CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 341, 8 November 1848, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have Cape papers to the 2nd of August. We regret to state that a number. of the emigrant Boers beyond the Orange River under the command of Andries Pretorius, were in a state of insurrection, and endeavouring to form a combination with the native chiefs against British authority generally, and more especially with the view of crushing the /rising settlement of Natal. In a letter addressed to Sir Andries Stockenstrora by. Pretorius himself, these facts were avowedly and distinctly set forth. The Resident Magistrate at Wenburg only saved himself by a hasty flight, leaving some of his* family and his clerk in the hands of the insurgents; and the British Resident at Bloem Fontein, Major Warden, narrowly escaped being taken prisoner and carried to the rebel camp, by a party of armed Boers who waylaid him when engaged in the duties of his office. In his letter to Sir Andries Stcckenstrom, which that gentleman immediately forwarded to Government; Pretorius speaks confidently of Panda, the Zoolu Chief, as his ally; of Mosesh and Moroko wavering, but likely to join him willingly or unwillingly, with whose assistance, and that of the lesser chiefs who could not stand aloof by themselves, he seems confident of being able to make root and branch work with the British in this part of the world, and also to punish the waverers and traitors amongst his own countrymen. He describes, in short, a deep laid and extensive conspiracy, which would be alarming were it not relieved by the almost incredible ignorance and folly of this blind leader of the blind, evinced by his addressing Sir Andries as a colleague and brother in revolt, giving him due notice of his proceedings, requesting from him supplies of gunpowder and lead, and expressing his gratification at hearing that he, Sir Andries, is on the move. It is supposed that this letter was written to Sir Andries to induce a belief among the Boers that he was likely to join their party. Upon this intelligence reaching Cape Town Sir H. Smith immediately started for the frontiers, and gave orders for all the disposable force in the colony to march into the disturbed districts. A proclamation had been issued declaring Pretorius to be guilty of treason, and offering a reward of £1000 for his apprehension. It was feared that it would be found more troublesome to put down this rebellion than- the authorities appeared to imagine. The Governor (prior to this news reaching the colony) had given notice of his intention to introduce a bill for the establishment of a burgher guard or militia. The stamp tax on newspapers had been abolished. A motion to establish a uniform penny postage was lost.