THE TRANSVAAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 8 May 1901, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL.

BOERS DISPERSED. United Press Association—Per Electrio Telegraph—Copyright Received 2.39 p.m., May 7th. LONDON, May 6. Major-General Douglas and Colonel BenBon, after hard fighting on the hills eastWard of Dullstroom, dispersed some Boers and captured their laager and several prisoners. There were a few casualties on Both sides. Kruger has abandoned his proposal to visit America. ; REPORT ON BOER LOSSES AND CAPTURES. Received 9.23 a.m., May 7th. LONDON, May 6. Lord Kitchener reports an additional four Boers killed; five wounded; 30 surrendered and 118 captured; and 10,600 cartridges and 120 waggons captured. Everything.is quiet in western Bechuanaland, and the' New South Wales A Battery is returning thence homewards. Received 10.5 p.m., May 7th. LONDON, May?. Ten thousand Capetown citizens pre-, sented Sir A. Milher with an address of thanks and recognition of his sei'vices. BRISBANE, May 7. A Board of Officers with LieutenantColonel Ricardo as president, has been appointed, to compile an official history of the part taken by the Queensland Contingents in the South African campaign. DISPERSAL OF DE LA REY'S COMMANDO. Received 12.16 a.m., May Bth. LONDON, May 7. The Boers under De La Rey abandoned a very strong position twelve miles west of Klerksdorp, and dispersed west, south, and north. De La Rey led a considerable body south. The British are much disappointed at the dispersal. THE RETURNING TROOPS. Per Press Association.

■ OAMARU, May 7. The Tutanekai, with the Premier aboard, met with exceedingly rough weather last night, and put in here at 4.30 this morning for shelter. The Premier has gone to Dunedin by special train. DUNEDIN, May 7. Owing to fierce squalls, the worst of which were the heaviest ever experienced at the Heads, Pilot Thomson would not bring the Tongariro in with this morning's tide, and the Plucky was unable to put the Health Officer on board, but managed to give the men their mail. He says he will nob bring the men in at all to-day, but this, of course, is subject to modification should the weather moderate. The storm which prevented comMunica-

tion with the Tongariro and with the returning members of the contingents in the morning, abated somewhat as the day wore on.

"Hie Tutacekai, which had a rough time of it, put in "at Oamaru, where the Premier and Mrs Seddon landed, and came on by train. On reaching Port Chalmers it was found to be impossible to go on board the Tongariro, and all idea of bringing her into port ha<s to be rbrmdoned for the dav.

It is hoped that the weath-r and -iea will have moderated sufficiently to permit of her coming up tne harbour in the mor iing, when the programme tor the reception at Port Chalmers and Bvnedin wii! be carried out.

The men from the north leave by special train on Thursday morning, stopping for ten minutes at Oamaru, about an hour at Timarn, and for - few minutes at Ash barton. Christchurch. will be reacLed at *J o'clock in the evening. THE TROOPS TO ARRIVE AT TLMARU TO-MORROW. His Worship the Mayor received the following telegram from the Premier, dated Ermedin, 9 o'clock last night:—" Contingent leaves here by special train at 8 a.m. on Thursday,.reaching Timarn at 2 o'clock p.m. Will stay at Timarn an hour, Canterbury section, then goes on. Hope this meets with approval. It is the best we can do. I will accompany them.- R. J. Seddon." THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOMORROW. of the executive of the Procession Committee was held yesterday afternoon, when final arrangements were made and the places of friendly societies "were drawn for. The order of march, is published in another column. The clergy, chairmen of local bodies, relatives of returning soldiers, and veterans are to assemble on the late site of Mr D. Stuart's grain store, which will make an excellent - platform. The volrr.teers, bands, and others taking part in the procession are to rendezvous in front of the Post Office whence they will move to take up their \ ositaons. Invitations have been sent to all returned soldiers belonging to South Canterbury, also to their parents and wives, so far as their addresses can be ascertained, but as the committee's advertisements Hve not been very largely responded to they liave been somewhat at- a disadvantage. We are requested to say that if any have been omitted it has been entirely through inadvertence, and the committee hope-that all ■will consider themselves invited. .:.-■

Early yesterday the Reception Committee commenced the erection of the Arch of Welcome for the returning troops t across tie foot of Strathallan street. An excellent foundation for the details was made. Two tall telegraph posts, were sunk in the ground, with- a double line of strong) wire rope between, them near the top, and the posts were securely stayed taut to railway sleepers on each side. The wire ropes ■were threaded through bored battens so as to give a curved perpendicular section, and the lower side was further defined by battens nailed in a curve to the lower ends of the perpendiculars. The half-gale blowing made it 'difficult to. attach the greenery provided, and work was suspended in the afternoon. The arch wQJ.be completed today- , ■