NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE war news of the week is both good and bad. On Thursday news was received that the Boers had cap- tured an empty convoy near Klerksdorp, and that the escort, consisting of the 5th Bata. Imperial Yeomanry, three com- panies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and two guns, had been captured,—probably about 500 men in all. On the other hand, a Boer commando on February 23rd (i.e., last Sunday) made a determined attempt to break through the British cordon. The brunt of the attack fell on Colonel Garratt's New Zealanders, who behaved with splendid gallantry. The Boers are said to have driven a herd of 6,000 cattle in front of them to break the cordon and also act as a moving screen. The New Zealanders, however, who suffered heavy losses-2 officers and 21 men killed, and 5 officers and 31 men wounded— stopped first the rush of the cattle and then of the Boers. The Boers left 15 dead on the field and 6 prisoners, besides 70 dead and 100 unwounded horses, and the whole of the cattle.
