SOUTH AFRICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7922, 29 January 1904, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA.

FLOODS IN CAPE COLONY. United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. (Received January 29, 7.49 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, January 28. There have been terrible rainstorms at Bowker's Creek, Cape Colony. Tho Zwartkei" River, at Lesscyton, rose thirty feet in forty minutes, and a railway bridge was 'destroyed. Two girders, each of sixty tons, were carried three hundred yards down the river. THE CHINESE LABOUR QUESTION. SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN'S PROTEST. (Received January 29, 7.30 a.m.) x LONDON, Jahuary 28. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerpian, speaking ab Glasgow, declared that it was shameful that hundreds of British Workmen were returning from South Africa weekly, while Chinese were welcomed. * THE "ST JAMES'S GAZETTE " ON MR SEDDON. (Received January 29, 8.42 a.m:) LONDON, January 28. The "St James's Gazette" says that Mr {Seddon has an admirable faculty of thinking imperially, . but perhaps rather to excess on some obvious occasions, when to think locally would be a virtue. SUICIDE OF A FINANCIER. ' Mr Freeman Cohen, a Rand financier, one of the guarantors of the Transvaal war loan, has committed suicide. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S , REPLY. • , (Received January 29, 10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 29. Mi- Deakin has received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies ,a message similar to that received by Mr Seddon in reference to Chinesefon tho Rand. AUSTRALIAN PROTESTS. . (Received January 29, 10.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 29. Resolutions have been adopted by the Trades Hall Council condemning the proposed importation of Chinese to the Transvaal. The Council also heartily supported Mr Seddon's action, and l-ecomnwuded all intercolonial labour bodies to take immediate action, so that a united protest can be made against this alien importation. Copies of the resolutions were ordered to be transmitted to Mr Deakin and the intercolonial labour bodies. " THE ANTI-CHINESE MOVEMENT. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 29. > At the request of the Australians in Johannesburg, who asked the Premier to send a message, Mr Seddon has despatched the following to the secretary of the AntiAsiatic League at Cape Town : — " I earnestly hope that in the true interests of South Africa the movement to introduce Asiatic labour will not- succeed. ..If such were to be the result of the great sacrifices made it would cause heartburnings and a feeling of- widespread disappointment. No Asiatic can enter this colony without payment of £100. Speaking as one knowing the Chinese on the goldfields of Australia and New Zealarid? I assert that they would be no use for underground work, and would prove undesirable colonists in. every sense of the word." The Trades Council has decided to ask the Mayor to convene a public meeting to protest against the importation of Chinese to South Africa.