The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-05 00:00:00

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Friday.—Mr. -Brand has been warmly
received at Bloemfontein, and received a public
banquet. The Cape Ministry has asked for powers to
raise two millions for the war expenses. C
Carrington is improving. The rebels are still in great
force at Teri. jesbefg and Make. It is reported th
Colonel Buller is to act as Administrator in Natal
with brevet rank during Sir Evelyn Wood's absence.
A large and enthusiastic meeting of Transvaal
refugees was held at Newcastle last night, at which a
protest to Lord Kimberley was unanimously adopted.
It commenced by drawing attention to the state
of the country prior to the annexation, pointed out
that a great influx of capital now irrecoverable took
place on the guarantees of British statesmen, and
spoke of the disgrace to the army and the nation
entailed by the course now adopted. A copy of the
petition is to to be sent to other towns. The Boers at
Middleburg are corm/in leering from the loyal &ern.
A correspondent who has returned from Standerton
reports that life is impossible there, owing to the
Boer insults. The Boers are said to have looted
property three days after the peace was signed.
In the Cape Parliament Mr. Scanlin has given notice
to move a want of confidence in the Ntimetry. Mr.
Ayliff has denied the truth of Umhlonhlo's offer of
surrender. The debate on Mr. Hoffmeyer's Transvaal
resolution has been adjourned until Monday to give
time to consider Mr. Fleming's amendment—that the
House desires to convey to Her Majesty its apprecia-
toin of the gracious and magnanimous spirit in which
the terms of peace accorded to the Transvaal were
conceived, and to express a hope that they will tend
to promote peace and prosperity in South Africa.—

_
The following telegram hav been received a the War
°face from the general officer commanding Natal:
" FORT Mina, Friday.—" Rudolph, Landdrost.
Utrecht, arrived from Heidelberg to-day. Colonel
Stewart, whom I had sent to report on date of
wounded in Transvaal garrivons, returned Heidelberg
27th. Wounded and women of 94th are 40 miles east
of Heidelberg, and are doing well. Rudolph saw at
Heidelberg, halides Stewart. McGregor, Wright,
Macdonald, 92nd, Miller, WO. Hotnby, rifgh, and
Warrant-officer Field. All welt; no death Heidel-
.

berg."
Nawc.twrut Saturday.—The Transvaal refiwees
have forwarded a protest to lord Kimberley against
the conditions of peace concluded with the Boers. The
proteat is addressed to " The Secretary of State for the
Colonies and England at large."

The Boers continue commandeering, and subject
tho loyal inhabitants of the Transvaal to harsh treat-
ment. _

No confirmation has yet been received of the
rumoured capitulation of the garrison of Pretoria.

PoPPING TN6 QUISTION."—A o•nrespondettt of be
°Mk harm: edged th ori.n o' th tying that laiies
hare the privilege of "p iopinz the qu trion" in leap
year, get, the following report. :—The itira to which you
refer kV 'eery ancient dive, hut ite origin is not en clear.
The oritin or the custom, and oi the rht e the icy,
if not actorlai, to claim a silk gown, tripliti :rsces to
this a'e • St. Pate ck, blaring ' driven the frogs out of
the hods,' was walking alone on VI, chore Longh
Lia4h, when he was nee weed by St. Bridget, in tc.,
and was tIl that a mutiny bed broken out ie the
nunnery °rrr which she presided, the ladies claiming the
right of" pipping the Vcetints." Bt. Patrick said he
would concede then; the right every sevonth year when
St Brida.,, vecr. her arms round his flPfk, and exclaimed
Arrah I Pithrick Peal, I dawrisn't go hack to the girls
wid inch a Prupo.44_; narike it one year in four.'
Patrick gaol Brid.tot, Amish's, Pque•as ma that
war min, and 111 give ye lap re,r the kingosit
let? Bg Bridget °Pon this popprd tht ..,uessiou t,l St.
Patrick himself, who, of coons, could a* marry. SO he
patcbcd itthe ea brist he Wild with • kir mai.
silk gown. .