THE TRANSVAAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3507, 19 October 1899, Page 1

THE TRANSVAAL.

i!,\KI'OWV, fv <;l- 15. Lieutenant Nesbitt warned the Boers that he held the railway line, aud declared that the train must proceed. The Boers have occupied Spitzcop and Newcastle. Two trains crowded with refugees from Bloemfontein collided at Victoria Raan station, Cape Colony, and eight passengers were killed. October 10. The Free State troops are entrenched in Tintivx Pass, and are evidently determined to avoid meeting the whites force in the open. It is believed that a large portion intend to join the Boers via Deßeer's Pass. The railway stations northward of Glencoe have been dismantled in accordance with the British defensive operations.

The enemy has occupied Charlestown and Newcastle.

The Magistrate at Ladysmith has been transferred to Estcourt, further southward.

It is reported that the British aro engaged in heavy fighting at Spystfontein, south of Kimberley, with a view of preventing the Free Staters making a junction at Modder river.

The enemy have cut the railway lines at Modder station and threaten to march to Fourteen Streams, north of Kimberley. Transvaalers and Free Staters with 400 Hollanders are at Newcastle.

General Joubert is fortifying Laing's Nek.

Boer commandoes have passed Ingagone, ten miles south of Newcastle, making southwards.

Lieutenant Nesbitt and Engineer Flowerday declare that the Boers concentrated their shells on the engine exclusively, persisting for fifteen minutes after a Hag of truce had been shown.

Viljoen's treasonable appeal has been circulated in Cape Colony. It declares that the Colonial Afrikanders were merely tolerated owing to the existence of the two Republics, When theao were destroyed the Boers at the Cape and Natal would be disarmed, the Hottentots admitted to Parliament, and the Afrikander nation destroyed. The Vryburghospital train, while hastening to Kraapu to help the wounded, was nearly wrecked owing to the destruction of the rails south of Maribogo. The Boers pointed their guns at the Red Cross train as it returned.

Tremendous rains have fallen iu NataJ. Mr Greene, British Agent at Pretoria, received an enthusiastic reception on his arrival here,

Boer troops hold a border siding, \% miles north of Fourteen Streams.

A large camp of Boers with 16 guns has been formed at Daunhauser, its outposts touching Dundee and Glencoe. The Boers have occupied the Bradwal aud Beaters passes passes, on the Natal frontier.

Firing has been heard in the direction of Kimberley. The Boers are advancing south by Bolmont, a town about 60 miles south-west by-south of Kimberley. A Bo r supply column, G miles long, is approaching Dornkorp. Six of the Natal Mounted Police have been ambushed and captured at Dejaagera? drift on the Natal border.

Nine thousand British troops are stationed at Ladysmith and 4000 at Glencoe.

The Boers have isolated Kimberley. The latest wire state 3 that ;.U is well at the town.

Martial law has been proclaimed in Northern Natal owing to distrust of the Butch sympathisers with the Boers. Capetown, Oct. 17

The Free State troops have cut the Port Elizabeth - Pretoria railway north of Norval's Point, the point at which it enters the Free State.

The Capo is raising 2000 and Natal 1000 additional volunteers, making the totals respectively 9000 and 3500. The Transvaal officials affirm that the Afrikander Bund lea ers have promise'! active support to the Transvaal. The statement is disbelieved in Capetown.

Recently Mr Schreinerrefused to sanction the formation of a. Town Guard in Kimberley. The British Government have now authorised the summoning of the Capetown Volunteers.

Loyalists at the Cape are wildly indignant at the Ministry's inaction. Mr Frank Thompson, a member of the Cape Assembly, expresses the opinion that Mr Schreiner's declaration of the neutrality of the Cape was atrocious, and that Sir A. Milner made a master stroke in retaining the Ministry and muzzling it with its attitude in regard to the situation. The Free State troops hold the railway to Kimberley.

The Vryburg wires thence to Kimberley have been cut.

The Boer commandoes have retreated at Ingogone. Kimberley has 4000 defenders. Martial law has been proclaimed at Mafeking, Vryburg, Barkly, and West Herbert.

The farmers at Colesburg favour peace. Orders have been issued for the evacuation of Dundee, and 300 civilians transferred to Ladysmith. Seven thousand Boers are encamped at Dejanger Drift. The Boers' commissariat aud transport arrangements are disorganised. Durban, Oct. 17.

The press censorship which has been established in Natal, and the censorship at Capetown, isolate Kruger telegraphically. London, Oot. 15. The Mansion House Transvaal Refugees Fund baß reached £65,000.

