NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6596, 21 September 1899, Page 1

NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

MR SCHREINER'S PECULIAR METHODS. THE STOPPAGE OF ARMS AT DELAGOA. BOER MACHINATIONS IN NATAL. THE EXODUS FROM THE RAND. TRAINS FIRED AT BY BOERS. [Fkom Oun Correspondent.] .CAPETOWN, August 25. Everyone is wondering what Mr Schreiner., the Premier of Cape Colony, will do. His position as head of a Bond Ministry at the present juncture of affairs is certainly one of great difficulty, and for some time the air has been full of stories of dissension between Sir Alfred Milner (the Governor) and the Premier ; in fact Mr Schreiner has been dismissed— in telegrams — many times over. Supposing the Imperial Government were forced to occupy the Transvaal in order to compel a redress of grievances, the qusstion is asked, "How can the Cape Ministry occupy even a neutral position, for troops would have to be moved, and in a hundred ways the Government would have to aid her Majesty's Government or turn traitor?" Whether resignation or dismissal would result, or what would happen, nobody seems to know. Mr Schreiner has acted most indiscreetly, to say the least of it, for ho had just given the Orange Free State a permit for the transport of a million rounds of ammunition and rifles which have been landed at Port Elizabeth, and now are on their way up to Bloemfontein, thus openly showing his' sympathy for the Transvaal. The Free State authorities may say that they fear a Basuto onslaught in case of other hostilities, but Britain is answerable for the conduct of the Basutos, and would be bound to use force against them to defend the Free State. The am-