CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. [From the 'Sydney Morning Herald,' May 21]

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 645, 19 June 1852, Page 4

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. [From the 'S ydney Morning Herald,' May 21]

We have received by the Nestor, Cape Town papers to the 25th of March ultimo. Ihey contain intelligence of much interest. Lieutenant-Governor Darling arrived at Table Bay, by the steamer Harbinger, on the 24th of March; General Yorke and a number of passengers were in the same vessel. General Cathcart, who was to supersede Sir Harry Smith, had sailed in the Jlydra, which was hourly expected when the Nestor sailed. A despatch from Earl Grey, covering the commission and instructions to Gencr.il Cathcart, have been published at Cape Town. We observe, that the Lieutenant- Governor w, to reside at Cape Town, with authority to carry on the civil government whilst the Governor himself is on the frontier, or otherwise engaged in the adjacent ten itories. Should the Governor, after the termination of the war, take up his own residence at Cape Town, the services of , the Lieutenant-Governor will then^ be requhed in the eastern division. The office is intended to be a permanent one. With respect to the war, Earl Grey observes in the most emphatic terms, that be^un as it was with so Jitllc provocation by the Caffros and rebel Hottentots, it is absolutely necessary that it should be prosecuted with unremitting vigour until it can be finished by their being reduced to complete and unconditional subtnisMon. Without reference to His Lordship's instructions, we are happy to gather from the latest intelligence received from the lion tier, that Sir Harry Smith— Earl Grey's wigging despatch notwithstanding — was rapidly di awing hostilities to a, close. lie had taken the field in person, and letters dated Blink water, March 13tli, state that the forces under his comm.ind had completely routed and turned the enemy out of their fortresses, which they had abandoned in dismay. Colonel Mitchell, with 1300 men, accomplished his part of the work without losing a man. Col. 2\ T apier, in command of General Somerset's divivision, was equally successful, although he met with some loss. The casualties are stated to be as follow :— Of the 73rd, four killed ; two of the 73rd and two of the 43rd wounded ; of the 91st and 74th, ten wounded. Lieutenant the Hon. 11. Wrottesly, of the 43rd, died of hemorrhage from his wounds. It is said that a considciable number of Caffres were slain, but the chief suffer eis were the women ftiul children, who, being crowded together in the most difficult places, were move exposed to the action of the shells. The great body of the warriors, or fighting men, were supposed to have retreated back tolhe Amatola. It was expected that they would be vigorously pursued,— an interior Hue of defence being also left to prevent their return to Watcrlcloof and the neighbouring ravines. Against such a force as Sir Harry was directing upon them in all quarters, it seems impossible that, the CaflVes could hold out nmch lonper. With respect to political aiT.iirs, Earl Grey lias expressed much sui prise at the conduct of the local legislature in postponing the full consideration of the draft of the new Cipe Constitution. His lordship says :—": — " I must confess my surprise that, after the subject had already been so much discussed and considered, the Legislative Council should have found it necessary, after reading the Ordinances a first time, to adjourn the second reading for the long period of two months." His surprise will not bediminishecl, observes the Commercial Advertiser, when Uc is made acquainted with the all but successful efforts of Mr. Montagu to adjourn the second reading to a period indefinitely remote, and with his successful efforts in utterly demolishing his Lordship's Draft Ordinances which had "been so much discussed and considered" The fears which had been entertained for the safety of H. M. steamer Magnera, had happily subsided by her arrival in Simon's Bay on the 23rd March, with the Rifle Brigade. Her passengers were Lady Alexander Russell, Colonel Duller, C.8., Major Horsford, Captains Roper, 11. Somerset, M. P., Lord Alexander Russell (a brother of the Premier), IJardinge, Wood foul, and Glyn ; Ist Lieuts. the Hon. L. Curzon, Godfrey, and the Hon. 11. Clifford ; 2nd Lieuts. C Bullcr, Lindbay, Bramstone, Bouicbicr, the Hon. G. Leggs, and Hale; Adjt. Brewster, QuarterMaster Peacocks, Surgeon Lloyd, Assist. Surgeon Scott, and G5O rank and file, 18 women, and 29 children Ist battalion Rifle Brigade. i