GENERA LITEMS.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 24

GENERA LITEMS.

CAPETOWN, July 27.

In the Cape Parliament, during an incidental division in connection with a Treasury Bill, th& Government had & majority of four. Messrs Schreiner and Solomon, and Messrs E. I. Sonnenberg, Wessels, and De Waal (members of the Afrikander Bond) voted with the majority.

The Afrikander Bond have ejected Mr J. X. Merriman from the leadership, and rejected Mr J. W. Saver and Mr P. de Waal. They are now approaching Mr Hofmeyr, who advises a policy of inaction.

LONDON, July 24.

A Blue Book has been published relating to the treatment of rebels in South Africa.

The despatches show that Mr Chamberlain had suggested to Sir Alfred Milner that, while the Government heartily sympathised with a policy of clemency being extended to the rebels, yet justice to the loyalists compelled them to be moved by the obligations that duty and honour imposed. He advised that the ringleaders and promoters of the rebellion against British authority, the looters of property, those who had been guilty of outrages and the abuses of the white flag, be tried by a judicial commission, while the others who were less guilty be fined and disfranchised.

Mr Wyndham informed the House of Commons that arrangements were 'being made in _Oeylon on the hills for the reception and accommodation of 2000 Boer prisoners.

The following colonial casualties - are reported : — Trooper Duggan, Queensland (killed at Horsnek) ; Trooper Clare (missing), Trooper Evans Hall (severely wounded at Bethlehem), both Western Australians ; Troopers Walker, Richardson, Wagstaff, and Ewins, South Australians (severely wounded at Bethlehem).

Major Roe, a New Zealand Bushman, was slightly wounded at Bakenkop.

[This probably refers to Sergeant-major Rose, who, after retiring from the position of captaia of one of the companies of the third contingent, joined the Diamond Fields Horse as a private, and was promoted to Ibe sergeantmajor.] July 2s, Dr Leyds presented the Boer peace delegates to President Loubet. ,

July 26. The following are the colonial casualties in the recent Palmietfontein battles : — Australian Horse — Private Collett, killed ; Privates Bell, Marshall, Lessy, everely Avounded ; Meare, Ashmore, Dickman, slightly wounded.

- New South Wales — Privates Bennett, Liddle, and Palazzi, killed ; Sergeant Nicholson, severely wounded.

Queensland — Private Parnell died at Pretoria.

•A number of Portuguese officials on the Delagoa Bay railway have been dismissed for assisting in the smuggling of corned beef, which is contraband of war, into the Transvaal. In the House of Commons, in discussing

This was rejected" by 208 to 56. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman did not vote. A number of Liberals voted with the Government.

In the di&cussion on the Estimates Mr Chamberlain brilliantly defended the South African war.. He said the Republics would be given self-government similar to that in the colonies at the earliest possible moment, but not necessarily simultaneously.

July 27.

The Marquis of Lansdowne assured Lord Carrington that the colonial troops would receive the war medals granted to the regulars and a fair proportion of the honour rewards.

The Transvaalers announce that they will continue the guerilla warfare until the result of the American Presidential election in November is known. They declare that tlie Democrats promised to intervene if they were successful at the polls.

July 28.

In the House of Commons, replying to strong remonstrances with reference to the suppression of despatches in connection vritli what was termed" a regrettable incident, Mr Wyndham promised a searching inquiry at the close of the war, especially in instances where there had been very large surrenders. He added that there ■would be no furthei publication of despatches till the war is ended.

The following are among the casualties at Kosk's River on the 21st: — Killed: Pruben, Goodman, Watford, and Oliver (Victorians), Cameron (New South Wales). Wounded : Five Victorians, three New South Wales, nine Western Australians.

Casualties at Stinkhoutboom on the 24th : —Killed : Tate and Nicholas (South Australians). Wounded: Moon (mortally) and two others (slightly), South Australia; Tothill and four others (Western Australia).

The House of Commons voted the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Wyndham explained that they included £3,000,000 for operations in China. Lord Roberts, he said, estimated the permanent garrison for South Africa at 30,000, besides 15,000 colonial reservists remaining to settle. The total direct charges of the war to the 'end of February next would be £61,000,000. July 29. The ' -Imperial Government propose to ask. Parliament to vote small pensions to ■ all the widows and orphans of the soldiers who have been killed in action, or are dying from wounds and disease resulting from exposure in South Africa. The votes provide for the repatriation of 135,000 British troops and Indian and colonial contingents. MELBOURNE, July ,26. The Legislative Assembly passed a bill providing for the reinstatement of public servants serving in South Africa, the time spent there to count with regard to promotions and retiring allowance. July 27." The officer commanding the Bush-men ! cabled that they had been under fire for six hours at Rustenbufg. Sergeants Preedon and Goodman and Troopers Walford and Olive were killed, and Troopers M'Ciure and M'Carlhy dangerously wounded. ,| July 30. Seven thousand persons welcomed the returning invalids from South Africa, who arrived in the Karamea. ] SYDNEY, July 27. j Colonel Airey. has cabled that the Aus1 tralian • Bushmen fought for several hours against great odds. General Baden-Powell j was well pleased with them. i A parliamentary committee has been apI pointed to inquire into the general administration of the Military department and the despatch of troops to South Africa. " July 28. i The War Office have promised to consider the Government's application for a -portion of the Mauser rifles taken from the Boers. The Baden-Powell Presentation Committee have selected the well-known hunfe-a Demos (at a cost of 150 guineas) and Orara (at a cost of 100 guineas), as steeds for vhe Mafeking hero, conditionally upon % iheir passing the veterinary .surgeon's examination. BRISBANE. July 25. The Premier has stated that the South African Contingent to the end of last month had cost the colony £147,500.

Major E. M. Wiltshire, mortally wounded, the Estimates, an amendment was proposed The movement for the crushing of the to reduce the vote for the Colonial Office.