HC Deb 22 July 1879 vol 248 cc967-8
DR. CAMERON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he has observed in the South African Papers just issued (C. 2367), page 78, a Report from Field Commandant Van Niekerk admitting that in an attack upon a party of Natives at Luisdraai, near Koegas, he had killed forty-six, including ten women and children, and captured the rest, being five men and twenty-seven women and children; whether it is a fact that in the same Papers, pages 157 and 158, Mr. Jackson, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Government of Cape Colony to inquire into atrocities alleged to have been perpetrated on the occasion, reports— That a terrible and unjustifiable massacre of a party of bushmen, with their wives and children, had taken place at the hands of burghers under command of Commandant Van Niekerk; adding— Nothing could justify the shooting at Luisdraai, and subsequently on the march to Koegas, of the wounded, among whom were women and little children; and recommending that a preparatory examination should be instituted against Commandant Van Niekerk with the view of bringing the guilty parties to justice; and how he reconciles with these statements a despatch from Colonel Lanyon, published at page 120 of the same Papers, which is apparently fairly enough summarized in the index of the Papers, as Showing that the alleged massacre of Natives at Koegas, as referred to by Dr. Cameron in the House of Commons, never occurred?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Sir, Colonel Lanyon's despatch is perfectly consistent with the statements quoted by the hon. Member, because in that despatch he merely denies that the occurrence took place in Griqualand West, or that the massacre was perpetrated by Volunteers from his Province. Of course, Colonel Lanyon could not say what had or what had not taken place beyond the limits of his own government; and the mistake is in the index to the Papers, in which Colonel Lanyon's despatch certainly is not fairly summarized as showing that this event "never occurred." I regret that the index was not more carefully compiled.

DR. CAMERON

Is Koegas not in Griqualand West?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

The massacre certainly took place within the jurisdiction of the Cape Colony, because the Government instituted an inquiry into the facts of the case, and intend to prosecute those who took part in the massacre.