CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 775, 17 September 1853, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(From the "Empire," August 30.) . We are in receipt of a file of journals from the Cape to the. Ist of July. The New Constitution. —The Cape Town Advertiser says:—" From one end of the colony to the other, the Constitution has been accepted with every expression of gratitude and loyal affection. The one or two local exceptions are clearly grounded on misconception; on the assumption that all its provisions are final, never to be altered. Whereas the Constitution, in express words, provides for every possible attention, and commits those alterations to the pru • dence and experience of the colonists themselves. This delusion cannot last long. The first session of Parliament will dispel it. Its voice is already very . The Frontier. —The Governor had issued a minute on the state of the frontier affairs, setting forth the progress and conclusion of the Kaffir war, and his projects of future defence. The principal features of that policy consists in the establishment of military villages—the construction of field-works with garrisons at commanding points—and the organisation of a powerful police force. By these means he expects to be able to guard the frontier without the aid of British troops. We find the following item in the Cape Monitor, at the head of its frontier news: —"The last post brought no news of importance beyond that private letters had been received at Port " Elizabeth that said—' Sandilli and Macomo have ' paid up their quota of arms, but some of the ainor chiefs are still holding out. Indeed, the Very general impression that if the reply from her Majesty be unfavourable to the Kaffirs, and the Araatolas be retained, a general war will ensue ere long. So much for the peace preached about in general orders, and otherwise proclaimed. We fear that it will yet have to be enforced at the point of the bayonet, the only style of reasoning the Kaffirs can understand.'" The Elections.—Several Committees were appointed for the purpose of selecting proper candidates for their representatives under the New Constitution.

'■■ On the Ist of July, a Proclamation was issued in a Gazette Extraordinary, legally promulgating the Order in Council, establishing a Parliament for the colony.Bands of Kaffirs were still reported to he committing depredations on the frontiers. The Franchise.—ln a circular issued from

the Colonial Office, we find the following «mongst other instructions:—"His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor is of opinion, that all persons whose names appear on the books of your office, as paying land or quit rent, or road rates, will, with a few exceptions, if any, be found to be entitled to have their names placed on the Registration List*

Searching for Diggings.—A letter appears in the Cape Town Mail, from Mr. George Gain, of Victoria, who had visited and examined the Ballarat diggings, on the subject of the striking similarity of the geological structure of some portions of that colony to that of the gold regions of Victoria.

-Rams imported from this colony sold for £123 each.. .

.On the Queen's birthday Cape Town was illuminated, to manifest the gratitude of the peols for rac«mnj thi New CousUtutior,

Effects of the New Constitution.—The Zuid Afrihaan states—"The Queen's gift, the Constitution, although not yet in operation, has already affected a groat amount of good, in the same manner as the sun partially dispels darkness biforewesee his disc above the horizon. Look at the stimulus imparted to all things on which the material interests of the colony depend. Take up any paper. There is in every branch of industry renewed life and activity; and yet these things are only the harbingers, and, as it were, the pledges of improvements on a larger scale, when the assembled intelligence of the colony shall have obtained fair play in the colonial Parliament."

