London, February 2. Twenty-three columns are operat ing against De Weti- The entire Cabinet sat two and a half hours, and adopted the Commit tee's reply to Dr. Van Kuyper. The rejection of his mediation is attribut able to the absence of credentials binding on the Boers, there being no evidence that they desired his mission. Mr Brodrick announced that there were 237,800 men in the field on let January. Fischer, interviewed, asserted that ex-President Steyn, in a recent order to the commandos, stated: "We will drain the cup to the dregs, though we believe in our final success." Christohubch, January 31.
Captain R. H. Rhodes, M.H.R., who goes to South Africa as an officer of the Eighth Contingent, has been complimented on his decision to do so by many meetings in the Ellesmere electorate. Some of the meetings voted unanimously for leave of ab sence.
Farewell to Major Bartlett.
One of the largest and most enthu siastic gatherings ever held at Hawera took place on Thursday evening, when Major Bartlett was given a farewell social and a present on behalf of the public, the fire brigade, and the Odd fellows. The public presentation was a gold watch, suitably inscribed; the Fire Brigade, of which he was captain, gave a gold albert and pen dant ; and the Oddfellows an emblem. Highly eulogistic speeches were made. In his reply, Major Bartlett ex pressed the belief that the war was nearly over and that the enemy was beginning to see that the hope o£ intervention was daily diminishing. At the farewell there was a large attendance of the Hawera Mounted Rifles, of which Major Bartlett is captain.
RAHOTU.
