SOUTH AFRICAN INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1288, 6 May 1878, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN INTELLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph.] [PUB PEBCa AQEHOT.] Capetown, February 16. Trade has been dull during the past month excepting for grain and breadstuff's, for which there has been an usually great demand, caused undoubtedly by the disturbances on the frontier, in some measure, but principally by the disastrous drought existing in the eastern midland and northern districts. Rains during the past three years have been but scanty, and in many districts there has not been a drop for thirteen months. Vegetation is burnt up, and water impossible to obtain. It is not any exaggeration to say that fully one-half of the stock of the colony will be lost for want of water and pasture. Sowing is impossible, and the Kaffirs will not reap a crop till March, 1879. There have been several encounter- between the Imperial and Colonial forces and the Kaffirs, but none of a decirivc nature. The Kaffirs are invariably defeated, and large number? of cattle captured. But they seem to be dispersed in one place only to appear again in another in greater force. Sir Bartle Frere, having had differences of opinion with the Molteno Ministry, dismissed them, and called upon Mr Sprigg to form a new Ministry. February 7th was observed as a day of humiliation to avert the calamities arising from the drought and the war. On February 10th slight rains had fallen in many parts of the colony, and Natal had had a succession of downpours. There were therefore some hopes of a speedy break up of the drought. The steamship Kaffir, Captain Ward, belonging to the Union Company, and carrying mails between Capetown and Zanzibar, was totally wrecked on the Albatross rock, off Cape Point, in broad daylight. An official enquiry was to be held on February 20th, when some extraordinary and damaging facts were expected to be elicited. The mails and four lives were lost, and some, eighty of the passengers had to remain on board the whole night.