GENERAL BOTHA'S TRIUMPH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16433, 12 July 1915, Page 4

GENERAL BOTHA'S TRIUMPH.

OvKRsiiADOWEn as it has been by the great events that have been, and continue to be, enacted on the European military stage, the campaigning of the Union forces under General Botha in German SouthWest Africa has not attracted the attention which its intrinsic importance deserved. Two months ago, when the Northern army of the Union occupied Windhoek (or Windhuk, as it is locally called), whero the Germans had accumulated large stores of munitions, which thev fondly believed would be of use to the Boers in a rising, with Teuton help, against British rule, General Botha opened

tho way to the achievement of the cul- J minating success that is now announced. I General Botha himself interpreted the occupation of Windhoek as meaning practically the complete possession of German South-West Africa. One of the elfects of the capture of this town, which was the capital of German South-West Africa, was that practically the entire railway system | of the territory came under the control of the Union forces. But the armed forces of the Germans remained in the field, and naturally the enemy endeavoured to make its stand in country that would neutralise as far as possible the advantage which the control of the bulk of the railways gave to the Union troops. It was, indeed, only as the sequel of a series of forced marches, in which the British showed extraordinary powers of swift movement and of endurance, that General Botha achieved his crowning and most dramatic triumph. By his brilliant leadership, in which General Smuts, who commanded a second army, will be found to have skilfully co-operated with him, General Botha succeeded in encircling the German forces and in compelling them to surrender. The whole Empire to-day pays homage to the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the South African Union upon an accomplishment of the highest military and political importance. The Tejoicings which' are general throughout the Union will find their echo in a less unrestrained form throughout the whole of tho British possessions and not least of all in the oversea dominions. The volunteer soldiers from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have been making history on foreign fields, and it will be a matter of unalloyed satisfaction to them that, by skilful campaigning, the forces of the youngest federation under British rule have, headed by a great general against whom some of them fought at the beginning of this century, deprived Germany of her treasured colony in SouthWest Africa. The operations which General Botha has now triumphantly concluded have been of a most arduous character but the difficulties that presented themselves have been brilliantly overcome, and the congratulations which are being showered upon the Commander-in-Chief and his loyal comrades and followers are richly merited.

Our Wellington correspondent informs us that matters relating to the coalition proposals remain in practically the same position as on Friday. A short preliminary conference between the Prime Minister and tho Leader of the Opposition was held on Saturday. No definite stage was rcached, but the conference will probably be resumed to-day. It is possible that a statement regarding* the result of the negotiations will •bo made in the House early in the week.

The negotiations of the Tramways Committee with representatives of tho Tramways Union regarding a now award havo not resulted in an agreement being arrived at, and, at the suggestion of the union, the committee has agreed that the matter be referred to the Arbitration Court. Tho committee 16 reporting the position to the council at its meeting on Wednesday.

Tho monthly meeting of the Kaikorai School Committee was held on Friday evening; present—Messrs D. Scott (in tho chair), 11. S. Wardrop, A. Ferry, P. L. llitchie, Y*m. Wilson, C. L Wilkinson, and A. ivLathesou. '1 he head master reported that colds and influenza were* lowering tho average attendance, but the roll was still further increased, being now as follows: — Boys. 304; girle, 272;— total, 576. The average attendance for tho month was 531, and the highest 551. The inspector's report was carefully perused, and proved in every respect quite up to the b:gh standard of last year. It was decided to tender the committee's thanks and hearty congratulations to the head master and hi 6 staff on the fine record for the year. A resolution with reference to a school concert "was rescinded, and it was decided to ask the staff to prepare for a concert to be held between tho middle and end of September. The Visiting Committee reported very favourably on tho work of the school, tho attendance, and the condition, of the grounds and premises. Messrs Wardrop and Wilson were appointed for the current month.

A meeting of the Concert Committee and subscribers to the High Street School Band was held on Friday night. Mr J. Waddell Smith was voted to the chair. The balance sheet of the concert showed a balance of £38' 8s 6d, after deducting all liabilities. A special vote of thanks \va£ passed to the bandmaster (Mr Dickison) for the way he had brought the band up to - its present high state of efficiency, it being stated that he had devotod several nights a week to practices with the boys. The boys had shown the great est interest in their drill, and great credit was due to them for the way they had attended after school hours. Mr Dickison reported that he had had great assistance from Messrs Laidlaw, Easton, Gilchrist, and Brown, and that Aire White had offered to teach the boys Highland dances. The Highland uniform had added greatly to the appearance of the band, and general approbation had been the note on the first appearance. Messrs E. R. Burton and R. A. Ewing were appointed trustees of the band.

