On December 4 Kekewich was instructed to make arrangements for the deportation of a large proportion of the white and coloured population, Methuen hinting that Rhodes himself might be included.  Although Rhodes had a few weeks before complained of the difficulties caused by the presence of non-combatants and had even endeavoured to send them away, he now vehemently opposed their removal.  His reasons for so doing are not very clear, but they appear to be part of the systematic obstruction which he offered to every proposition of the military authorities which tended to restrict the output of diamonds.  His objections were transmitted to Buller, who speedily put the question in its proper light by telegraphing to Kekewich that “what we have to do is to keep the Union Jack flying over South Africa without favour to any particular set of capitalists,” and Methuen met his protest with the answer that “Rhodes has no voice in the matter.”  After the defeat at Magersfontein the plan of deportation had necessarily to be given up.

In his own proper sphere of a civilian working with civilians Rhodes was usefully active and his services were great.  He employed the persons thrown out of work by the closing of the mines in labour for the general benefit of the town, and did much to relieve the distress among the poorer inhabitants.

The manufacture of a heavy gun, to which the name of Long Cecil was given, in the De Beers engineering establishment, was soon countered by the Boers, who brought into action a gun throwing a much heavier shell which had been disabled by the Naval Battery at Ladysmith, repaired at Pretoria, and was now mounted before Kimberley.  The appearance of Long Tom, supervening on a reduction on the daily rations, caused a panic among the civilians.  On February 9 Rhodes threatened to call a public meeting to consider the situation unless he was informed of the plans for the relief of the town:  but Kekewich was authorized by Lord Roberts not only to forbid the holding of the meeting, but even if necessary to arrest Rhodes.  A private meeting was then held at which a remonstrance was drawn up for transmission to Lord Roberts through Kekewich; and for the second time a communication from the Kimberley men was interpreted as a threat to surrender.  It was probably sent with that intent in order to elicit information as to Lord Roberts’ plans.

Kekewich meanwhile was finding his position almost intolerable, and his representations convinced Lord Roberts of the necessity of raising the siege of Rhodes without delay and at any cost.  It was effected on February 15 by French’s brilliant cavalry movement; but at the cost of the convoy of 170 wagons which were snapped up by De Wet at Waterval Drift, and of an Army compelled to march and to fight for nearly four weeks on reduced rations.  But the harvesting of the crop of diamonds was resumed, and as far as Kimberley was concerned the war was at an end.