The Globe. TUESDAY APRIL 9, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1266, 9 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY APRIL 9, 1878.

The announcement made in this morning's telegrams that fighting at the Cape has been renewed, is a disquieting piece of intelligence, especially when the attention and energies of the Imperial Government must bo directed to European matters. The rpiestion is, are we in for another Kaffir war F The scene of the rebellion is on the boundary between British Kait'raria and Native territory, the River Kei dividing them. That the emergency is a grave one may be gathered from tho fact that the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, has taken up his residence at King William's Town, in British Kaffc'raria, where he intends to reside for six months at least. The tribe which is giving us the trouble at present is called the Geka, which chiefly inhabits the British side of the river, and until lately the members have been mostly employed in ordinary agricultural work. But they never have been peaceful, and their conduct has lately especially been closely watched. They are nearly related to another tribe which inhabit tho Transkei territory—the Galekas —who are in arms against us at the present time, and have been for nearly a year. When tho last mail left England a united movement against both tribes was threatened by the British troops, and it was feared that war would last for a year at least. At the same time the Cape authorities tried to make light of the situation. But now there is danger, it would appear, of another Kaffir war, which may end in the absorption of the whole qf the country stretching between Cape Colony and Natal. That district, called Kait'raria, is bounded on the south-west by the River Kai, which separates it from British Kaffraria, Tho district is inhabited by a number of powerful tribes, some of which already partially acknowledge our rule, but it may be necessary for *'he peace of the district, and the good of the tribes, to definitely annex tho whole of the Transkei. Some oi ih» English papers speak of the danger of tho war pssuming the proportions of that of 1834, which ppsfc a million sterling, and which began with the murdpj.' of forty farmew, tho burning of 450 farm houses, the carrying off of 4000 horses. 100,000 head of cattle, and 150,000 sheep. Since that time several other wars have broken out, one in. 1840, and another iu 1851. On tho latter occasion British territory was invaded by the rebel chiefs, aided by a number of well-armed Hottentots. They were ultimately defeated, however, ami tho tribes dispersed among the European population. The power of the chiefs, being thus broken, it was hoped that ail future wars of any maguitudo might be averted. But it would appear that there is considerable danger of the scenes of 1834 being again repeated. According to Mr. Anthony Trollope, the problem set before tho authorities in South Africa is different from that which lias to be faced in most places where there is a Native population to govern. Contact with the superior race is not having the same effect upon the Native race which if has elsewhere. Thoy arc, he says, multiplying and prospering. When at peace they do all the work of the settlement, " They dean tho shoes, Av'iVi) the horses, they cook the dinners, they wish u,v. clothes, they hew the wood aiid draw (lie water, they plough tho hmd, they reap the corn, they tend tho cattle, and they find the diamonds." Therefore, as. tho Pull Mall Gazette puts

peace with them, and provide, after the restoration of peace, for their orderly government. Hence the necessity for the entire annexation of the Transkei. - Respecting Russia's demand for the cession of the Roumanian portion of Bessarabia, we learn, from our files received by the Suez mail, that the question has produced the greatest popular excitement, and that a ureal number of petitions against Ilie Russian demand had been received by the Government. Prince Charles is said to have replied to General Ignatieff "No Chamber, no Ministry, and not a single Roumanian will ever consent to cede the least particle of territory." A Bucharest telegram published in the London papers on February 12th says:—"An important Cabinet Council was held to-day under the presidency of Prince Charles. The Roumanian Government is taking measures to mobiliso all able-bodied men in case of need. According to a Vienna telegram. Austria does not object to the retrocession of B?ssarabia to Russia, provided that Roumania retains possession of the mouth of the Danube, and is not compensated by a cession of territory in the direction of Widdin." *►- The epiestion of a Town Hall again came before the City Council last evening, and his Worship the Mayor, in reply to a question, stated what had passed between the deputation and the Premier on his visit to Christchurch on the subject. We hope, however, that before any definite resolution as to acquiring a site or erecting a building is arrived at, that no effort will be spared to obtain possession of a portion of the Government Buildings. We have already urged this course very strongly, and we hope our Councillors will not be discouraged by the passive resistance of the Government. The present Council Chamber is a disgrace to the city, and it is certainly not creditable that our local governing body should be forced to meet in such an unsuitsble building. But, nevertheless, we hope they will not be hurried into action in the direction of erecting a new building, till all prospect of securing the Provincial Council Chamber and adjoining rooms is abandoned. The present Government profess to have a great regard for public opinion, as expressed through public meetings. Why not try the efficacy of such a means. No valid objection can be raised to granting the building to the city. It is true, as we have already pointed out, that the Chamber was erected at the expense of the whole provincial district, but the districts outside of Christchurch can make no use of it now. The Selwyu County Council, of course, holds its meetings there, but they no doubt could do with a much smaller room. It is therefore a pity that such a splendid building is standing practically unused, and the City Council at the same time forced to occupy such a miserable Chamber.