THE TRANSVAAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11664, 24 January 1902, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL.

THE CAPE MOUNTED CORPS.

SENTENCES REDUCED,

United Press Association—Par Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received 9.10 a.m.. January 23rd. LONDON, January 22. The sentences passed upon Lieutenant Botha and others belonging to the Cape District Mounted Corps, for misbehaviour and cowardice for surrendering at Doornbosch in October have been reduced, Botha's to one year's imprisonment, the others to lesser periods.

SYDNEY, January 23. Representatives of the meat export trade consider that the admission of the Argentine into contracts for the army in South [ Africa will have a bad effect on Aus- ■ tralia. One representative says that it will mean that very little Australian meat I will eventually be used, because the quality of the Argentine is higher and can be supplied at less cost. Another says that the worst outcome will be the establishment of regular lines of steamers between South America and South Africa, which apart from the meat trade is impossible. RUNNING FIGHTS AND CAPTURES. PUTTING A GIRDLE ROUND DE WET. Received 1.3 a.m., January 24th. LONDON, January 22. Lord Kitchener reports that General Methuen, after a running fight of eight miles, captured a laager and 23 Boers ar.d much cattle at Boschpoort. General Bruce Hamilton, in a night march against Botha captured 27 Boers at Witvank. Blockhouses constituting a parallelogram, 140 miles by 6 miles, enclosing De Wet, are almost completed. NEW ZEALANDERS ILL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 23. The Premier has been advised by cable i from South Africa that Corporal Kifney and Private William'Cameron were dangerously ill on the 18th and 19tli inst,, the former from enteric fever. The disease from which Cameron is suffering is not stated. Both men belong to the Sixth Contingent. The same cable message also states that Sergeant W. Moore, of the Seventh Contingent, is lying ill of enteric fever. It is definitely decided that the North Island section of the Eighth Contingent leaves Wellington by the transport Surrey on Wednesday next.

! DUNEDIN, January 23. A requisition signed by 133 electors being practically all there ;\re in the Ravensbourne district of the city electorate has been sent to Mi' Barclay asking him to resign as his letters in the press applying the term " infamous" to the action of the Imperial Government prior to the war and their subsequent treatment of the Boer women "and children in the concentration camps is a reflection upon the colony and our young men in South Africa. The requisitionists consider Mr Barclay's attitude a direct encouragement to the enemy and as "infamous" on the part of one who holds a, public trust and has taken the oath of fealty to the Empire.

The chest measurement of the men of the Eighth in camp at Addington does not compare with that of the men f-:i the Sixth, or, indeed, any of the other contingents. Only one tunic over 40in in njeasurement lias been served out, and generally, as shown by the size of the leggings served out yesterday, the men are of smaller physique than "those in former contingents.

Some criticism is expressed at (lie number of North Island Oliicers who aie being sent forward to the southern battalion. The proportion does appear large when an examination is made of the lists, but there is no actual complaint made.