OPINIONS OF A RECENT VISITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2376, 14 September 1899, Page 44

OPINIONS OF A RECENT VISITOR.

(Fbom Our Own Cobbespondent.)

AUCKLAND, September 6.

A Herald representative interviewed Mr Leo. Myers (of the firm of Messrs Campbell, Ehrenfried, and Co.), who has an intimate knowledge of the Transvaal. He_ was present at the famous Jameson raid on the Transvaal. In reply to questions, Mr Myers said: — "Careful consideration of the events of the past, the disabilities placed on the Uillanders, and the dispute that has led up to the present position, leads mo to express the opinion that war would be almost a blessing in disguise as theonly means of providing a solution of the various difficulties that have presented themselves to the Colonial Office ever since the last convention was signed. As an instance of how the Boers' impositions on the Uitlanders are supported by the police, let me narrate an incident that occurred to myself. I had occasion to hire a cab, and the Boer driver had the effrontery to impose a charge of £3 10s when his legal fare was 15s. I declnied to pay this exorbitant fee, and offered to compromise with 30s, twice the amount of the legal fare. The cabby declined to accept the amount, and suggested that we should proceed to the police station, and allow the orderly to settle the dispute. Nothing loth, I agreed to the suggestion, and in a few moments we were at the police station. Ten minutes later, and I was glad to pay the full amount demanded, and thankful to escape being put into tronk (gaol) by the orderly, who threatened to imprison ins for refusing to accede to the cabman's request. This will give you an idea of what the Uitlanders have to put up with. The elder Boers have been, and are, anxious to throw off the yoke of suzerainty that proves so galling to them. On the other hand, feeling among the younger Boers, who are semi-civilised, is that if it is the intention to form a constitutional, as against the present unconstitutional, republic in the TranStvaal, they would not be opposed to England. Many young intelligent Boers have expressed to me that opinion, and I believe that they were sincere in what they said. But under present conditions, they would, in the event of war being declared, fight for the Boers, and would be found sh*ouider to shoulder with the elder Boers. Unfortunately they have absolutely no faith in the statement put forward by the leaders of tho Reform Parly in Johannesburg that the only object they have in view is the establishment of a constitutional, as opposed to an unconstitutional, republic. The Afrikander party, composed principally of residents of Cape Colony, arc the subjects of the Queen. They have Boer blood in their veins, but are halfcastes, quarter - castes, and octoroons. The Afrikander is the general name applied to all who have been born in South Africa. If war be declared, I am inclined to think that the Afrikanders will support England, despite the attitude assumed by Mr Schroiner, the Cape Pi-emier, but let me here say it is well-known that no two members of the Schreiner family agrea upon this subject. I think that war is inevitable. This is absolutely necessary to put an end to this dread uncertainly, and to secure the reforms mentioned. I don't think that the war would last more than two months with the available forces that England has at her disposal. Then, and only then, will England be able to right the wrongs that have existed for years."