A LETTER FROM NUT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 74

A LETTER FROM NUT.

Vereeniging, May 08

D*ar Dot,— l have always intended to write lo you, but I kept putting it off; in fact, I insist confess that I have been too lazy. YesJterday Lieutenant Con came down and told me if I didn't write he would have me courtmartialled and shot, so I thought it was safer .to begin. He told me that he had written, so ■why he wants me to write I don't know, as I Birppose he will have told you anything worth fcnowin". "Well, Dot, since we landed we have had a fairly easy time. We landed in Durban 'on April 15, and stayed in that city two days. iW* had a good time there, having leave to go into town both nights. It is n very PP et place, being known ab the PaTadise of South Africa. Leaving Durban on the 18th, we came tip the line as far as Newcastle. I don't like travelling in the train, as you are all the time in coal-trucks, and the South African nights »re anything but waim at this time of the year, S can tell you. It is a very interesting journey ■between Durban and Newcastle, as you pass .through the country where most of the hard 'fighting was done. We leached Maritzunrg about 10 o clock, and were, served out with bandoliers and rifles. Continuing on all night, we reached a place called Mooi River at daylight, wheie we stopped for breakfast, and also to water ancl feed the horses. Continuing our journey, and passing lota of small stations, we reached Colenso about dinner time. Tins is where tnat fcig battle was fought when Lord Roberts' s faon ■was killed in trying to rescue the guns. On the right you can see a monument erected on the spot where he fell. Soon after you cross the Tugela River you can see the remains oi the old bridge which the ' Boers blew up. The country here is terribly rough, and the hills are covered with big rocks and stones, and .the Boers have made walk and trenches to protect themselves from the fire of the Bntihh. •Here also you get a sight of Spion Kop, where Buller met with a reverse. Anyone seeing the country here would think twice before blaming General Buller for not getting into Ladysmith before he did. From Colenso right into Ladyfcmith there are graves all the wa>— hundreds of them. Looking at them gives one a small Idea of what war is. We reached Ladysmith about 4 o clock, l expected to see a" fair-sized town, and was gieatly disappointed, as it is a small, miserable little hole ; but still it is rather interesting to look round and flunk what a lot of fighting has been done and what a number of lives •were lost in that small place. Shortly after leaving there it got quite dark, and we saw no more of the country till morning, when we woke up to find ourselves in Newcastle, where we were to stop for a week. It is a miserable little hole, and I did not enjoy my stay there » little bit, and was not sorry when, on the £Bth, we received orders to entrain for Elandsfontem, which place we reached on the night Df April 30, and where we stopped till Friday, Mny 9, when we left on the treck for Vereeniging, reaching cur destination on the 12th. And here we are still, waiting the decision of Ihe Peace Conference. The journey from Newcastle to here I shall describe again. At pre■ent I niust remain, — Yours truly, NUT. [Nut's letter is very welcome, and I am sure all the LF will be' delighted to read it. I hope we shall hear from him again befcie hi 3 teturn. DOT ]