SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12022, 23 March 1903, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

-THE BLOEMFOXTEIX conference.

Cnifced Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyrigi»i. :J?£ceiveJ i!. 5 ,\.m.. March 21st. CAPETOWN, M'-reh. 20. The "Bloemfoniem Conference .advocated total prohibition of the sale of liquor to native.-, acd resolved that the Sf.ate reserrations of land for the natives mrolved obligations on the part t>f the natives rhemeelves.

SEQUEL TO THE DRAYTON GRANGE ENQUIRY.

Received 10.41 a.m.. March 21st. MELBOURNE. March 21. The replies of Lieutenant-Colonel Lyster and Captain Shields, and the recommendations of Maji-r-Oeneral Hutton. on- the Commissioners' rep'jrt fcave -irMi-V.-- Major-Oer.cral Kurton . - - i.ica <A the nndiug of i; ir-i' it s'jtrr.s inconsistent *,ar" th- Maine >-a CV!one! Lyster. and - tUtf rtis l iter's explanation. • • - !»•» dirt the iri his power. be >• te-pted. Tit regard to CapLi'in Shields. recommends that owing to his inexperience he be leniently dealt with by an expression of disapproval. There conld. however. be no excuse for his attitude towards his senior officer. Colonel Lyster. in the improper communication he made to the Press. The Minister. of Defence, in a minute, generally agrees with General Hut-

ton's recommendations, and adds that the Government, while generally agreeing that Colonel Lyster desired to do his best, regrets that more strenuous efforts were not made to deal with the difficulties presented. In reference to Captain Shields, he says the Government regrets that it felt compelled to concur with General Hutto.n that that officer be leniently deidt with by an expression of disapproval.