HC Deb 30 April 1883 vol 278 cc1423-4
MR. GUY DAWNAY

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following telegram sent by the Maritz-burg Correspondent of the "Daily News," and reported in the "Daily News" of March 19, 1883:— We have very grave accounts of Mr. John Shepstone's action in the Zulu Reserve. Besides imposing fines right and left, he is said to have personally assaulted one chief, and caused others to be severely beaten for not renouncing Cetywayo; to a second telegram reported in the "Daily News" of March 22, in which the same correspondent states:— I have received further information respecting the alleged Dragooning practised in the Zulu Reserve. Some of the Zulus have, it is said, been fined five head of cattle, equal to £25, for expressing their loyalty to Cetywayo. Others were detained in custody for ransom with ten head of cattle; and, whether he has received any official corroboration or denial of these statements?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

Sir, in consequence of the statement to which the hon. Member draws attention, we sent off one of the numerous telegrams we have had lately to despatch on similar errands, and this is the reply from Sir Henry Bulwer— Wholly untrue. Shepstone neither struck, nor caused to be struck, any Chief. On the contrary, he interposed to stop fight between two factions. He fined seven Chiefs for continued disregard of summons—not for reason stated; there has been no detention in custody.