At a meeting of the executive of the Saturday half-holiday movement at Christchurch on Thursday night it was decided isays the Lyttelton Times) to communicate with other centres in the dominion, with the object of setting on foot a 14 days' campaign to secure signatures to a petition to bo placed before Parliament urging that legislation be enacted to bring about the universal Saturday half-holiday. It was stated that the executive was conferring with the local Thursday Half-holiday Committee, which was prepared to support the proposal for a universal Saturday. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday (says the New Zealand Times) Mr M'Cailum said that he wished to ask the Minister ot Lands (the Right Hon. W. F. Masscy) if it was true that he had caused to be appointed to one of the land boards of the dominion an ex-member of Parliament who had recently been unseated for corrupt practices on an election petition tried before the judges of the Supreme Court. If the. appointment had been made, had tho attention ot the Minister been called to (1) section 224 of "The Legislature Act, 1908," which expressly provided that a. person convicted of any corrupt or illegal practice should be incapable of holding any public or judicial office, and required that, if he held such office, he should vacate it; and (2) the Minister's own amendment of

"The Laud Act, 1908," passed in 1913, whereby ho had caused it to bo enacted thsit if any member of a land board was guilty of "negligent or improper conduct (in addition to fraudulent conduct), which, in the opinion of the Governor, rendered him -unfit for this office, his seat on the board should become vacant ? The question of which Mr M'Galium gavo notice related to the recent appointment of Mr Vernon Reed, ex-member for the Bay of IslarJs, to the Auckland Land Board. The appointment has been made since Mr Reed was unseated by the Election Court. An American and an Englishman with a foreign uamc had a fight at Taumaj-unui (says our Wanganui correspondent), and the former, who received physical injury, called the latter a German and a mongrel German. The Englishman brought an action for slander. The court held that the words used by defendant were defamatory, but were admittedly given utterance to under the influence of excitement. The seriousness of tho offence was pointed out, and judgment was given for the plaintiff for £7 damagee, with costs.

The General Committee of the City Council reports that during the month of June 1162 cuttle, 7575 sheep. 617 lambs, 256 pigs, and 221 calves were slaughtered at the abattoir. A ijrst otfcnder was convicted und discharged at the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday on a charge of drunkenness. Mr A. Cable was the presiding justice. What is frequently colled "an interesting event" occurred aboard tho steamer JRiverina on Saturday week, when u saloon pafisengo? ga\ e birth to a child. The ship does not carry a surgeon for the four-day trip between Sydney and Auckland; but the mother was well cared for by the stewardtsa and other passengers, and on the vessel's airival at Auckland both mother and child were reported-to bo doing remarkably well (says tho Auckland Star), although tho ship had passed through one of the woret gale* known for tsome time. A collection waa taken up by the passengers for the child, and a sum of £7 12s 6d was handed over to the mother. It was freely stated on board on Wednesday morning that the youngster (a boy) was to be christened George Riverina, in order to commemorate the remarkable circumstances of his birth.

A kinematographic film of great historical value has been prepared by the New Zealand Government's ofheial photographers a& a record of the sending of troops to tho seat of war. Tho film was tested by a private exhibition on Monday at Shortt's Picture Theatre (says tho Wellington Post), and was found to be of excellent quality. It records the training of the men at the Trentham camp, including both infantry and mounted infantry, and other features of the camp. The marching of the troops through Wellington, the farewell parade at Newtown Park, and the embarkation of the Main' Expeditionary Force are well pictured, and a soction is devoted to the Maori Contingent. There is a fine view of the departure of the first equadron of transports, escorted by H.M.S. Minotaur and tho big Japanese cruiser Ibuki.

A man named Richard Donaldson, who hails from the Waikaia district, was arrested by Constable Martin on the evening express from Invercargill on Friday, on the journey between Stirling and Milton. He was brought before the Police Court at Milton on Saturday, charged with drunkenness and using obscene language. Constable Fox conducted the prosecution. The language was characterised as extremely filthy, and the presiding justices fined the accused £5 or one month's imprisonment; also 10s for drunkenness. Tho justices stated that if the aeoused had . net been on a journey to visit his sick father they would have sentenced him to imprisonment, without the option of a fine.

The monthly meeting of the Kensington Scheol Committee was held on Friday evening ; present—Messrs- Miller (chairman), Lambert, Cole, Dalton, Shacklock, "Ruston, M'Lauchlin, and Bead. A letter was received from Miss Dowme Stewart thanking the teachers and scholars for the donation of £7 10s and eocks sent for our boys at the front. The head master mentioned that the children bad brought produce to the value of £2 10s to the school. Hie goods had been sold in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Accounts to the amount of £8 2s were passed for payment. The chairman and Mr M'Lauchlin reported having visited the school and having found everything very satisfactory. The Works Committee reported that the City Council was now altering the fenoe in Bridgman street, and that, when complete, the work would be a great improvement for the safety of the public and the children. Messrs Cole and Lambert were appointed a Visiting' Committee for the month.

