CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. (From the South Australian, August 24.)

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 449, 21 November 1849, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. (From the South Australian, August 24.)

\\* aye files- to July 7. The excitement on the convict question has reached a highly dangerous point. An extraordinary meeting had been held on the 4th, of which the Advertiser of the 7th says : — " It is impossible this day to offer even a sketch of the speeches delivered on Wednesday. They will be given a? soon as practicable. They would have done honour to any assembly of free men in Europe or America." Sir Harry Smith has, it is hinted, determined to send the felons on board the Neptune to Robben ls\ind, but the people will not allow it, this islet being in the colony. The bakers of Cape Town refused on the 6th unanimously to tender for the supplies of biscuit to the Commissariat. The Legislative Council has lost by death the Hon. Mr, Vander Byl. ' "From all parts of the colony -accounts con_tiinje to pour in of the exasperation of the people. This itself is a most enormous evil, for which the local government and Lord Grey are responsible. The same paper says — "An engraved sketch of the meeting on Wednesday has* just been published, and is now for sale at tbe booksellers. It gives a good idea of the mass ; but not equal to the reality, Which it , is impossible^ represent on a flat ground. The number present at one time certainly exceeded eight thousand. Their appearance during the tremendous bursts of rain was very striking. The pencil, of course, could not touch the moral aspect of the multitude, j when, amidst a furious blast, it was proposed to adjourn to the great Hall of the Exchange. The instant and universal response was-^- *' No! No! go on. We can stand it. 1 "