MR. A. P. EGERTONasked the Lender Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Government have received any confirmation of the report that there has recently been severe fighting between the troops of Cetewayo and those of some of the Chiefs in the Reserved Territories?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe news we have received is to the effect that the Usutu party—that is to say, the young and violent section of Cetewayo's followers—made an attack upon Usibebu on his own territory, in the north-eastern corner of Zululand. Cetewayo professes that it was done without his knowledge; but I doubt very much whether this is the truth. The House may remember that when this Chief Usibebu was, for 1058 various cogent reasons, left in possession of the territory over which he had been the appointed Chief, it was understood that he was both able and willing to hold his own; and this turns out to be the case, because this attack of the Usutus has been most successfully repelled, and I hope that their defeat may be a lesson to them.
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHHILLasked if the attention of the Under Secretary of State had been drawn to a telegram from a correspondent of The Daily News, who was usually well informed, to the effect that Usibebu had attacked Cetewayo?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYI am glad that the noble Lord has given me the opportunity of saying that the correspondent in question is never well informed.