MR. JAMESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If the attention of the Government has been called to the repression of the outbreak in Griqualand West by the Colonial forces under Colonel Lanyon, as reported in the "Cape Argus" of June 11th; whether it is the fact that on or about the 20th of May a kraal of Caffres was attacked, and that all the natives in it were killed, although they cried for quarter; and, whether the Government will direct a full and immediate investigation of these proceedings?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have seen the statements in the Cape Argus to which the hon. Member alludes. I have received from Colonel Lanyon a Report of his proceedings in suppressing this rebellion, from which it appears that on the 22nd of May some Kaffirs were discovered in a position from which they were firing upon the Colonial Forces. It was necessary to dislodge them. They were called upon, both in Dutch and in the Kaffir language, to surrender. They declined to do so, and the position was taken by storm. Five dead Kaffirs were found in it, and a wounded man, who 1244 was at once carefully treated by the surgeon attached to the Colonial force. The hon. Member will see that it is difficult to identify these proceedings as those described in his Question; but I have directed inquiry to be made into the newspaper statements.