THE TRANSVAAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 16

THE TRANSVAAL.

Pretoria, May 12. Sir J. Da Wet, the British agent at Pretoria, has resigned. President Kramer, in an interview, said he was astonished at the official . defence set up. If he had baen present at tho Imperial Parliament oa Friday he could easily have floored the speakers. The stories of Intrigue with Germany were mere soap babbles. It was impossible to defend the pl3t agaiost the Transvaal, and there would be no rest for Africa till the mea who engineered it were punished. May 14. General Joubert has beea elected Vicepresident of the Transvaal .Republic. Sir Graham Bower succeeds Sir J. de Wot as British Agent hare pending a permanent appointment being made. The Government have withdrawn support from the exhibition at Johannesburg, and the openicg has consequently been postponad for a yesr. May 17. It is alleged that farther cipher messages have baen discovered which reveal a wild project for the rescue of Dr Jameson by 3000 men ; also, that Mr Beit was the man who directed Dr Jameson to start the expedition. The Transvaal Executive have oonfiimsd the sentence of banishment upon the prisoners. Grey, one of the Reformers, became insane and committed suicide. May 18. It is said that President Kruger is disposed to accept the petition of the Reform Committee that the amount of the fines should be increased instead of the sentence of exile beiDg carried out. London, "May 11. . Mr * Herbart H. Asquith, ex- Home Secretary, speaking at Towbrldge, said that the recent disclosures had stained the Bri-inh claim to paramount power in South Africa. He regretted the departure from the strong and consistent line of policy. Prompt inquiry was demanded. May 12. Dr Lr-yds has cabled to Sir H. Robinson and the Gape Government that he considered the Oharttred Company a danger to South Aftica. He does not believe tho statements that the Imperial Government are incliaed to side with Mr Rhodes. It is reported that a section of the Chartered Company's shareholders intend to sue Mr Bait for damages for aidiog in the invasion of the Transvaal. Yon Boeschstan, Undersecretary of Slate for the Transvaal, is purchasing large supplies of arms and heavy ordnance in Europe. Jackson and White, troopers, giving evidence at Dr Jameson's trial, denied that Mr Cecil Riodes had wired to advanca into the Rand. May 15. Mr Chamberlain has cabled to Sir H. Robinson that President Kruger has been misled by the brief reports cabled of tho proceedings in the House of Commons. He bad no intention of defending Mr Cecil Rhodes in his recent speech. The Government would wait the decision of the Joint Select Committee. H9 deprecated a hasty judgment being formed. Reports from the Rand state that with the exception of the leaders it is likely that the ether prisoners will be released with a fine instead of imprisonment. May 16. In addressing a meeting at Devonshire, Lord Rosobsry Baid that the delay in holding an inquiry into the connection of the South' African Chartered Company with Dr Jameson's raid was worse than no inquiry at all, and he declared that such delay would create suspicion abroad and discontent at home. President Kruger has communicated with Mr Chamberlain, thanking him for the assurance that full inquiry will be made into recent events. Capetown, May 15. The Cape Assembly is in favour of reposing confidence in an Imperial inquiry into the Tranavaal. Sir J. Gordon Sprigg (the Premier of Cape Colony) said that nome form of government like that exercised by the Chartered Company would be necessary for years. Berlin, May 14. A private telegram received here states that the sentences on Colonel Rhodes, Messrs Lionel Phillips, Hammond, and Fa,rrar have been commuted to five years' imprisonment, and those of the other prisoners to one year. \

Th« denial of Lord (formerly Sir Henry) Loch respecting the charge made by the Pretoria reporter of the Paris Temps that, when High Comuiis^ioner ia South Africs, in 1894-, ho consulted with the leaders of theUiMauders ou the subject of invading the Transvaal is published in the following forraiu the Melbourne Age : — " Lord Loch said the statement -that he had encouraged or promised to assist in any way the Uitlanclers against the Transvaal Government was wholly unfounded. The simple fnct of the matter was that in 1891- the Johannesburg people urgently requeited him to visit tho city, and pleaded strongly their f?rievancf s as British subjects againsb the Boer Government. In reply he dissuaded them from violence, and fearing an outbreak did not go to Johannesburg, but received a deputation of its leadiug reformers at Pretoria. In reply to that deputation he showed its membars the utter futility —apart from other conBiderAtioiw — of the Uitlanders attempting to rise against the Boer Government, which ha 3 an armed force, whereas, as they themselves, stated, the Uitlanders had not 1000 rifl-s among them to fight with. It was utterly falsetbat ha had promised t»> assist;, or had in any way promoted, a risin/s m the Transvaal ; bub he had, ou the contrary, done his utmost to discourage and prevent ifc." The English press generally considers that Lord Loch's action in regard to the Uitlandew, as explained by himself, is perfectly correct;.

The po^b and telegraph officers 7 subscription to the Brunuer relief fund amounts to £819 and v»i)l be closed at £900. "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violeb, . To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with feeble words To try and tell the splendour of the Waterbury Watch, ' Is wasteful and xidiculous excess."