The Earl of Delamere, who acts as the London Globe's war correspondent, sailed for South Africa by the Dunotter Castle. Six British transports, carrying 9000 troops, will be despatched to the Cape daily, commencing on the 20th instant. The Irish Transvaal Committee have issued a manifesto, warning their countrymen that enlisting in the British Army will I be treason to Ireland. I October 16. I The Times Capetown correspondent declares that Mr Schroiner considers that an i important hostage for the Afrikanders was : good behaviour. i London, Oct. 17. J A Blue Book on the Transvaal crisis has , been published, and reveals Mr Steyn's ini sincerity. He accused Great Britain of ! active commencement of hostilities prior to President Kruger's ultimatum. Sir Alfred Milner declared that the accusation was baseless. A wildly enthusiastic meeting was held in Guildhall, the Lord Mayor presiding. Sir. John and Lady Lubbock, and Mr Herbert Gladstone were among those present. A resolution supporting the Government was carried unanimously, accompanied by the singing of patriotic songs, and the waving of ensigns. A crowd of 10,000 persons outside cheered. The Lord Mayor's and stock brokers' processions., prior to the meeting, were features oC the demonstration. Victorian and New Zealand firms are receiving largo orders from the War Office for oats and oaten hay. Paris, Oct 16 Major Marchand, the hero of Fashoda, offered to assist the Boers. General Gallifet, Minister for War, has warned him that it will involve tho forfeiture of his commission in the French Army. &IiaBOUKWK, Oct. 16. Mr Chamberlain has replied to the request of the Victorian officers to be allowed to join Sir It. Bullor'a staff in order to gain ] experience in actual watfaro, that he must j regret that the War Office is unable to fall in with the proposal. Several similar requests had been refused, as it was considered that the colonial officers joining tho staff would seriously impair its efficiency. Sydney, Oct. 17. Mr Lyne moved a resolution in favour of sending troops to the Transvaal. He stated that the cost would be about .£30,000. Preparations for despatch were in an advanced stage, and if the House agreed the men would get away at an early date. Mr Reid in a patriotic speech strongly supported sending the troops. The debate is proceeding. Wellington, Oct. IG. There are now 208 men in camp, of whom 135 were born in New Zealand. Sixty-six of the men are formers. The coloui-3 to be presented to the battalion are mounted on a honeysuckle staff with a silver shield suitably inscribed. The cost will bo defrayed by a shilling subscription. To-day nine of the men in camp were rejected on the ground of want of horsemanship. Several others, who are poor riders, but good shots will be given further trial. The uniforms and kits for the battalion are expected to be ready on Thursday, and the horses will be shipped on Friday. The Defence Department has been informed thatjthe Waiwera will be ready to leave for South Africa at 3 p.m. on Saturday next.

A public meeting called by the Mayor for the purpose of arranging a fitting sendoff to the Transvaal Contingent on Saturday next, was held this afternoon. There was a large attendance of prominent citizens. The Mayor outlined the programme which it was proposed to carry out. It was suggested that a procession of citizens should meet the Contingent at the boundaries of the city on its march from the Karori camp to the steamer, "Then it was proposed to accompany them to the Basin Reserve or other suitable place where addresses would be given by the Governor, the Mayor, the Premier, Captain Russell, and Major Robin. The Contingent would then be accompanied to the wharf for embarkation. There would be very grave danger in having tho function on the wharf. On the motion of Mr Fisher, M.H.K., seconded by Mr Duthie, a committee was appointed to carry out the programme outlined by tho Mayor, and spoke in fervid terms of the mission of the Contingent. Itwasdecide-! thatthemayors pf other towns should bp asked to, join in, ' ' October 17.

Further orders have been received from the War Office for 5000 tons of fodder and horse feed. Later.

Up to to-day seventeen members of the Contingent have been rejected on the ground that they are incompetent horsemen, and it is expected that'two or three more will be similarly treated. The Contingent leaves camp at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The formal farewell takes place at 3.30 p.m. and the Waiwera leaves at 5 p.m. The Countess of Ranfurly has issued three hundred invitations for an At Home at Government House on Friday night in honour of the officers of the Contingent. Tho Contingent now has full complement of officers and men.

A case of jue-s'es was reported from Karoii camp to-night

Oct. 18. The Contingent will have no chance of getting rifle practice before leaving. It is stated that the saddles supplied are not up to tho mark and a large number have beeu rejected. To all appearance it will take the authorities all their time to get the men away on the date fixed, as one squad was only measured for their boots und clothes yesterday, and the workmen will have to keep going night and day to finish the orders.

In addition to the officers already mentioned Messrs Bartlett, Johnston, and Lindsay will be Lieutenants of JMo. 1 Company, and Chaytor, Canavan and Neave of ! No. 2 Company There will be six sergeants, six corporals, a farrier-sergeant, and several assistants, also six buglei'3. The men me now all sworn in, and liable to instant dismissal if the. commander adjudges them guilty of bad conduct or any breach of discipline, The pay ranges to from 4s for troopers, lis for lieutenants. Captain J. Hughes, of Napier, finding no vacancy among the officers, hai enlisted as a private. It has been found that military etiquette does not allow a Mounted Infantry corps to carry a flag, and Lady Ranfurly has therefore intimated that she will not be able to present it as at first designed. Fifteen steamers are announced to accompany the Waiwera to the Heads on Saturday. The contingent contains four members of the Postal Department, one each from Auckland, Onehunga, Patea and Marton. They have been granted extended leave of absence. Their positions in the Department will be kept open and then seniority under the classification sahemo preserved. A telegraphist also volunteered for telegraph duty, but his services were not required; Chkistchtjkch, Oct. 17. Tho following private cable, dated " Durban 3.15 p.m. October 16," was received at Christehurch this morning :—" Hostilities have commenced. The Cape border has been attacked by the Boers, who were repulsed. A Cape armoured train has been wrecked by the Boers, and the occupants taken prisoners. A Boer force is advancing on Natal."