asked for a Transvaal flag to hoist above the National Union flag as c, symbol that the Republic and the National Union were working with one common object. Witness refused' to give him a flag. Witness continued : " When I neard the news of Jameson's march, I asked Mr Aba Bailey and Mr Hudson if it were true. They denied it. Mr Leonard said, 'I give my solemn declaration that I know nothing of the Jameson invasion.' Mr Phillips said, 'Dr Jameson hao come in. It ' is onr duty to stand by him.' Mr Chirlcs. Leonard said they were only working togcthei to obtain cohttitutional government and their rights."

THE LABOUR QUESTION. The position of the R&nd miners in regard to fuel was becoming precarious on the 23rd February Owing to the want of native labour to work the coal mines. " The native labour-question was also creating great anxiety .on the Rand. It m • estimated that 15,000 boys are wanted to meet the requirements of, the mines. Forges Randfontoiu, one of the leading companies, has announced that it is compelled to close down owing to inability to obtain native labour. A new phase of the native labour question appeared at the New Comet mine, one of the Farrar group, where, in response to the company's urgent representations, the Government turned out 50 native convicts to work in the mine. They will receive 2s per day, which is not much lees than free men receive.. The number of unemployed in Johannesburg is now estimated at 4000. The building trade around Johannesburg ie improving, and half-finished works are being taken up again. The property market, too, is firm, people not wishing to.dispose of their stands and houses. Tenantless houses are becoming scarce again.

Great offence has been caused among English people in Johannesburg by the publication in an official; journal of advertisements in four languages, excluding. English, of course, inviting .the special constables who served thei Government during the late crisis to join a volunteer corps.

■—.Dishes of gold and silver used in table service in 900 B.C. were found at Troy by Dr ■ScUiemann. One of. these was about the size -naw.-amiilaved.

Of New Zoalund raunioipat *toei», AaflUand City fives are at 113 to 116; Harbour do (ci div.), 110 to 112; CUriatchurch sixes,, 12* to 127; Lyttcltou Hsrbour sixes,, 121, to ,123; Dunedin City fives, 111 to 113; Otago Harbour fives, 92 to 95. , . v; ~ Among- other stock I may mention Bank of New Zealand.;Governniont gnar*utired {outs, 103 to 105;, New Zealand and Hirer Plata MortgagV £- to f■; ■ Bank of: New Zealand Estates fonr«, 101 So 103 ; Dalgety and Co.'c ohares, 5 to s£; New Zsahnd Loan and Mercantile prior lien fours. 98 to 100.; New Zealand Shipping shares, 3£ to 4;, Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, 6£ to 7£;- Union Steam Ship Company (New Zealand), 5£ to 6£ ; New. Zealand Midland Railway 5 per cerit., 1£; Mortgage debentures, 25 to 35.