I The Rival Provinces.—Great discontent is felt and expressed in Graham's Town, that the Assembly of the new Parliament is to be in Cape Town. They deliberated in Committee whether the people of that district should send any representatives to the new Legislature, or rather hold out in opposition until they obtained an Assembly for their own province. It was, however, determined to send representatives under a protest against the present arrangement. Peace on the Frontier.—The Graham's Town Journal gives the following description of the re-establishment of order in some districts that were recently the seat of war:—"Our merchants are building permanent stone stores, many of them large buildings. On the new orvan lately given out, there are some good houses buiilt, and many more in progress of erection. The watercourses in the streets are getting greatly extended ; gardens are again cultivated, and new ones are forming. Butcher's shops are springing up, and the meat is good and cheap. The Kaffirs are bringing in cattle, and buying blankets at a great rate for the winter. Several of our young men have started on trading speculations, not only across the Kei, but to Queen's Town, Burgher's Dorp, &c." The Advertiser states: —"Little is certainly known of the condition or feelings of the Kaffir Chiefs. Some affirm that they are sulky, and waiting for Her Majesty's reply to their request that they may be allowed to return to the districts from wnich they were expelled last year. However that may be determined, a strong force will be required to watch them for many years to come, or until they are so far civilised and reconciled as to form an integral part of the colonial population." Rejoicings for the Constitution.—The Cape Town Advertiser publishes the substance of proceedings at no less than ten different meetings in various party of the colony, to express the satisfaction of the colonists at receiving the New Constitution. At a public meeting held in Cape Town and numerously attended, an address was unanimously adopted to the Queen, of which the following is an extract: —"We, your Majesty's loyal and attached subjects, inhabitants of the city of Cape Town and the Municipality of Green Point, in public meeting assembled, crave permission to present to your Majesty our sincere and grateful thanks for the inestimabie gift of Representative Institutions, now completed and confirmed to us and to our children, by which all your Majesty's subjects at the Cape, without the distinction of class or colour, will be united in one bond of loyalty and a common interest, being admitted to the full enjoyment of British freedom. The Constitution thus graciously bestowed we accept as a boon worthy of the best of Sovereigns: and we humbly trust, under the Divine blessing, so to exercise the privileges and powers which it conveys, that your Majesty's generous desire for the security and prosperity, not only of those of British origin, but of all your Majesty's subjects in South Africa, and for the peace and progress of this colony, may be amply fulfilled." The same journal remarks:—" Within the colony little has been heard during the past month but the voice of rejoicing and giving of thanks for the Constitution ; the provisions of which amply satisfy all the reason ible desires of the inhabitants."

With regard to the state of the frontier war, General Catlieart has published a highly interesting minute. It is divided into three parts. 1. The state of frontier affairs when General Cathcart succeeded Sir Harry Smith, in April, 1852. 2. The objects to which the former directed his efforts. 3. The manner in which those efforts have been accomplished. From a carefully prepared summary by our contemporary, the Zuid-Afrikan of July 4th, we find General Cathcart's minute placed under the above three heads, in the following condensed form:— STATE OF THE FRONTIER AT HIS EXCELLENCY'S ACCKSSION AS COMMANDER-lJi-CHIEF. The Gaika tribe, originally amounted to 27,000 souls, including 5000 effective warriors, though somewhat disheartened by fifteen months' active warfare, in which much of their ammunition had been expended, had not been dispersed and permanently dislodged from their strongholds in the Amatolas and northern portion ot British Kaffraria. By the recent destruction of their crops, the capture of part of their cattle, and the removal of the remainder beyond the Kei, they had the prospect of a famine before them. Of the T'Slambie Chiefs occupying the S. and sea coast of British Kaffraria, Pato and Siwani were faithful to their allegiance, and Umhala, though suspected, was not an acknowledged rebel. The Waterkloof, one of five or six wooded concentric ravines, in the Kromnie Mountain Range is in the district of Fort Beaufort, about thirty miles within the colony. This fastness has been repeatedly patroled through by troops and levies, but never thoroughly cleared out, Macorao and his two or three thousand followers having successfully evaded the English troops, always managing to occupy the kloof these had left last. It was in entire possession of the enemy, when General Cathcart arrived at the scene of war.

Macomo's ally and associate was theTambookie Chief Quesha, with numerous followers. The remains of the band of Hermanns occupied the same localities, and these were reinforced by numerous deserters. Hence issued forth those marauding parties that committed such extensive depredations chiefly in the districts of and Somerset.

Seyolo, Stock, and Tola were lurking within the Colonial border in the Keiskama kloofs and Fish River Bush, and combining with rebel Hottentots made predatory excursions in Albany, cutting off all direct communication between King William's Town and Graham's Town by Line Drift. With the exception of the Fingo locations, Forts, Peddie and Alice, South Victoria, was in their full possession. Kat River Settlement was deserted, one half at least of the population having joined in active rebellion; of the other half a large portion had been enrolled and was doing good and gallant service on the side of Government. The rest had rallied for protectionJ,round the military station at Eland's Post.

North of the Katberg Range in the Tambookie country the faithful Regent Nonisi, mother of the late Chief Uinitirara, had migrated beyond the Bashee with as many followers as she could influence, in order to withdraw them from contamination. Those Tambookie tribes that were involved in the rebellion were still committing depredations in Nor£h Victoria, Albert and Cradock, associating with rebel Hottentots in those quarters. That part of the frontier was still very insecure, and all the border farms were abandoned.

