CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5438, 31 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(OWN CORRESPONDENT PRESS AGENCY.) Capetown, July 24,

The heaviest gale experienced, here since 1865 blew with unabated violence from the 19th to the 23rd instant; the wind was from north-east to north-west. The breakwater and Robben Island offered but little obstruction to the immense rollers of the Atlantic which came straight into harbor before such a wind. The, following vessels were wrecked : The barques Nerie, from Reunion to Nantes, valued at £10,000; the Caledonian, from Cardiff to Java, valued at £BOOO ; the Etta Loring, from Philadelphia to Japan, valued at £15,000 ; th Redbreast (discharged her cargo), valued at £3500 ; the brigantiue Jean, for the coast, valued at £20,000, was wrecked, and the cargo has just been sold for £1930. Captain Thomas and three men belonging to the Caledonian were drowned. The Lusitania, bound to Australia, had to run for Simon's Bay for coal. Three clergymen and numbers of volunteers were conspicuous for their brave exertions in saving the lives of the shipwrecked crews. About 800 miles of railway is now in progress in the colony, the estimate cost of which will average £7900 per mile. By the deaths of the groat chiefs, Saudih and Dakwana, the Kaffir war terminated, the tribes having sued for and obtained terms of peace. Parliament voted its thanks to all the forces, colonial and Imperial. These thanks were conveyed by the Speaker to General Thesiger, 0.8., Commodore Sullivan, C.B , and Commandant Griffiths, 0.M.G., in a very impressive manner. The war has, however, unfortunately again broken out In the Transvaal. The Governor and General Thesiger proceed to the Transvaal as soon as possible. There has been considerable fighting in Griqualand West. On the 4th July some thirty mounted volunteers encountered a party, of armed natives, and defeated them, but with heavy loss. Two officers and three men were killed and five wounded out of the thirty. The latest dates say the trading station at Boctsap was attacked. Two men were wounded and all the cattle taken. The enemy retired before daybreak. , . A Gaiko, who was with SandiU at Ins death, says never before have .the Kaffirs been so thoroughly beaten or so completely hemmed in as at the time SandiU was shot. He described many hairbreadth previous escapes, mid says they suffered much from cold at night, and when in the mornings they went to some open place to warm themselves they were seen, and were no sooner comfortably basking than a cry from their scouts told that the enemy was advancing, and they had to run to cover. Three devoted friends offered their bodies as a shield to Sandili when his small body guard was surrounded, hut he was shot in the bac* as they were leading him to a safer retreat. Jackson, a volunteer, has been sentenced to fifteen years' hard labor for shooting a Kaffir while asleep. The Judge said : “It was your duty with your superior force, to havo captured him, but to shoot him lying asleep before a fire was mean, cowardly, and uuMr. and Mrs. Case (Grace Egerton) .are having a succesful season at Grahamstowu. Natal. July 13. The Ponda, with a cargo of flour, arrived to-day from Adelaide. _ At Livingstonia, all the mission staff are m good health. ' .... ~ Mr Thelwall accidentally shot himself on the 20th March. Ho was out shooting baboons, and having wounded one, clubbed his nnc, wiiich he had previously loaded. The charge went off, and he only lived four hours after. Good potatoes are selling at 16s. Gd. to ISs. 6d. per 200 lbs.