MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 23 May 1900, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Received 22, 9.30 a.m.) London, Alay 21, The railway line is working as far north as Tauogg, 84 miles north of Kimberley. Engineer Smith has informed Lord Roberts that during the siege of Ladysmith General Erasmus, commanding Transvaal Stoats Artilleries in the Transvaal laager ou'side the beleaguered town, punt the Free Staters twelve thousand soft-nosed bullets for I Maxims.

Transvaal National Eank notes have "* been officially declared legal tender. This is interpreted to foreshadow a fresh paper issue cving to the heavy export of specie. (Received 23, 1.30 am.) Melbourne, May 22. v The transport Tropea passed Cape - Nelson, and signalled " All well." "LIKE A BLOOMIN' SOUTH SEA COCOANUT." Mr. Hales (our correspondent), when in the hands of the Boers, was detained in the hospital at Bloemfontein until his wounds were cured. He has sentj tn a very interesting account of his Jjpwiwofllip hospital :— I have, wade;

it my business to get about amongst the private soldiers (he says) to question them concerning the treatment they have received since the moment the Mauser rifles tumbled them over, and I say emphatically that in every solitary instance, without one single exception, our countrymen declare they have been grandly treated. Not by the hospital nurses only, not by the officials alone, but by the very men ; whom they were lighting. Our i " Tommies " aro not the men to waste , praise on any men unless it is well deserved, but this is just about how "Tommy" sums up the situation: " The Boer is a rough-looking beggar in the field, 'e don't wear no uniform, 'nd 'e don't know enough about soldiers' drill to keep himself warm, but 'e can light in 'is own bloomin' style, which ain't our style. If 'ed come out on the veldt, 'nd fight us our way, we'd lick 'im every time, but when it comes to fightin' in the kopjes, why, the Boer is a dandy, 'nd if the rest of , Europe don't think so, only let 'em have a try at 'im 'nd see. But when 'e has shot you he acts like a blessed Christian, 'nd bears no malice. 'E's like a bloomin' South Sea cocoanut, not much to look at outside, but white 'nd sweet inside when yer know 'im, 'nd it's when yer wounded 'nd a prisoner that you get a chance to know 'im, see." And " Tommy " is about correct in his judgment.— Daily News.