Basutos prosper under English protection

May 10, 1870 A letter from Metsieng To the Right Honourable the Earl Granville, Secretary of State for the colonies I would beg your Lordship, in case you should decide that the English Government withdraws its protection from this country, to declare in my name and all the right-minded Basutos that we are fully satisfied with the arrangements made last year; that the country which remains to us is still large enough, and that if our name will exist on the earth, it is on account of His Excellency’s very persevering efforts …(and that) on account of our weakness and the covetousness of our former enemies, the only hope, whereby alone we could feel that we have a sure prospect of life and peace, is that the English Government should never forsake us, and specially not withdraw its protection at the present time. I remain, &c. Letsie. Made with the consent and approval of my head men, Errothili, Matete, Molono, Mafa, Mosoka, Tsita, Mokhanebli, Tsin, Komete and Leksogi. May 10, 1870 Refuge for women

During the first year of its establishment, the St George’s Refuge for Penitent Women has received 14 penitents, all of whom are still inmates, with the exception of one poor girl whom it was thought necessary to dismiss on account of her evil influence among others and also as unlikely to benefit by the advantages offered her.

Though the St. George’s Home cannot claim to be an exception to the rule that, in the training of penitents, violent outbursts of the evil lurking in them must be accepted, the behaviour of the good has, on the whole, been highly satisfactory. May 14, 1878 The Cuzco The Cuzco, second steamer of the new Orient Line of Anglo-Australian steamships calling at the Cape, has accomplished the voyage from England to Table Bay in less than twenty days of actual steaming, as she lay-to six hours in a fog, and stopped two hours for an inspection of her engines. Two deaths occurred on the voyage out. An elderly third-class passenger, named John Tinkler, was coming out with his nephew, Emerson Smith, to visit an Australian brother. The latter, who had suffered from a pulmonary disease, took a cold which terminated fatally, and the uncle, between grief and the effects of the heat, died a few days later. May 10, 1902 Rugby games in Newlands Newlands was in its element this afternoon, and the grounds partook of the nature of a College gathering. At the early hour of 1.30 a solid phalanx of Stellenbosch Collegians packed a portion of one of the big stands, the other being manned by the rival supporters of Diocesan College. Although dull and threatening in town, the afternoon was splendid at Newlands. Stellenbosch came to town determined to show town players how the game had progressed at the seat of learning, and a most enthusiastic “following” watched and applauded their every moment. May 12, 1915 Occupation of Windhuk The news of the bloodless occupation of Windhuk by General Botha has been received with much satisfaction, but scarcely, with surprise. Though Windhuk is defended by forts, those qualified to form an opinion long ago predicted the place would be evacuated by the German forces, in order to avert an attack and the consequent destruction of life and property. The absence of serious resistance does not detract in the slightest from the importance or the brilliancy of the campaign. May 14, 1930 Automatic telephones for the Union The automatic telephone system, which has been adopted by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, will within a few years be in general operation all over the Union. By the end of 1937 the PostmasterGeneral hopes to have the new system in operation throughout the Peninsula, and it is expected that in a comparatively few years it will justify a reduction in charges and introduce a more equitable rate than at present exists.

Eight young South Africans will be trained in England by the manufacturers of the instruments to be used. May 9, 1960 Kgosana asks for history books Philip Kgosana, the 21-years-old university student who led the march from Langa on the day the state of emergency began, has had no visitors in prison since he was taken into custody.

In a letter to Mr. Patrick Duncan, editor of the journal Contact, Kgosana writes: “So far no one has seen me since I was locked in. But a good Samaritan brought me some underwear for the cold winter. I was arrested wearing my short pants, a jersey and a jacket.”

In the letter, Kgosana asks for the loan of text books of South African, French and English history, towels, washing cloths, pyjamas, handkerchiefs and cough mixture.