CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 18, 20 June 1874, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the " Cape Argus," May 9th.] Customs revenue of Capetown showed an increase last month of about £6OOO. There was a decrease at Port Elizabeth of £1560, compared with the month of April last year. Fresh troubles seem to be brewing between the Transvaal authorities and the neighboring Zulu tribes of Cetywayo, arising, however, from'internecine disputes between the native tribes themselves. In Natal, Bishop Colenso has so far gained his point as to secure the hearing of an appeal from the Court which tried Langalabalele (a native chief, for rebellion) to the Executive Council, in which the Eight Keverend Bishop is to appear in person, as. advocate for the chief. We no particular sympathy for Langalabalele; but still less have we any respect for the blundering way in which the Natal'authorities conducted the whole affair to last; ' A slightishock: of earthquake was felt at New England and Lower Umgeni on the 30th April. , t . ....... Mabublej- (who 'commanded the rebels at Bushman's Pass, who killed one of the Carbineers, has 5 effected his escape from the frontier police,; Lekibe is in Wiltzhoek with 500 men. A private letter, the writer of which "is an official in the Court of Wakkerstrom (Transvaal), says that Cetawayo, the Zulu King, sent a commando into the State to kill -a Kafir, chief j settled' there named Umtzwana. The commando attacked the chief's place, killed twenty of his people, wounded others, carried off eight children and 800 head of cattle. Efmtzwana escaped to Wakkerstrom and claimed assistance of the authorities. < The commando returned to the borders' where it waited. The Boers expected to be called out in Umtzwana's cause. The writer of the letter says the matter will be worse than the Langalabalele affair. It is cheering news to hear of a revival of trade at the diamond fields. Business there will probably never be what it once was, but the stagnation that recently ruled appears to be wearing away. Merchandise and produce are fast pouring- into Kimberley, and one result will, no doubt, be an increase in the export of wool from colonial ports. The mention of wool reminds us that, judging by sundry paragraphs in the provincial papers, the supply this season all oyer the country seems to begreat; On Monday evening, says a local paper, a novel sight was witnessed in Graaff-Keinet. A troop of no less than seventy-eight tame ostriches were driven through the streets of the town to an enclosure in Somerset street; where they remained to rest and feed for a few days. They are the property of Mr Petrus van Peerden, 1 of the farm Poortje, in the Murraysburg district, from which place they have been So far successfully driven. Seventy of fine, well-grown creatures, six months old, the remaining eight are but three months old. They are strong looking and in

good plumage for.their age. Fifty of them are already sold, we understand, at £22 10s each, and the proprietor is now on his way to deliver them in the Bedford division, and to dispose of. the remainder. So large a venture ,in ostriches for sale we have not heard of before, and we hope the spirited farmer may reach his destination with the birds, and do well with them. The birds keep well together along the highway or across the veld, being heart by drivers on horseback. They feed\is they go, being also occasionally supplied with a little barley, &o. The "Eastern Province Herald" of the Ist inst. says :—lmportant meetings have ' been held this week in connection with the Independent Order of Good Templars. liei preservatives from the various lodges in the Eastern Province and the Diamond-fields have held meetings for the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge. We believe this is the first Grand Lodge that has been formed in South Africa in connection with any order, and, considering that it is now just twelve mouths only since the order was first established in this town and province, it speaks volumes for the zeal and progress of the order.