The paramount Chief Kreli, residing beyond the Kei, had recently taken part in a combined hostile movement against North Victoria, successfully repulsed by Captain Tylden. He still refused to pay a fine of cattle imposed on him by the former Governor, after a successful expedition beyond the Kei> In the Sovereignty a petty warfare between the Bnrger population and'the Bas"uto people, with mutual captures of cattle, was going on along the whole Frontier. Tin's state of things, the result of mistaken policy on the part of the agent of Government, if allowed to continue, must have ultimately brought on a Frontier war, more difficult to manage and more expensive than the Kaffir war itself Finally, a new feature in the border warfare had recently sprung up—an organised system of the rebel Hottentots in arms, who though separated iu variou« " krges" or camps, acknowledged

the supreme authority of William Uithaalder, an able and influential Hottentot leader, whose disposable forced, if concentrated, might amount to 400 well armed and mounted men, of whom were deserters trained to military discipline.

Objectm to which General Cathcart Directed his Efforts.

1. To remove the principal base of operations from King William's Town to a point within the colony: and commence systematically working out from that base.

2. To make good every advantage gained, not suffering the enemy to return to any point from which he was once expelled. 3. To establish a mounted police force within the colony for the security of the frontier. 4. To clear the Waterkloof and other strongholds held by Kafirs, and abolish all Kafir locations within the colony. 5. To clear the Amatolas and secure their permanent military occupation. 6. To punish and subdue the rebels, compelling them to sue for pardon : and then (but not tiil then) to exercise the Royal prerogative of mercy, dictating such terms as should appear practical, just, and expedient, .and such as it might in the nature of things be possible to enforce with the means at his disposal.

Manner in which His Excellency's objects have been Accomplished.

1. By establishing a post on the Tornachn, and restoring and occupying that at Line-Drift, the direct communication between Graham's Town and King William's Town was re-opened, and the loyal and disloyal were separated, which induced Seyolo, who found his country no longer tenable, to surrender.

2. Head quarters were removed to Fort Beaufort, within the colony, without losing the advantages derivable from the Port of East London and a garrison at King William's Town. 3. The establishment of an efficient mounted police for the better protection of the border districts was carried out with as little delay as possible. Completely to restrain the lawless forays emanating from the Watorkloof was not at the time reconcileablc with a due regard to other exigencies. A permanent military post was established in the Kromme Range, the post of Koonap was restored and re-occupied, and other precautions rendered the absence of the Com-mander-in-chief with a considerable portion of his available force compatible with the security of the frontier.

An expedition beyond the Kei had become necessary, in which the burghers were called by proclamation to join, and in which many did join, under Commandants Kruger and Van Aardt. Volunteers from Albany, Port Elizabeth, Victoria, Fort Beaufort and King William's Town, supported by detachments of Her Majesty's troops under Lieut.-Colonel Michel and Lieut.Colonel Napier in one foray levied a fine of 10,000 head of cattle, which were distributed among the burghers and colonists, the object not being the acquisition of cattle, but to show that such a fine could at any time be levied even by the colonial energies, unaided by Her Majesty's troops. This having been accomplished in nine days, the Governor traversed the country of the Windvogelberg and Kabousie in a straightline to King William's Town, making a salutary impression by his sudden appearance. He then assembled the friendly chiefs at Fort Murray, and giving them due credit for their loyalty, contrasted their prosperous circumstances with those of their rebellious brethren. That this confirmed them in their fidelity has since become evident.

The troops having returned from the Kei the next object was the clearance of the Waterkloof. This was accomplished by 2000 of Her Majesty's troops with some Fingoes and Hottentots under Colonel Buller and Lieutenant Colonel Eyre. It was the work of three days and three nights. Two additional fieldworks were established, one at the entrance, the other in the centre of Waterkloof. No Kafirs or Hottentots have appeared there since.

