LATE CAPE NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2033, 29 March 1881, Page 2

LATE CAPE NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] ! (Per Tararua at the Bluff.) : Capetown, Feb. 27. Tho rebel Basuto chiefs having asked for , an armistice to enable the chiefs' people to consider the reply of tho Governor to the petition of the rebels for peace, that request was granted, and a suspension of i hostilities commenced at daylight on i Friday, 18th February, and closed at sunset on Thursday 24th. A meeting was held by the Basutos, but the resuit is ut present unknown. It is, however, expected to bo unfavorable, although no ' lighting has been reported since the ■ termination of tho armistice. Transvaal, Feb. 27. Tho garrisons at Pretoria, Standertou and Wakkuratroom still hold out. A successful sortie was made from Pretoria on the 6th Januaty with 400 ! men on a Boer laagev. News wns received from Standerton on tho 39th January, when all was well, Major Montague, the commanding officer, stating ho could hold out for two months if necessary. News from Wiikkerstroom is not so i satisfactory. In a letter datod 13th Feb- ■ ruary it was stated provisions were very scarce, and it was thought the troops could only hold out ton days. General Wood, with a sijuadron of Hussars nnd two Companies of the 92nd i Ile^'inicnt, left camp at midnight on the i 10th February, and made a reconnaissance m tho direction of Wakkordtroom. lie succeeded m golting within toil miles of tile place, and returned to camp about G p.m. the following day. On tho 24th General Colley, with two guns and sonic cavalry, mado a reconnaissance to Ohapsje, overlooking the Boor camp at Lainganek. No fighting occurred. Nearly all tho reinforcsments wero at the front at last advices, and an attack on Lsingsnek was expected to take place at any moment. A telegram just received from Newcastle says that General Colley with six companies of soldiers left camp m the middle of tho night of the 2Gth February, and took possession of Spitzbok, at the left of Laingsnek. Firing has beon hoard at iutervals sinco daybreak. On Iho 27th February a considerable number of Boors wero seen between Laingsnuk and Newcastle. Feb. 20. General Colley reviewed hia troops today, and complimeuted them on being so line a body of men. He said if he had

iis choice of the whole army he would not iuvo preferred any regiments to those inder his command. Ho told them, howsvcr, they must not hold the Boers too ;heap. He said he should not probably move for some time, until, m fact, further reinforcements arrived. Feb. 25. A Hottentot driver, who with a wagon was captured by the Bofirs at Sohorins Hoogle, came m, having been kept a prisoner at the camp at Laingsnek some time, and states that 7000 Boers were there, and that they are building a very strong Btone wall. He said that when they heard a number of troops were coming up to Utrecht, the Boers wished to go home, but those from Longlhansberg would not allow it. He says there are no less than 500 wagons there, which were all sent to Staugsprint when the column the other day was m expectation of an attack. Mr Webster, tho Newcastle correspondent, says the Boers m tho D under district are rery disaffected. They are constantly holding meetings and sending assistance to the Transvaal rebels, with whom they are m constant communication. It is believed they are only waiting for a good opportunity of throwing off their allegiance to Natal, and openly joining tho rebels. Tho Free State Boers are reported to bo much quieter of late. The Witnaif correspondent confirms the statement about the Dunder Boers. Ho fays that open threats are made to exterminate the English directly the troops enter the Transvaal. M. Dunn, Oham's agent m Ziiluland, m a letter to the Mercury, denies that Oham has joined the rebels. He states ho is perfectly loyal. He, however, confirms the statement that the Boers have been tampering with the Zulus, though unsuccessfully. Bloomfoktein-, Feb. 22. The Volksraad is still discussing Transvaal affairs. Yesterday the whole day was devoted to general resolutions, all more or less of a fiery nature. To-day the tone of the Raad is even more warlike. Although a good deal was said about neutrality, yet it is likely a proposition will bo carried binding the Raad to bo neutral, with a rider defeating the object the President has so much at heart. 4.35 p.m. Further discussion re Transvaal affairs m the Raad has been postponed till Thursday. To-morrow, the anniversary of Independence, will be kept a holiday. Some members of the Raad are moderating. Feb. 25. TUo following resolution -was carried this morning, 22 voting for, and 15 against :— " The Yotoraad has, with deep rd»ret, ascertained that the Government o£ Cape Colony has, without notice to the President, and according to the judgment of the Raad, upon altogether insufficient grounds, refused to grant permits for supplying ammunition to the inhabitants of this State. The Volksraad declares this action to be wholly opposed to the spirit of the Convention agreed upon between the State and the British Government, and directs the President to bring the action of the Colonial Ministry under tho notice of the English Ministry, and to request then, to take steps m order that such nets may not ba repeated."