Nowhere has the rumour of intervention been more indig. nantly
resented than in the most radical and democratic of our Colonies. Lord Ranfurly, the Governor of New Zealand, has cabled an important message on this subject to Mr. Chamberlain. The people of New Zealand, he says, desire to express their endorsement of the Imperial Government's rejection of intervention in South Africa and refusal to assent to the independence of the Republics. " My Government," continues the message, " assures her Majesty's Government that New Zealand will support to the last the Mother-country, as far as lies in their power, in maintaining that position, which has been taken up irrespective of conse- quences." He also adds that large numbers of good riders and shots are ready to proceed to South Africa to relieve the Imperial forces, if the latter are required elsewhere. These sentiments were expressed with even greater vigour in the speech addressed on Tuesday by Mr. Seddon, the New Zealand Premier, to the fourth contingent from that Colony. He said that the Colony would uphold the position of the Mother-country "at any cost," and would do her utmost to help England to "deal with any unfriendly Power daring to meddle with the settlement between the Empire and the Boer Republics." New Zealand, which admits Maoris to its House of Representatives, is no admirer of a nation which; under the mask of a Republic, practises exclusive dealing in the franchise.
