CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 187, 15 May 1847, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Loss of H. M. Steam Sloop " Thun-der-bolt." — On Sunday evening, an express arrived from Port Elizabeth, communicating to the Admiral, the painful intelligence of the loss of the Thunderbolt, at the entrance of'Algoa Bay. The following particulars are extracted from a letter inserted in the Graham's Ton-n Journal, dated Port Elizabeth, February 4 :—": — " Yesterday evening, at about five o'clock, the smoke of a steamer was seen over the sandy point, apparently rounding Cape Recife, and nearly at the same time the report of five or six guns were heard at intervals. The inhabitants were all on the gui vive supposing it probable that this steamer was the bearer of our new Governor, and the guns excited no particular attention. Soon afterwards it was seen to be the Thunderbolt rather close in shore, and although to all appearance with all her steam u,j, she appeared to be making but little way, and to be deep in the watjr. As she neared .the anchorage, it was discovered that her ensign was reversed, and then for the first time it became evident some accident had happened. Her close approach to the shore excited the alarm of the spectators, when in a few minutes it proved to be the intention to bring her on the beach, and accordingly she grounded in an upright position, some distance out, nearly opposite the Baakens River. The port boat had been for some time alongside of her ; others boats put off to her assistance. The first which returned brought the unfortunate intelligence, that she had struck on one of the outer points of Cape Recife, had passed over the rock, but that immediately afterwards six feet of water were found in, her hold, and that it was with great difficulty she had been kept afloat. This beautiful vessel is this morning in the same position, and the weather being very mild, exertions are making to land her stores, &c, but scarcely any hopes are entertained of getting her off. She had been sent round from Simon's Bay for the 90th Regiment, and had only two or three steerage passenger^." — Cape of Good Hope Shipping and Mercantile GAzetje, February 12. [From the South Australian Registrar, April 17.] The Briton from Leith brings news from the Cape of Good Hope to the 13th Feb. The Kaffir chiefs had submitted. Sir Henry Pottinger arrived on the 27th Jan. The Ihvnderbolt was lost at Algoa Bay on the 3rd Feb. [From the Adelaide Observer, April 17.] Sir Peregrine Maitland's successor in the Government of the South African Colonies, the Right Hon. Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart. G. C. 8., who is her Majesty's High Commissioner as well as Governor, arrived in the steamer Haddin<jton, on the 27th Januiry. His Excellency was accompanied by Lieut. General Sir George Berkeley, K. C. 8., as Comman 'er-in-Chtef ot the Forces. After a short stay at the seat of Government, and granting favourable answers to sundry petitions respecting the public gardens and ojther objects of local interest, the Right Hon. the Governor set out for the Frontiers.

We regret to notice that Sir Henry's' duties as a pacificator will in all probability be trying and multifarious. Peace was far from being restored as far as the lesser native chieftains were concerned, and in one surprisal of a British party, the Hon. Mr. Chetwynd, son of Lord Chetwynd, and several other officers in the army were killed, after gallantly repelling the first onset and killing several of the assailants. Van Diemen's Land wheat is quoted at about 11s. 4d. per bushel. American flour 14s. per bushel.