BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12419, 31 July 1902, Page 5

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

ENLARGING THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL.

BATTLING THE LAND. THE QUESTION OF IRRIGATION. Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, July 29. (Received July 30, at 8.56 if.m.) A Blue Book just issued shows* that the resolution of the Vereeniging Con- J ferencs was couched in a, tone of bitter resignation. It eraphasies the unpre.- j cedented suffering and disease in the concentration camps, mid declares that the Kaffir tribes outside and inside the boundaries of the Republics were almost nil armed. It also adds an expression of the Boers' futuro hopes. , Lord Milner on the 3rd suggested the desirableness of enlarging the Legislative Council, and of seizing tho present opportunity of the improved feeling between the Dutch and the British to commence their co-operation. Mr Chamberlain immediately approved tho suggestion. •;

ATTRACTING SETTLERS.Natal and the Cape favour assisted immigration. Lord Milner declares that the judicious settlement of a large num'ber of I colonists of the best class is of.tho first importance in the economic and peaceful development of the country. •It must bo carried out on a large scale, otherwise it would be politically unimportant. He proposes a fixed rent of 4J-- per cent.' per annum on the value of the pro- I perty, or a yearly instalment of purchase : money of £5 15s per £100. Mr Cham- : berlain gives him a free hand in tho ; matter. Lord Milner wishes to attract 1 ■English and colonial settler.?.- He adds 1 that it is to our interest to preserve the Boers as farmers, and not lis largo negligent landholders. : ; BOTHA'S ADVICE. 1

(Received July 30, afc 9.2G a.m.) Botha, speaking at Stellenbosch, ail-' vised the Boers to stop bothering with' politics, and to try to bo happy in South Africa, because they had no. home elsewhere.

WAR-MEMENTOS. (Received July 30, at 9.31 a.m.) Lord Kitchener has presented the Engineers' Museum with statues of ICruger, Botha, and Cronje,' froin I'etoria, and of Steyn, from Blccmfontoin. One Long Tom is mounted in tho bastion at Gravesond, and another at Woolwich Arsenal. REPORT ON IRRIGATION. (Received July 30, at 10.30 a.m.) Mr M T . Wilcocks, late director of the Cairo waterworks, iu his report on the , South African colonies, estimates that the expenditure of .C 50,000,000 on waterworks would irrigate 3,000,000 acres of laud, raising its value to £100,000,000, iu addition to 10,000,000 acres under crop and depending upon tho rainfall to the value of another £100,000,000. EXCLUDING "UNDESIRABLES. LONDON, July 30. (Received July 31, at OiO a.m.) Intending emigrants are not allowed to land at Delagoa Bay without depositing £20. They .must have a permit to enter the Transvaal, or proenro local employment within a week, otherwise they will be expelled;

A _ story, vouched for as true in every detail, cornos to us from (Scotland, Tjio scene was the table d'hote cf an holol in' Bruges. A Kclpm oflicar sitting at lunch was declaiming in 110 measured terms against the brutality of rho English' army in Africa. Opposite him sat a Scotchman ' and his daughter. 'Die maiden listened in dismayed silence. Suddenly, to the great sui'priao of her father, who did not comprehend a word of Ijreneh, she addressed herself to tho Belgian officer, speaking softly , and clearly, but with sledge-hammer effect. "What did you say to' him, _ my dearr questioned the Scotchman, anxiously, when lie and Ins daughter were alone, again. "I' really could not stand it, father," she answered. "I just asked him if he was forgetting that but for tho guarantee of Great Britain as to Belgium he might be wearing the uniform of France or Germany himself at that' moment ! Then I nshed him, quite quietly— I did speak quietly, father—if it were well for a Belgian soldier so to ceiwurG the successors of that British army which held the position at Waterloo when some- others— I did not mention • who they we.ro—ran away? Ami tiio Eolgian officer bowed, as you saw, father; and lie said, 'You are qui In. right, mademoiselle; you speak reason. I apologise.' 80, father, after all he must-.he n. gentleman, and only just- ignorant dud misinformed I" Wise little Scottish lassie!