CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 32, 17 May 1845, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The South African of the 12th February, has the following : — ~ " The Gazette of yesterday contains copies of Treaties of Amity entered into between his Excellency, on "behalf of her Majesty, and a great number of paramount and other chiefs of the tribes occupying the countries between the colony of the Cape of Good Hope and Port Natal. Together with Faku, Paramount chief of the Amaponda nation, these arrangements include Creli, chief of the Amagcalika tribe of Caflres, the chiefs of the Gongo, T'Slambie, and Fingo tribes, and Eno, a chief of the Gaika tribe* By last post it is ascertained that the proposed treaties with the principal chiefs of the Gaika tribes have also been accepted and signed; when to these are added the treaties entered ' into some time ago with the two Griqua chiefs, Waterboer and Adam Kok, and Moshesh, chief of the Basutus, it will be seen that a system of clearly-defined and practical relations has now been established between the British Government and nearly all the tribes and nations of native Africans to the south of the 25th degree of south latitude. " Some articles of these treaties- draw the bonds of amity very close, and besides providing, as far as human foresight can provide, for the safety of the Colonial Frontier, and the security and peace of the natives among themselves, what may be called a ' highway' has been reserved for the word of God and the progress of that permanent civilization that rests on time knowledge — or a knowledge and regard for those things that never change — the moral relations, namely, that exist independently of time and place and circumstance, between men and towards God. ; •' With the exception of India, if India be an exception, this is the grandest field of public duty within the British empire. It is in itself an empire, for though local independence is reserved untouched to. the chiefs and their respective people,, an Imperial Spirit, the right of counsel, of reference, and of protective interference,, on the part of Great Britain, runs v through the whole of these treaties. They arc to keep us acquainted with their aflairs j they are to ask our mediation- ; and they promise tc& be ready at all times, when called upon by the • Colonial or British Government, to aid and

assist the colony, with all their captains and 'warriors, in any enterprise that may Tie necessary for the protection of the colony, or the /promotion of the general welfare and security." 'Had similar treaties to the ahove been entered into between his Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor of New Zealand, on behalf of iier Majesty, with the chiefs of that colony, •there is-iittie doubt but the late lamentable disasters there would never have occurred. — Sydney Australian.