THE TRANSVAAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2949, 22 November 1900, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL.

CASUALTY TO A NEW ZEALANDER.

THE JACOBDAL EXPLOIT,

THE DATE OF LORD ROBERTS’ D: PARTURE UNCERTAIN.

United Press Association—Per Ele r.f ic Telegraph—Copyright. Received 9.31 a.m., November 21st. LONDON, November 20. A New Zealand Rough-rider, name un mentioned, was seriously wounded at Vartersdorp. The “ Daily News ” says that Finlay.son’s exploit in Jacobsdal with four troopers re fleets much glory on the Cape Police, whe ougli(j to have a conspicuous place in the history of the war. Colonel Smith, of the Australian Artillery, has been appointed to the coipmmic of the Prieska district. The departure of Lord Roberts for England is uncertain. CAPETOWN, November 20., The wholesale destruction of rats at Capetown is a precaution against the plague. CASUALTIES AMONG NEW ZEALANDERS. MANY BOERS SURRENDERING. Received 1 a.m., November 22nd. LONDON, November 21. A New Zealander named Rudgell was wounded, and F. Bruce is missing at Venterskorp. Thirteen men belonging to York and Lancasters were travelling in a waggon when they were ambushed at South Utretcht. Four were wounded. All were released. Many surrenderors are arriving at Lindley owing to De Wet’s proclamation to shoot all who refuse to rejoin him The “Daily Express’’ states that Mr F. Eloff, who has arrived at .Marseilles, declares that Mr Kruger is seeking a honourable peace through the intervention of the Powers. Reuter, from other sources, foreshadows a final theatrical appeal to the Mucen tc modify the demand for unconditional surrender. Boer circles at Marseilles are despondent over the result of the visit. ARRIVAL OF THE DELPHIC WITH RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, November 21

The Delphic arrived to-day with fifteen returned soldiers on board, and was met at the wharf by a large crowd, including the Premier, the Hon. Mr Walker, and Captain,Owen. She brought 53 soldiers from Capetown, but landed tho remainder, who were Australians, at Hobart. The following are the names of those who disembarked to-day Sergeant F. B. Syko, of Christchurch, Second Contingent (In charge); Private James Aiken, of Southland, First Contingent ; Private Arthur Barnes, of Wanganui, Second Contingent; Private A. Chapman, of Wairau, Third Contingent: Private W. J. Hciford, of Napier,' Third Contingent ; Private G, Holden, of Waikato, Second Contingent; Private F. N. Knapp, of Hawke's Bay. Second Contingent ; Private A. Knudson, of Pigeon Bay, Third Contingent : Private J. C. Kirwin,'of Nelson, Fifth Contingent; Private J. 11. Martin, of Balclutha, Second Contingent: Private R. Montgomery, of Stratford, Third Contingent; Private N. D. Kobertson. of Wanganui. Third Contingent ; 'troopers J. S. Brown and G. E. Smith, of Brabant’s Horse, and Trooper A. J. Keyes, of Roberts’ Horse. Chapman and Heiford are invalided from wounds, and Kirwin with Bright’s disease. Tho remainder are suffering from climatic illness. The men marched on to the wharf, and (he Premier addressed them from the gangway. He said that the colony appreciated their services, and personally he was glad to have been Defence Minister in these trying times. He announced that if

there were any vacancies in the Government Service for which any of the men were suitable, they would receive them. The Mayor, Mr Aitken, also welcomed the men on behalf of the citizens. Cheers were given, and the men were escorted to the Occidental hotel, where they were entertained at luncheon. Later on they reported at MomU Cook depot for medical examination.

The toiiowmg interesting extracts from ister Woollcombe’s letters have been kindly warded to us by Mrs Woollcombe;

September 17.—The war seems to bo coming to an end at last. We have just taken 42 of the Boers’ engines. Every day they are losing something, so they cannot hold out much longer. We have had such

an interesting journey lately. Colonel Gubkins, the Principal Medical Officer of Pretoria, allowed us to take a load down to Durban. The line is very steep, and the carriages on our train are so long that it really was not safe, for as well as being steep there are very sharp curves on that

ine. One of our coaches had to be taken

iff, so that we could only carry 76 patients instead of 92. When we got to Charlstown tunnel we found the Boers had blown

it up at both ends. Our men were repairing it, and they said the carriage we live in was too high, we should knock the scaffolding down. Also, they told Ben, our cook, to take down our kitchen chimney. However, he refused, and after a good deal

of haggling, they allowed us to move slowly into the tunnel and we just scraped through. We passed Majuba Hill; then on to Ladysmith where we had time to rush off and sea

:he Town Hall, which was used as a hos-

pital. There are three great holes in it, made by shells, one in the roof and two in the walls. The sisters fortunately were not in the hall at the time, but several sick men were killed. In Durban I met a nursa who was at Ladysmith all through the siege. vShe told me they used to be so busy trying to get food for themselves. and their patients that they had not time to think of the danger, but they must have had an awful time—the Boers firing down on them from the hills all round. We saw Colenso and Dundee and all the battlefields near, and

such numbers and numbers of graves; but the scenery is beautiful down that linerlovely hills, trees, and flowers, and as we got nearer Durban pineapples growing in rows like cabbages, and all sorts of tropical things. Durban is a nice town, good shops and properly made streets, not ankle-deep in dust as they are in most of the other towns. In Pretoria the dust is dreadful. There are very few cabs or carriages, but plenty of rickshaws pulled by fine Zulus, dressed in white calico jumpers with all sorts of rubbish stuck in their woolly heads, feathers, ribbons, beads, anything to make them look fine. You can go a long distance for 3d. The policemen are ali big Zulu men. They wear black helmet's, black coats, and knickerbockers, with bare legs and feet, and their legs, faces, and hands, shine like a well polished table. Just below their knees they wear about a dozen bracelets made of brass or copper wire. They are put on when they are young and can t be taken off. The Kaffirs make quantities of these bracelets. I have got one that they call a, “ piccanin ” as it is small. It is beautifully made - and just looks like gold. There are lots of Indians in Durban, and in the tearooms you are waited on by little boys in long white garments. Oh, it is a nice place. We were there three days, and 1 would have liked to stay longer, but they sent us back to Pretoria and we have been waiting here for four days in.all the dust. Then we are going to Capetown, and are never to go to Durban again; it is too dangerous with our train.