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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11756, 6 October 1902, Page 7

One journalist;, was mresenfc at the interview on board .the Nigeria, between the Boer generals and; Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchenciv and Mr Chamberlain. He was M. Naudeau, of the Paris "Journal." How he got there he himself does not'know. ..This is his story—"l was standing in the crowd when the police came up with a. rush, and I found myself ...-earned, as luck would; have it, right' f into a ring of official people, arid befoi'e I knew whers I v-as, behold; I found myself on board the Ngeria, where no one troublf-d to ask 'me my business. Mr Chamberlain looked ill at ease in presence of the Boer generals, and as he held out his 'Irani he > turned his head away. The Boers, too, turned"aw-ay their heads, pinched their lip.*, and .closed their eyes, just as if they were about, to taks an unpleasant medicine. Mr Chamberlain, who was pale before tho interview:, was paler after. De Wet, Botha, and De La Rey refused to, attend the review. Lord gesticulating as he talked, patted Botha on the arm withvthe back of-his hand. Lord Kitchener was sleek, fair-spoken, and captious. Both endeavoured for a moment to make the Boer generals change their minds. The tetter kept repeating, doggedly, 'We canuot,' |We don't know.' De Wet was all the time impenetrable, Botha smiling, and De La Rey dreamy." • The French iquriiailist. then heard Lord Roberta saying to-Botha, "Mark my words, General, you are making a big mistake," and he left him without- saying gooK bye; while Kitchener remained behind and niado a last but unavailing effort. M. Naudeau, who saw Mr Fischer in the train a few moments later, thought he read on, his face a smile of triumph. . .. ■ •■

An interesting return* was presented to Parliament■■^n". Wednesday last, showing the expenditure on charitable aid during the periods January to December, 1898, and January to December, lbui. From this it appears tluit the number of recipients of charitable aid in Wellington has decreased from 1119 to 849 and the amounts from £11,717 to £7961; Auckland from 1581 to 1184 and the amounts from £9691 to £9010; North Canterbury and Ashburton from 2415 to 2021 and the amounts from £lli,815" to £10.577: South Canterbury from 327 to 279 and the amounts fromi £2044 to £1536; Otago United. from 2576 to 1924 and the amounts from £10,382 to £9361; Westland from 150 to 88 and the amounts fromi £1498 to £995; Grey from 165 to 98 and the amounts from £1896 to £1272; Inangahua from 69 to 63 and the amounts from £1003 to £817; Nelson from 257 to 171 and the amounts from £2377 to £2160; Hawke's Bay from 265 to. 248 and the amounts from £1380 to £797; and Picton from 26 to 9 and the amounts from £205 to £81. In three .oases there ha® been an. increase-^ Cook from 47 to 57 and the amounts from £591 to £710 ; Palmer Eton North from 127 to 158 and the amounts from &889 to £1011; and Taranaki from 163 to 165 and the amounts from £1408 to £1546. Four districts have failed to send in returns. The tatials show that whei'eas in 1898 the number of piersons in ?eoedpt of charitable aid was 10,380, a,ud the amount paid was £6§,161, in 1901 the number of recipients had fallen to 8213 and the amounts paid to £54,780,