NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8698, 18 December 1899, Page 4

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

SAFETY CAVES AT LADYSMITH. THE SEIZURE OF ALIWAL NORTH. ACCURACY OF BRITISH SHOOTING. Capetown, Nov. 17. In the Capo Times of November 17 is a letter from C. W. Lloyd, Commissioner for Agriculture, dated Ladysmith, November 8. It states that the town waa daily bum barded. For their security, the residents, including the magistrate and many volunteers, were living by day in caves dug out of the river bank, retiring at night to their homeß in the town. On the 16th a native missionary reached Estoourt with a report of heavy fightiug near Ladysmith on the previous Friday. The Volunteers went out at early morning to draw the euemy from their positions on to the flats, when the regular troops under Sir George^R'hite outflauked tho Boers and administered a crushing defeat. Over SOU Kaffirs were employed to bury the dead. On the 16th two companies of tho mounted troops— lmperial Light Horse and Natal Carbineers— engaged about 300 of the enemy eight miles from Estcourt. The Boers held a strong position on a kopjo, The Carbineers worked rouud on tho right, •and drove the enemy back, when the Imperial Light Horse opened a brisk fire, killing several. One trooper of the Imperial Horse was wounded. Every day brings news of firing rouud Ladvsmith. On tha 14th an engagement was fought south of the town. The British went out with 13 guns, attacking 380 Boers, and, according to the enemy's account, their big (jun drove the troops to the kloof near Ladysmith. Tho Boer loans were one killed and three wounded. THE BOERS ENTER CAPE COLONY. Regarding the southern frontier, a message from Aliwal North, dated the 15tb, reported that the Free Staters, under Commandant Oliver, had occupied that town the previous day, proclaiming it Free State territory. All residents unwilling to remain under the protection of tho Free State were given fourteen days to leave the towns. The people were treated to every consideration by the troops. At the same time the Buor commando, 000 strong, equipped with two Nurdcnfeldts, two Krupps, and one Maxim, entered and annexed Colesburg, appropriating the magistrate's books. The kopjeß round the town were soon dotted with armed men and horses. A little later the Boers, who by this time had increased to 1200 men, and expected 1500 more, made towards Nuanwpoort. They had about six Maxims and cannon, all splendidly mounted, and double bandoliers full of ammunition. They weru still most polite to the townspeople. About 20 waggons carried their supplies. The troops included several men who fought al Elands Laagte. All the public-houseß •were clo»ed, by order of the commandant,

for many burghers who had appropriated bottles of whisky bofore tho commandant's arrival soon began to show signs of having taken too much. One man fell from his horse and was killed. A great many of the men were Johaniicsburgers, and their aim in annexing Colesburg was to allow sympathisers to join, without, as they think, being guilty of treason. Commandant Grobelar, mounted on a packing case, made an impassioned speechcalling on all Afrikanders to their help Ho quoted Scripture copiously, and mentioned Naboth's vineyard. He said they had done their best to make peace, but England demanded moro and more, and they had either to crawl in the dust and say, "What's ours is yours — come and take it," or Btond up like men and fight until they were victorious, or every man had fallen. He appealed to all Afrikanders in the name of the blood relationship, of nationality, and belief. How long, he asked, would they bear the yoke of England, 7000 miles away ? Were they hogs ? Afterwards the meeting dispersed the Britishers looking on in sullen silence. Before entering Aliwal North, the Free Staters sent for and seized the Magistrate, Mr J. G. Hugo, and held him a prisoner on the bridge till all hud crossed. They did this as a, security against the bridge being blown up. The stores and hotels were all looted, and waggon-loads of foodStuffs and drink were cent over to the Free State. The wires were cut between Aliwal and Ladygrey, which town was soon afterwards occupied. The Boers intended to proceed towards Queenstown, outside Kimberley. The Boers were concentrating at Spyfontein. They expressed themselves surprised at the accuracy of the British shooting at Belmont, stating that they could not put their heads out without being shot.