WHEREAS a Commission has been appointed by Her Majesty's Government to inquire into and report upon certain concessions granted by the late Government of the South African Republic, and the Commissioners commence the said inquiry at Pretoria on the 10th October, 1900:

Now, therefore, notice is hereby given that all persons summoned by the said Commissioners to give evidence must attend and give evidence on oath before the said Commissioners, and produce all documents and books which the said Commissioners require them to produce, and which are in their possession, custody, or control.

Any person failing to obey the said summons will be dealt with under martial law.

God save the Queen.

Given under my hand and seal, at Pretoria, on this 10th day of October, 1900.

(L.S.) ROBERTS, Field-Marshal, Commanding-in-chief, South Africa.

WHEREAS it is expedient to remove certain of the restrictions at present existing against the exportation of goods, wares, and merchandize from the Transvaal and Orange River Colony :

Now, therefore, I, Frederick Sleigh, Baron Roberts of Kandahar and Waterford, K.P.,G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Field Marshal, Commanding-in-chief Her Majesty's troops in South Africa, do hereby declare, proclaim, and make known that, from and after the date hereof, the exportation of all goods, wares, and merchandize, with the exception of raw and bar gold and munitions of war, is permitted from the said territories under the laws and regulations of the Customs.

God save the Queen.

Given under my hand and seal, at Pretoria, this 16th day of October, 1900.

(L.S.) ROBERTS, Field-Marshal, Commanding-in-chief, South Africa.

40.

Order issued by Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, dated November 18,

1900.

As there appears to be some misunderstanding with reference to burning of farms and breaking of dams, Commander-in-chief wishes following to be lines on which General Officers Commanding are to act :

No farm is to be burnt except for act of treachery, or when troops have been fired on from premises, or as punishment for breaking of telegraph or railway line, or when they have been used as bases of operation for raids, and then only with direct consent of General Officer Commanding, which is to be given in writing; the mere fact of a Burgher being absent on commando is on no account to be used as reason for burning the house. All cattle, waggons, and food-stuffs are to be removed from all farms; if that is found to be impossible, they are to be destroyed, whether owner be present

or not.

41.

I, THE Undersigned, the district of

Oath of Neutrality.

in

Do hereby solemnly make oath and declare that I have handed in and given up all the arms and ammunition demanded of me by the British authorities, namely, all rifles and rifle ammunition of whatsoever description they may be. And I solemnly swear that I have no rifle or rifle ammunition remaining, and that I know of none such being concealed or withheld by anybody whatsoever.

And I further swear that I will not take up arms against the British Government during the present war, nor will I at any time furnish any member of the Republican forces with assistance of any kind, or with information as to the numbers, movements, or other details of the British forces that may come to my knowledge. I do further promise and swear to remain quietly at my home until the war is over.

I am aware that if I have in any way falsely declared in the premises, or if I break my oath or promise as above set forth, I shall render myself liable to be summarily and severely punished by

the British authorities.

I make the above declaration solemnly believing it to be true, so help me God.

Before me,

QUEEN'S REGULATIONS and Orders of the Secretary of State made under the provisions of "The Somaliland Order in Council, 1899,"* during the year 1900.

Notice of the coming into force of "The Somaliland Order in Council, 1899."-Berbera, February 16, 1900.

Ir is hereby notified, for general information, that a copy of "The Somaliland Order in Council, 1899,"* has this day been affixed and exhibited conspicuously in the public office of the ConsulateGeneral in Berbera, and that the said Order in Council shall commence and have effect from the 16th day of March, 1900. Berbera, February 16, 1900.

J. HAYES SADLER, Her Majesty's Consul-General.

Regulations made by Her Majesty's Consul-General for the Somaliland Protectorate, under Article 32 of "The Somaliland Order in Council, 1899," and allowed by the Secretary of State.

Mines and Minerals (Mining Regulations).-Berbera, February 16,

Fire-arms Regulations.-Berbera, February 16, 1900.!

[No. 2 of 1900.]

[See page 570.]

* Vol. XCI, page 1114.

Alcoholic Liquors.-Berbera, May 20, 1900.