The next thing to be accomplished was the clearance of the Amitolas, where Sandilli had been joined by the fugitive Macomo, and which harboured the Rebel Uithaald-r w th some 300 of his band. This was affected by Lieutenant Colonel Eyre, in less than a fortnight. When the main "bodies of Kaffirs yverj dislodged, the two chiefs with a few followers continued to linger in hidden recesses, and ultimately escaped to the woods on the margin of the Kei. The Amatolas being cleared, small fields were established at different points, which being occupied as they now are, prevent the re-establishment of a Kaffir dwelling place in those localities. After this the Governor marched to the north with 2000 men, and after settling the Tambookie question, and dictating terms of pardon to that subdued and now penitent people, resolved to put an end to the disorders in the Sovereignty. This closes our contemporary's first epitome of a valuable military paper. We are promised that it shall be continued, and are told that the remaining part is fully as interesting, not for military exploitSj'but as regards recommendations for provision against the recurrence of frontier disturbances, and for laying down principles of frontier policy. (From the " Melbourne Argus.") By the Deane we have Cape papers to the 21st June. There appears still to be disturbances upon the frontier by bands of rebel Hottentots and by Kafirs, but vigorous pursuit was being made, and a number of the marauders bad surrendered. Under the new Constitution, the Parliament was shortly to be constituted. In both Houses the members would be elective; ior the Council, or Upper House, for ten years; for the Assembly, or Lower House, for five years. The Constitution had given very great and almost universal satisfaction ; and addresses to Her Majesty, conceived in the most loyal and grateful spirit, had been transmitted from all the principal towns and districts. From a monthly summary in the Advertiser, of 11th June, we oopy the following items:— The governors proceedings for the restoration of peace and order on the frontier, have suffered no serious interruption during the past month. In a notice dated 14th May, His Excellency states that " rebellion is entirely extinct, and ample precautions, taken to preserve peace, and that at no former period of colonial history was the eastern province so well circumstanced." This, he adds, fcas been the state of things along the whole of the eastern frontier for some months past.

The chief sufferers by the late war, are the inhabitants on the immediate borders of Somerset, Victoria, and Albany. In the districts behind, the last year seems to bave been one of great prosperity, as their chief exportable produce, wool, exhibits a remarkable increase, the quantity being nearly six millions of pounds weight! valuod at upwards of £300,000. ' Little is certainly known of the condition of feelings of the Kafir Chiefs. Some affirm that they are sulky, and waiting for Her Majesty's reply to their request that they may be allowed to return to the districts from which they were expelled last year. However that may be determined, a strong force will be required to watch them for many years to come, or until they are so far civilised and reconciled as to form an integral part of the colonial population. This may be far distant, but it is the end to which the Government should look in laying down a scheme of frontier policy. In the neighborhood of King William's Town, and some other places in British Kaffraria, considerable advances have been made in this direction, sufficient to prove that the thing is not impossible. The Orange River Sovereignty is tranquil, the British and Native authorities being on friendly and intimate terms. The question of its abandonment is warmly discussed*. Sir George Clerke, appointed commissioner to enquire into and report on this subject, is now in Cape Town, and is about to proceed to the frontier. Whatever, may be thought of the assumption of, this territory, the opinion of intelligent men is now decidedly against giving it up. At-Natal nothing has transpired for sometime bafck to throw .much light on its future prospects.. A ComV mission of Inquiry on the spot, has'elicted much information respecting the native population, estimated at upwards of 100,01)0 souls. The European population is considerably reduced by emigration, and probably does not exceed seven or eight thousand. . Many of them are active and intelligent, and cany forward the cultivation of sugar and cotton with great energy. The Local Government has for some time been in difficulties, the principal members of it being at variance with another. The Secretary, Mr. D. Moodie, ha* been removed from oftce ; and* the Recorder, or chief jud^e,

Mr. 11. Cloete, suspended. There does not seems to have been any suspicion of malversation or corruption, but simply an incompatibhty of temper, which has led (o this, it is hoped, temporary, separation between the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Pine, and the Secrecy and Judge. Mr. Cloete, boweTer, is understood to have represented to the Home Government that Mr. Pine did not abstain from undue interference with the admin* j istration of law and justice in the Courts. Till both I parties, are heard, it is impossible to say bow far either party may have pressed the other too closely on punts which would have been nothing amongst friends. But the case of Mr. Cloete is, to all appearance, a hard one, as nothing is alleged against him in his office. He is a man of ability and great professional eminence, also of unblemished private character, and in every respect particularly well qualified for the judicial station he held at Natal. He goes to England by the Mauritius, to bring his case more distinctly before Her Majesty's Government than could be done by letters and despatches The public both at Natal and in the Cape colony, where he has been so long well known, evince much ininterests in the decision of his case. The suspension or removal of a judge is a matter, in which every man is deeply concerned. It affects the independence and tends to shake the impartiality of the Courts of Justice, the greatest calamity than can befall a state. It can only be justified by proof of corruption, incapacity, or gross personal immortality, no traces of any of which disqualifiation, have been intimated in the present instance.