Very uncomplimentary remarks were made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Automobile Union in reference to the New Zealand roads. It was suggested (says our Wellington correspondent) that much money was wasted by small county councils in the ■way in which they carried out repairs or even constructions, and the need for expert advice was stressed. The Otago Motor Club suggested that the Government should be asked to establish a public roads office, to be in charge of an engineer -who was a roads specialist and able to give advice free of charge to local bodies. The idea was generally regarded as excellent, and :t was decided to urge the appointment of a

Government engineer to advise on,' inspect, and superintend the construction and repairs of roads. A deputation will wait on she Minister of Public Works in reference to the matter.

Notice has been given by Mr Myers to ask the Minister of Public Health whether the Government will take into consideration the desirability of establishing special institutions for those unfortunate people who are not sufficiently unbalanced mentally to warrant their committal to a mental hospital, but who frequently appear in the magistrate's courts, charged with offences for which no good purpose is served by committing them to prison. Mr Myers points out that the police are frequently compelled to arrest homeless and penniless •wanderers, many of whom are elderly people suffering from senile decay, while others are of feeble mind, requiring care and skilful attention; ' Hamilton is by no means free from the operations of the shop-lifter (says ail exchange), and local tradesmen had cause to complain on numerous occasions of the reduction of their stocks by depredations of this nature. Comparatively very few cases have been sheeted home, but a flagrant example has come before Mr Rawson, S.M., when a respectably-dressed married woman was charged with a long series of thefts, extending over many months. Two well-filled portmanteaux, which were produced for inspection by the magistrate, included two costumes, several pairs of ladies' and children's shoes, three or four handbags, hair brushes, a Panama hat, and a fur boa. These, according to the police, represented only a portion of the goods which accused admitted having stolen, but of which ■ the owners had not been found. When the manager of ono shop called at her house with reference to a missing article, she stood on her dignity and threatened to proceed against him for defamation. She even went so far as to consult a lawyer, and spoke to the police on the matter: Later the manager obtained a search warrant, and, in company with a constable, discovered many more articles arousing. suspicion, which led to

tho accused's appearance in court. Tho policc said the woman was otherwise of good repute. Her acts were prompted lay love of dress. After a severe reprimand accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Farmers gathered from almost every part of the western district (Southland) on Tuesday to witness a demonstration of the " Armour-Johnston" Ditching Machine (Cooper's latent), at the homestead of Mr Robert Anderson. Kauana. The manner in which the soil wjfe cut, elevated, and disposed of at the side of the ditch from tho 6hute brought forth great praise from those present, although the machine was not seen it its best owing to an aocidest on the previous day which accounted for the fore-carriage being out of alignment. The machine is dra,wn by eight, horses comfortably, and ditches are rapidly excavated! A little boy named Timmins, a eon of Mr P. Timmins. of Waikino, had a narrow escape from drowning while playing on the river bank on Friday morning (says the AV;iihi correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). A branch of a tree on which he and his brother were swinging broke, and both were precipitated into the water. The elder brother was rescued by a passer-by who waded into the river, but he could see no trace of the younger boy. He gavo the alarm, and Mr M. L. Davis, from the Waihi Company's battery, who was the first to respond, jumped into tho river and rccovcred the boy's apparently lifeless body. Mesrs J. Truscott and Jolly rendered first aid, and succeeded in restoring animation, a few' minutes before Dr Cran, who bad been summoned from Waihi, arrived. Tile rescued boy is progressing satisfactorily.

Tho residents of Port Chalmers are reju rated to attend a public meeting at 7.30 ;his evening to discuss en important matter which has been referred to tbe Mayor by the Patriotio Committee. The Ashburton police have been very active lately in seeking out caises of cruelty to animals. Senior-sergeant Emerson end Constable Kidd recently paid a. visit to two properties in the ,Methven district. On jne they found one horse lying down with its throat cut and another so "weak with hunger that it could hardly stand up. There -were also a number of half-starved calves on tho property. On tho other place a mob of half-starved horses was found.

Most, of tho Auckland bonded stores are now practically For some weeks past merchants have been withdrawing very large quantiies of liquor and tobacco from bond, probably in anticipation of possible war taxation. June 30 and July 1 were stocktaking days, and, as the clearances had to "bo effected prior to that, the pressure of business has been very great. Tho amount of Customs duties collected in Auckland for the past month is about £131,000, "which is muoh above the average. It is estimated that the heavy clearances from tlx© bonds were responsible for between £50,000 and £60,000 of that totaL

However patriotic the young Maoris may be (telegraphs the Gisborne correspondent of the Christchurch Press), it is not airways an easy matter for them to carry but their wishes, as some parents have strong objections to their children going to the front. At Nuhaka last week one parent spent over £1 in telegrams in trying to stop her son. Eventually she thought she had prevailed upon him to remain at home, but to make doubly sure she clutched his coat-toils as he was assisting to launch a boat that was to take the other troopers away. At the right moment the young man slipped out of his coat and left the old lady still clinging to it Nothing daunted, she waded in to the water right up to her neck, but the son was too quick, and was soon on his way to Napier. Whether he will eventually get away with til a contingent remains to be seen.