JOHANNESBURG UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8684, 1 December 1899, Page 3

JOHANNESBURG UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

-„ BOERS SEND OFF TO REFUGEES. 1 "THE DEAR OLD FLAG." "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" SUNG IN EARNKST. Sydney, Nov. 30. [ A letter from a well-known Australian, j the secretary of the Johannesburg gold mines, gives a graphic description of affairs just before the outbreak of hostilities He left Johannesburg the day martial law was proclaimed, and claims that he was the last to get away. The station was filled with drunken armed Boers, swaggering and cursing worse than the army in Flanders, with shouts of "bastards" and other insulting terms, and loaded Mausers presented at the faces of Englishmen. They tried lo compel the refugees to siim " Rule Brittania." To his everlasting credit, one with a cornet played " God Save the Queen," and the strains were taken up by all aboard the train as it moved out, amidst yells and curses from the Boers. A rousing British cheer was sent back as an auswer.

Describing the crossing from the Free State to British territory, he says : As the traius moved on to Norvals Pont bridge it seemed as if by magic " God Save the Queen" was struck up. I never heard singing like it. At the station jußt over the bridge 011 the flagstaff streamed the dear old flag, which was greeted with cheers as only men can give when they have not seen it for years aad have suffered because they claim it as their own. " Every man and nearly all the women came trooping out of the carriages, coal trucks, and cattle 1 rucks, and grouped round it aud sang "Rule Brittania."

Adelaide, Nov. 30. The Governor has received a cablfl from the commandant of tho Transvaal contingent stating that they are going to De Aar ou December Ist. Perth, Nov. 30. The Governor received a cable from Sir Alfred Milner stating that he visited the Australian camp, a few miles from Capetown. The West Australians are a eplendid lot of men to go to the front, where they will be cent immediately. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, This day. Lieutenant Senior, who was killed in the battle ot Grass Pun, was a brother of Mr Senior, chief officer of the Union Company's b.s. Corinua.