CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 230, 1 August 1846, Page 85

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the Cape frontier Times."}

{The farmers who reside on the immediate bolder, and who are therefore most in danger of being robbed and murdered by the neighbouring savages, have, it appears, grown tired of petitioning the Government to ' redress their grievances, and have at length proceeded to remonstrate against the continuance of the cruel and intolerable state of insecurity and suffering to which thfiy have been exposed for so many years. They have taken a very proper course. Their patient endurance of wrong has almost reached the utmost limit; and the local Executive has reached a depth below which it is impossible to sink. It is plain that something must be done by the Government in Cape Town, to restore the public tranquillity and confidence, before people can be expected to return to their hojraes and settle down quietly to resume thtj ir ordinary occupations. It is well remarked in the Advertiser, that the continus an be of all this anxiety and terror must in the end bring on a war, if there were no other cause. There is not the least doubt of it. Apathy on the part of the Government at the present crisis is much more likjely to precipitate an open rupture than a vigorous and determined course of action.

The following extracts of letters which we have received, describing the state of the cotintry, will not be read without compassion for the wretched inhabitants : —

*' The farmers of the Koonap and Winterberg have nearly all crossed the Winterberg. I formed one of the patrol that visited the deserted farms. We found several of the houses broken open, much injury done to them, and a great many articles stolen. Matters are indeed in a deplorable state : the English and Dutch formers are compelled to submit to have their goods stolen by thieves, who have taken advantage of the present Btate of things."

Another correspondent writes—

" It is miserable to see the Btate of the deserted farm-houses, which have been broken open and large quantities of goods taken therefrom. The vineyards have been completely destroyed. It is pitiable to think of the great losses which the agriculturists will sustain. The inhabitants here would prefer a war, and a state of permanent peace afterwards, to being continually plundered and driven from their farms in this manner."

" The losses of the inhabitants of this ward will be very heavy in consequence of the expec-

tation of a Kafir invasion. The so-called friendly Kafirs, who were in service, left their masters without any notice ; always a certain sign of an intended attack on the colony by the Kafirs. The natural consequence was, that between 20 and 30 families at once left their farms with their cattle, and as many things as they could cram into one wagon. Deserted houses were broken open and pilfered of everything valuable. About five or six muids of corn were stolen from one house ; and at Graaff Water, belonging to Mr. S. Hartman, two stacks of corn were fired and entirely consumed, from which at least 120 muids of wheat would have been obtained, and for which the owner had been offered on the previous day £1 per muid. The wife of Mr. Hartman, who has a large family, was prematurely confined, and the consequences are yet doubtful."

Dreadful Hailstorm. — April 2, 1846. — On Saturday afternoon last, about halfpast four o'clock, the inhabitants here were suddenly thrown into great consternation in consequence of a dreadful hailstorm, accompanied with thunder and lightning, which passed over this town from the westward, lasting about half an hour ; and which, in consequence of the great size of the hailstones, caused much damage to the houses, but particularly the glass windows fronting to the westward, several hundred panes in which were smashed. Much damage was also occasioned to the trees and gardens. It was as if all the sluices of heaven had been opened to drown us in the flood of waters; for in an instant the streets were covered with water, and to that degree that that frightful and dangerous element flooded several houses with indescribable violence, and the inmates, forced into the streets, had to wade up to their knees in water ! God only knows what would have been the result had the storm lasted but a little longer. May unfeigned gratitude fill the hearts of all towards our great deliverer in the time of our extremity.