THE OVERDUE WOLVERINE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 27

THE OVERDUE WOLVERINE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, November 22. Mr G. Williamson's missing schooner Wolverine on leaving Auckland .had 15. tons of ballast and a cargc of kauri timber aboard, and was reckoned in good trim. She was fitted with a new make of oil engine, and even if her canvas was lost in heavy weather she should have made her way into port under steam. The missing vessel had several hands on board, these being: Captain M'Kenzie and the Hare 'brothers (builders), Captain G. R. Williamson (owner), Herbert Scollay and Robert Wilson (two seamen from the Bluff), and" a boy from Auckland. The Wolverine was procured by Mr Williamson to run regular trips betoveen the Bluff and the Stewart Island, fishing grounds, and, being fitted io. run under sail or steam, was tho right class of boat iov" the work. Mr Williamson visited Auckland last December, and, after an inspection of the vessels of this description, and finding' none to exactly suit his requirements, gave a,n order for the building of the now missing scfroonoTi

THE NATAL FRONTIER, , DURBAN, November 20. General White, at Ladysmith, on Saturday, 18th, reported that* the troops were in good health. He considered they would be able to hold out for two months. ■ • " November 21. General White' rqports that the Ladysmith garrison has a plentiful supply of ammunition. The Boer trenches before the town have been turned into a perfect quagmire by tiie recent heavy rains. „ A force of 1700 Boers are looting all the district to the south of Estcourt. A larger force of 6000 men are foraging towards the 'town of Greytown, to the south-west of Estcourt. Major-general Sir Cornelius F. Clery, Commandant of the Second Division of the British Army Corps, has been appointed to the command of the column marching to the relief of Ladysmith. General Joubert, with strong reinforcements, is marching southward to intercept General Clery. November 22. Major-general Clery's column, 14,000 strong, is about- to attack the ' bands of marauders in the vicinity of the Mooi River, west of Estcourt. November 23. Estcourt is isolated. , The Boers have looted the Natal Stud Company's property . of 3QO blood horses, valued at £15,600. .. . . 'The Boers west of Maritzburg are engaged in foraging. _ German farmers to the eastward of Ladysmith are threatened with eviction, for refusing to swear allegiance to the Boers. . Several strong commandos are raiding within 30 miles of Maritzburg, where the garrison has been increased by 10,000 men. The railway and telegraph lines have been cut at Highlands station and Nottingham road, between Estcourt and Pietermaritzbirrg. j The Boers are mounting guns to command Estcourt. Three thousand Boers were engaged shel- j ling a strong camp at the Mooi River, some- 1 distance north of ■ Pifitermari'tzburg but retired when the British, under Majorgeneral Barton, replied effectively. The Boer tactics are regarded as extremely hazardous, and prompted by the necessity for pillage for food necessities. An important combined British movement is imminent. The troops on arrival at Durban were pelted" by the' populace with fruit, tobacco, and newspapers. Several strong Boer commandos are raiding within 30 miles of Maritzburg, where, the garrison has been increased by 1000. November .24. 'Weeping amongst the Dutch people at Pietermaritzburg lends confirmation to the report that General White, on Sunday nighfc, captured ih°. Roer position and gur.s . itt, Lajdvamjtk, , . .• „ \ . .

November 25. ' It is estimated that ■ there are 9501 - British troops in Ladysmith and 14,0 M divided between the towns of Durban; Pietermaritzburg, "and Estcourt. The Boers are reported to be upon thf point of making a rush for .Maritzburg. Lack of cavalry ■ is • delaying Major general Clery's advance to the relief a Ladysmith^ " \ November 26. i Major-general Hildyard, in charge of the" Ladysmith relief column, surprised the Boers at Willow Grange, south of Estcourt, The British charged the enemy and bayoneted 80 of them. Our loss was three killed and 44 wounded. The lai'ge number of the latter is due chiefly to the fact that the Boers had some quickfiring guns with a longer range than thos« of the British. Reconnaissances have revealed the presence of two strong Boer commandos, with guns, posted at the Highlands, a station between the Mq.oi River and Estcoui't,- but there are none of the enemy to the south oi the Mooi River. Three batteries of artillery have reinforced Major-general Barton's force, which was in a strong camp on the Mooi River, som< distance north of Pietermaritzburg. , The telegraph wires to \Estcourt have been re-opened. - - . The British • column, which was camped on the Mooi River, has entered Estcourt. General Joubert has withdrawn the com« inandp, estimated! at 3000 'Bdfer§J whicK we're engaged" in spelling Mo6i River campi tow.ar.ds Lad.ysmii;h. ','•.,. « November 27. Refugees from Pretoria report that- th» town is being prepared for a siege. General Sir Redvers- Buller arrived ai Durban on Saturday, and was welcomed there. He has started inland. The British advance on Fxere and Colenst has begun. CAPETOWN, November 24. Major-general Hildyard, who is in chargt of the 1/adysm'ith relief column, has mad* a sortie in the direction of Willow Grange.