Notwithstanding the troubles on the frontier for the last two years, the material interests of the colony, as a whole, have steadily improved. Landed property has everywhere risen in value. Capital finds constant and remunerating employment. All sorts of labor are in demand at high but not extravagant rates. The exports of the colony for the year 1852 amounted to £735,985, exclusive of specie, which exceeds the value of the exports of the previous year by nearly £136,000. The imports for the last year exceed in value those of the former year by £290,000. The increase on the revenue of the Customs, is £38,000, of which the excess of wharfage dues, over the amount collected in the former year is £2OOO.

The increase of shipping entered upwards, is 21 350 tons, exclusive of coasters, which number 52 vessels more than in 1851.

Commercial Condition of the Cape of Good Hope.—ln the recent files of the Cape papers we observe the annual report of the Committee of the Commercial Exchange, from which we extract the following'as possessing some interest:—" The committee congratulate their fellow-merchants on the restoration of peace on the Eastern bonier of the colony, and the consequent revival of a trade which is gradually extending itself, not only to the uttermost limits of civilization, but to regions hitherto unexplored by the most adventurous travellers. In the year 1843 the Committee addressed a memorial to Her Majesty's Government, numerously signed in this city, praying for the establishment of an organised government at Natal, which met with a most gracious reception, and was soon after compl ed wilh by the Home Government, with the happiest results both to the district of Natal (now forming a distinct dependency of the Crown) and to the colony, between which a beneficial intercourse has ever since been n aintained. During the past year this intercourse has been promoted by a contract made with the General Screw Steam Shipping Company, to have two vessels, of 300 tons each, running bel ween tbepoti of Table Bay and Natal; one vessel only has yet been laid on, but the committee confidently expect that the terms of the contract will be fully alhered to, pursuant to a memorial lately sent in to Government on the subjecr. The Committee record with pleasure that the suggestions connected with the trade and commerce of the colony, which they have from time to time felt it their duty to make to His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, have invariably met with prompt attention, and every assistance they could expect in furtherance of their objects has been readily afforded by the respective public officers of the Government The attention of former committees had been directed to the great advantage to vessels bound to the port, that might be expected to attend the erection of a lighthouse on Cape Point. Captain Hall, H.M. Steamer Styx, having taken an interest in the object, and pressed it on the consideration of this committee, in a letter addressed to one of its members, a memorial was drawn up by the Committee and addressed to His Excellency the Governor; in reply to which His Honor the LieutenantGovernor forwarded to the Committee a report with carefully-executed diagrams of the coast, taken by Captain Denham, of H. M. Surveying ship Herald, which were submitted for inspection to Captain Hall and other nautical gentlemen, who unanimously agreed a< to the importance of the work and considering (in accordance with a suggestion expressed by Capt. Denbam in the report alluded to) that the exact spot for t!ie building could be best ascertained by information derived from local experience. The Committee having collected evidence from the most experienced masters of coasting-vessels and others well acquainted with the locality, as to the most eligible site for the proposed building, returned the documents with the evidence so obtained, to His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, by whom all the papers have been sent home to be laid before the Lords of the Admiralty for their decision ; it is therefore to be hoped that this work will soon be in progress. The very rapid increase in the quantity of wool produced in the colony is a subject of congratulation. Her Majesty's Government has empowered the local legislature to repeal the duties on imports imposed !<y the Imperial Governmeut, with the proviso that, on the enactment of a customs tariff, no differential duties shall be levied on goods the produce or manufacture of any particular country. A very considerable impetu» Las been given 10 the trade of th« colony by the increased demand for supplies which had attended the discovery of so large a quantity of gold in Australia. Many of our coasting-vessels, including two steamers, have left this for the more profitable employment offered in that quarter, freights have consequently partially advanced.