The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-08

Butler Holds On.
CAPE TOWN, Tuesday, Jan. 3d.
General Butler still holds the Tugela
drifts, and will possibly renew his at
tempt to force his way through the
Boer defenses before long. In any
case, Ladysmith is capable of holding
out for considerable time
The Queens Speech.
LONDON, Jan. 30.-The seventh
session of the Fourteenth Parliament
of Queen Victoria opened at D. M,
after the customary formalities. The
Speaker, William Court Gully, arrived
at the House of Commons at 1:5S D. m.
There was large attendance of mem
bers. The gentleman usher of the
Black Rod, General Sir NJ S. Biddnlph,
summoned the Commons to the House
of Lords at 2:05 p. NJ, where the Lord
High Chancellor, Earl Halsbury, read
the Queens speech, which was as fol-
lows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: The
peace which had recently been broken
in South Africa when last / addressed
you has unhappily not been restored,
but otherwise my relations with other
States are friendly. In resisting the
invasion of my South African colonies
by the South African Republic and
| Orange Free State, my people have re-
sponded with devotion and enthusiasm
to the appeal which / have made to
them, and the heroism of my soldiers
in the field and my sailors and marines
who were landed TO cooperate with
them he's not fallen short of the no.
blest traditions of our military his
tory.
| | am deeply grieved that so many
valuable lives should have fallen as
a sacrifice, but / have witnessed with
pride and with heartiest qualification
the patriotic eagerness and spontane-
Gus loyalty with which my subjects
in all parts of my dominions have
come forward to share in the. common
defense of their imperial interests. I
am confident l shall not lock to them
in vain when | exhort them to sustain
and renew their exertions until they
have brought this struggle for the
maintenance of the empire and assef-
tion of its supremacy in South Africa
to victorious conclusion.
A treaty has been concluded with
the German Emperor for the adjust
ment of the rights claimed by the two
countries in Samoa, Tonga and other
islands in the Pacific. To portion OF
these stipulations the Government of
the United States has also been a par
ty
A bill will be introduced at an early
date to give effect to the scheme of fed
Grafton which has been adopted after
most careful consideration by FIVE of
my Australian colonies.
| have watched with cordial satisfac-
ton the gradual development of nay
greater colonies into self-governing
communities. / feel confident that the
!; establishment of the great federation
of Australia will prove advantageous
, not only to the colonies Immediately
| concerned, but also to the empire at
large.
; The brilliant courage and soldierlike
qualities .of the colonial forces en-
gagged in South Africa have already
earned high admiration, and patriotic
offers of assistance which it was not
possible to accept have come from
: many other colonies with populations
! of various races.
have received from the ruling chiefs
of the native States of India numerous
: offers to place their troops and the re-
: sources of their States at my disposal
. for service in South Africa. These
proofs of their loyalty to myself and
9 their devotion to the cause OF my en-
pire have afforded me much gratifica-
ton.
] regret that, owing to insufficient
rainfall in the autumn over a great part
OF Western and Central India, the ha--
vest and pasturage have failed to such
4 an extent as to create famine. Time
ly measures have been taken by my
: Government and by the rulers of tht
S native States affected to relieve the
: suffering and prevent starvation.
[ regret to add that the epidemic o
tplague continues and that, although 1t.
severity has not increased since las
lyear, there is at present no prospect
: of its diminution.
Gentlemen of the House OF Com
mons, the estimates for the public ser
: vice of the year will be laid before you
n The provision for military .expenditur,
; must be largely Increased on acooun
OF the charge for military operations il
South Africa. The experience of /;
70 great war must necessarily afford les
sons of the greatest importance to tht
= military administration OF the coun
d try. You will not, I am convinced
e shrink from any outlay that may b
; required to place our defensive prepara
D tions on level with the responsible
Ie ties which the possession of so grea
% an empire has laid upon us. At tim
n when several nations are perfectinj
: their naval preparations at the cost O
increasing efforts and sacrifices, tn
- solicftude with which you have pro
= vided for the efficiency of our nav.
I. and our coast defenses will assured.
70 not be relaxed
= The rest of the speech recognize
u that the time Is not propitious for do
e mestic reforms involving large expen
l. ditures, recommends amendments o
a the agricultural, educational, com