THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 795, 30 March 1871, Page 3

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

According to advices received in London on the 24th January, and boar, ing date " Table Bay, Dec. 29th ":- " The diamond fields continued as attractive as ever. A considerable number of persons were, however, returning from the diggings, some of them miserably disappointed, others in consequence of not being able to ttand the rough life and excessive heat, and not a few to organise new expeditions. It is said that the next few months at the fields will be very trying to the health of the diggers, owing to the excessive heat. There is a general belief at the Cape that all the diamond discoveries are not reported, aud, on the other hand, that the value of some of the finds is frequently exaggerated. AMr E. C. Urendh, who left Claremont in August, was said to have found three diamonds, the largest being valued at £IOOO, the other two at £2OO ; while Messrs R. Smtth and A. Muller, residents of Burgersdorp, had been to the diamond fields for three months, and had returned with £S3OO each, the value of their finds ; and one firm in Capetown was said to have had £7OOO worth of diamonds handed to it by one man. During the last week in November there were two very severe storms at the ' fields,' which are said to have raged with tropical fury for some hours, filling the river to its banks with water, and causing great destruction to property. The diggers had lately experienced great annoyance from locusts, which had been swarming over the camp in immense numbers; being in a wingless state, they moved only along the ground, over which they seemed to flow in streams, making chiefly for the river. The diggers were prepared to give a hearty reception to Mr John Campbell, the British magistrate, who was on his road to the ' fields.' Mr President Brand had left for Capetown, to meet Sir Henry Barkly immediately on his arrival, so as to state his case to the new Governor prior to his Excellency having it from those who during the past few months had formed the Government of the colony, and his official visit without previous intimation was considered as somewhat uncourteous. The reports from the Tatin gold-fields stated that the average yield per ton of all the mines was lldwt. 18grs. The yield per ton of the best mines was said to average loz. 7dwts. 15grs. A glorious harvest had been predicted, but fears were now entertained lest the crops should be destroyed by the locusts, which are reported to have played sad havoc in some parts."