London via Bombay, 27th December.
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain landed at Durban in the forenoon in haifa gale of wind. They received an ovation from immense crowds. The words "WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA" were written in huge letters across the breakwater, The Governor, the Premier, the Mayor, and the members of the Legislative Council received Mr. Chamberlain who drove to the Town Hall where an enthusiastic gathering welcomed him with frantic cheers.
The Town Clerk and the Mayor delivered addresses of welcome.
Mr. Chamberlain expressed his thanks and said that the object of his visit was to express the sympathy of the King and people of the United Kingdom for South Africa—Reuter.
Later.
Mr. Chamberlain, speaking at luncheon at Durban, said that the British flag was and must be paramount in South Africa, Reconcibation should be easy, and there was no cause for despair. He came in a spirit of conciliation, but also ina spirit of firmness, Federation of our South African colonies was the great aim, but it would be a great mistake to hasten it prematurely.
Mr. Chamberlain mentioned that the Government had accepted the offer of x Boer contingent for service in Somaliland,—Reuter.
28th December.
The most notable features at Durban yesterday were the fervid enthusiasm of the reception, and the clear and incisive presentation of the situation by Mr.-Chamberlain. He said that no statesmanship could have prevented the fight for supremacy between two proud races. "The Dutch," he said, "have now accepted the paramountcy of the British flag what then can longer separate us?"—Reuter, 29th December, Mr. Chamberlain has proceeded to Pietermaritzburg. An immense and enthusiastic crowd assembled before his hotel and called for a speech, Mr. Chamberlain appeared on the balcony and referred to the keener interest the mother country is now manifesting in Colonial affairs, and urged the residents in the colonies in their turn to take up the duties of members of our grand Empire—Reuter.
Later.
Mr. Chamberlain is staying at Pietermaritzburg a guest at Government House.—Reuter.
80th December, Mr. Chamberlain, speaking at Pietermaritzburg, urged a'l his hearers to rise to a higher level of imperial patriotism, and bear each other's resp"nsibilities as well as enjoy mutual privileges—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.