CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 698, 10 April 1852, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the Melbourne Argus, February 28.] Our files of Cape papers by the Athenian extend to the 4th January. They contain nothing certain respecting the progress of the Kafir war, The latest account in the Cape Town Mail reports :— "Graham’s Town, Dec. 27, 1851. “The post from the interior—that is to say, from Bloem Fontein, Colesberg, Cradock, and Somerset, arrived at the usual time. We cannot learn that any information of moment was received from that quarter. The enquiries and expectations of the Frontier are now almost solely directed towards the operations beyond the Kei. Of these operations but very little is yet known with certainty. Notwithstanding the manner in which the account has been published in the Journal, and which would lead most readers to suppose the statements to be official, we learn from a letter from King William’s Town of the most indisputable authority, that little is known there except through the medium of Kafir reports. On these reliance cannot always be placed. It appears that, so far as is known, Colonel Mackinnon’s division has not been very successful, having captured only about three hundred head of cattle—had little or no fighting—and, in fact, scarcely seen an enemy. It is reported in the same letter, as a well known fact in King William’s Town, that Sandilli has sent messengers to the Gover-

nor to know on what terms peace may be obtained. The brief reply was, ‘I do not know you.' It is to be hoped the Governor will listen to nothing short of full and unconditional surrender. The Eastern Province will not be —and the colony at large ought not to be—• satisfied, if it it be left in the power of Sandilli, or any other Kafir Chief, to enact over again in a few years the terrible tragedy which we have witnessed within the last twelve months."

The Graham’s Town Journal says, on the same subject :— “ The intelligence from the army now in Kreli’s country furnishes very little beyond our previous imperfect knowledge of its proceedings. We fear the troops have been suffering most severely from the almost daily torrents of rain which have fallen in all parts of the country, but especially in the region where they are now operating. It is impossible to think without deep sympathy of the exposure and suffering of so many brave men, the greater part of whom, are, we believe, without tents to screen them. We greatly fear that not a few will suffer in health, and perhaps life, from being obliged so long to sleep, when they can sleep, at nights on the wet ground. From the temper of British troops, we believe, however, that their vexation will come chiefly from the great hindrance which the heavy rains and overflowing of the rivers must be to their active efforts, and the advantage which tfie enemy has thereby enjoyed of time to carry off or secrete his cattle. By the latest intelligence the division under General Somerset had captured about 2,500 head of cattle. No precise account had been received from Colonel Eyre’s brigade, b-t it is believed that they had also secured a considerable number of cattle. There is very little doubt, if the weather had been propitious, that the movement beyond the Kei would have been before now productive of some decisive results.” The same paper makes the following statements respecting two very important subjects for the Cape colonists :— “ Some sensation has been created here by a report, said to have taken its rise from some holding official stations, that the idea is entertained by the Home Government of colonising British Kaffraria—that is, as soon as the Kafirs are thoroughly expelled from it—by convicts from Great Britain. Should this plan really be in contemplation, the evil will be but one remove from having them amongst our own population. We likewise hear that letters from England speak with some confidence of the probability of the removal of the seat of Government from Cape Town to Graham’s Town, or at any rate to the frontier districts." The British Settler gives the following piece of news from a correspondent at Alice; — “ Alice, Dec. 20.—(The Kafirs and Hottentots have attacked this place twice within the last 10 days, and both times been beaten—l 3 of them shot dead, besides a great many killed and wounded. Six of our Fingoes were killed, and one woman severely wounded, the Kafirs having cut her hamstrings.”