the Volksraad for Rustenburg, L50; J.M.  Malan, member of the Volksraad for Rustenburg, Chairman of the first Volksraad, L50; N.M.S.  Prinsloo, member of the Volksraad for Potchefstroom, L50; J.J.  Spies, member of the Volksraad for Utrecht, L70; B.H.  Klopper, Chairman of the Volksraad, L125; C. van Boeschoten, Secretary of the Volksraad, L180.  By J.N. de Jongh, on behalf of Baron Eugene Oppenheim, about the end of 1892 or the beginning of 1893, to the late N.J.  Smit, sen., then Vice-President of the South African Republic, and member of the Executive Council, shares in the defendant Company to the value of L1,000; F.C.  Eloff, son-in-law of and then Private Secretary to the State President, shares in the defendant Company to the value of L2,000; P.G.  Mare, then member of the Volksraad for Utrecht, now Landdrost of Boksburg, shares in the defendant Company to the value of L500.  By B.J.  Vorster, jun., on behalf of Baron Eugene Oppenheim, about July or August, 1890, to C.C. van Heerden, member of the Volksraad for Wakkerstroom, one spider; A.A.  Stoop, member of the Volksraad for Wakkerstroom, one spider; F.G.H.  Wolmarans, member of the Volksraad for Rustenburg, one spider; B.W.J.  Steenkamp, member of the Volksraad for Piet Relief, one spider; J.P.L.  Lombard, member of the Volksraad for Standerton, one spider; H.F.  Grobler, member of the Volksraad for Middelburg, one spider; W.L. de la Rey, member of the Volksraad for Bloemhof, one spider; D.W.  Taljaard, member of the Volksraad for Standerton, one spider; J.C. van Zyl, member of the Volksraad for Heidelburg, one spider; J.P.  Botha, member of the Volksraad for Pretoria, one spider; H.P.  Beukes, member of the Volksraad for Marico, one spider; J.F. van Staden, member of the Volksraad for Vryheid, one spider; J.M.  Malan, member of the Volksraad for Rustenburg, one spider; N.M.S.  Prinsloo, member of the Volksraad for Potchefstroom, one cart; T.C.  Greyling, member of the Volksraad for Heidelberg, one cart.  Total value, L1,440.

Twenty-one members of the First Volksraad out of twenty-five!  The Vice-President!  The son-in-law and Private Secretary of the President!  The Secretary of the Volksraad and the Minute Keeper of the Executive!

The Volksraad, one would think, would be bound to take cognizance of such a statement and to cause an investigation to be held.  They did take cognizance of it after the manner peculiar to them.  But the last thing in the world to be expected from them was an impartial investigation:  nothing so foolish was ever contemplated.  There were too many in it, and an investigation into the conduct of officials and Raad members would be establishing a most inconvenient precedent.  Some members contented themselves with a simple denial, others scorned to take notice of such charges, and others tried to explain them away.  No opinion need be expressed upon the methods of the concessionaires; nor does it matter whether the company, by its neglect or default, had justified the act of the Government.  The point which is offered for consideration is that the indisputable fact of bribes having been taken wholesale was ignored, whilst the disputed question of liability to cancellation was arbitrarily settled by the Government in its own favour.