[No. 3 of 1900.1

1. AFTER the 1st day of July, 1900, alcoholic liquors shall not be imported, whether by land or sea, into the Protectorate otherwise than in accordance with these Regulations.

2. For the use of the non-native population only, there shall be admitted a limited quantity of alcoholic liquors imported in bottles, packed in cases, and of a declared value, supported by invoice or other documentary evidence as required, of not less than 18 rupees per dozen reputed quarts, or 9 rupees per dozen reputed pints, and so in proportion if bottles of other sizes are used, or if imported in casks, of a declared value of not less than 5 rupees per liquid gallon, and bearing the brands of well-known European producers of the higher kinds of spirituous liquors.

Light wines of European production will not be subject to this minimum of value.

With each consignment, the consignee shall give a written guarantee that none of the liquor shall be sold by him to any native, that is to say, any person who is not of European race or parentage; and no person, whether he is the possessor of a licence or not, shall sell any alcoholic liquor to any native as herein defined.

Special exemption may be made by the Consul-General, or the local authorities acting under his sanction, in favour of respectable persons of Asiatic, but not of African, parentage.

3. An ad valorem duty of 5 per cent. shall be paid on all alcoholic liquors imported for sale in the Protectorate.

4. No importer of, or trader in, such liquors shall be allowed to introduce, for sale in the Protectorate, more than twenty-five cases, containing 12 quarts or 24 pints in each case, or in casks more than 50 gallons, within any one period of twenty-four hours. Any further quantity imported must remain in the custom-house, from which it may be withdrawn in such a manner as not to leave with the withdrawer more than fifty cases, or 100 gallons in casks, at any one time.

A certificate must, if required, be furnished as to the quantity of alcoholic liquor in his store by any person applying for permission to withdraw liquor from the custom-house.

5. Except with the special permission of the Consul-General, or the local authorities acting under his sanction, not more than 125 cases, or 300 gallons, shall be withdrawn by any firm or individual in any one period of six months.

6. All alcohol

ors imported into the Protectorate shall be

imported at the ports of Zeyla, Berbera, and Bulhar, and at no other place, except with the express permission of the ConsulGeneral.

7. The manufacture of distilled liquor within the limits of the Protectorate is prohibited.

8. No alcoholic liquors may be sold in the Protectorate without a licence.

A limited number of licences may be issued by the ConsulGeneral, or Consular officers acting under his authority, for the retail sale of alcoholic liquors under these Regulations.

The licence will entitle the holder to sell alcoholic liquors, subject to the conditions of these Regulations, and to sell the same, by retail, to be drunk either on or off the premises, between the hours of 6 A.M. and 8 P.M.

The above-mentioned hours may be extended, on particular occasions only, by special permission on application of the licensee. Each licence shall be valid for one year from the date of its issue.

A fee of 50 rupees will be charged for each retail sale licence.

9. Alcoholic liquors imported into the Protectorate for transit to Harrar may, with the sanction of the Consul-General, be introduced on payment of an import duty of 2 per cent. ad valorem, but subject to the following conditions:

On payment of the import duty, a transit licence will be issued by the Consular officer at Zeyla, without fee, authorizing the licensee to transport to Harrar the alcoholic liquors, of which full particulars shall be stated in the licence.

The cases or other receptacles containing the liquor shall be sealed or otherwise securely fastened by the Consular officer, or under his direction.

If at any time during the transit the cases or receptacles are found to have been opened, or if any of the alcoholic liquor is found to have been abstracted, the licensee (unless he proves to the satisfaction of the Court that the opening of the cases, or abstraction of the liquor, was due to accident or to some cause for which he is not responsible), shall be liable to the same penalties hereinafter mentioned as if he had sold alcoholic liquor without a licence.

10. Any person who distils liquor, or who imports or sells alcoholic liquor in breach of these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence, and, on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 rupees, and any liquor in respect of which the offence was committed shall be forfeited; and if the offender is the holder of a licence for the sale of alcoholic liquor, his licence shall be liable to forfeiture.

11. Any person who makes a false declaration in regard to the