CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 802, 25 May 1865, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the Cape Argus, April B.] Proposed Railways.—The intention of the bill now before the public is to relieve the G-overnment from the necessity of entering into contracts for the construction of either of the contemplated lines of railway, tbe work being placed in the hands of Government, but the expenditure being restricted to a certain sum named in the act itself The funds needed for carrying out the object in view are to be obtained by tbe sale of debentures, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent. The cost of the branch line to Malmesbury is put down at £200,000; that from "Wellington to "Worcester at ■6400,000; and the one from Port Elizabeth to Graham's Town at £750,000. The debentures will be payable on a day to be fixed by the Government, anterior to the Ist of January, 1900, and one-half of the interest, or three per cent., will be made payable by the divisions through which the different lines will run, as set forth in the Act of 1862. The bill further provides that the Governor shall be empowered to employ colonial convicts in the construction of the railways, under suitable regulations with regard to their discipline and management. Probably, prior to the time fixed for the second reading of the bill, tenders will bave been received for the construction of the different lines, and it will then be for the Parliament to' decide whether the work shall be intrusted to contractors of the colonial railway engineer. House Sickness. —"Within the last 14 days horse sickness has been raging in the district of Middleburg in a most unprecedented manner. Many farmers have already lost from 15 to 20, and some upwards of 30 valuable horses, and the malady continues to rage with unabated fury. It appears to be a characteristic of the disease to attack the fattest aud best, while the old, the poor, and those of least value, have the best chance of escape. Some fail down in harness or under the saddle, and immediately expire. Others, when " outspanned," walk a few yards and then drop dead. The poor brutes seldom linger more than eight or 10 hours in what appears to be dreadful agony, when death inevitably puts an end to their suffering. DESTKtrCTrVE FIXE VS POBT ELIZABETH. —On Saturday night last it was discovered that a fire had broken out in the stores occupied by Mr. T. Bireb, and known as the West of England Clothing Establishment. In a very few minutes a large concourse of peeple had collected. Although no time had been lost, the fire had already gained entire mastery over the building, and had extended* to the adjoining premises. By breaking the pipe of the Shark's Biver "Water Company, a plentiful supply of water was at once obtained. The walls of the buildings are still standing, and do not appear to have suffered very much by the fire. The floors are all through, but the beams still remain in their places, and present, together with tho heaps of clothing that were packed on the shelves, a , blackened, dismal appearance. The property destroyed is insured* for £8550. The actual ■ loss, including the destruction of property by • persons wantonly dragging out goods and i furniture may be estimated at fully £10,000; Port Elizabe&k Telegraph, March 27. KEVKjfcE Ala) 3SxPE2a>rxTJßE.—Comparai live statements of the revenue and expendi- ■ lure of the colony in the quarters and years I ended on the 31st December-1863 and 1864,

respectively: aud of the loans contracted 'during the same periods, have been published. The gross revenue, derived from ordinary sources of taxation, and of course wholly irrespective of loans, during, the year 1564, amounted in round numbers to the respectable sum of £-519,000; n-*t less than £156,000 mure tban the revenue of 1563. Ofthe in created amount, customs have contributed nearly £55,000 ; land sales, £5700; and stamps, not less than £12,443, although they did not come into operation until the lat of November, and therefore the result of two months' sales only are included in tbe returns before us. But taking these as a basis for calculation, we should say that a rough estimate of £50,00 > per annum from this source will not be very wide of the mark. Upon most of ihe other items of income there was a diminution. Transfer dues show a falling off to the extent of £2500, and auction dues of £3500. while under the head of interest and premiums a diminution of over £9000 is recorded. But notwithstanding the handsome yield of the new taxes, Aye have not yet let the constable get quite abreast- of us! For it will be observed that the ordinary expenditure amounted to the sum of £597,000, or some £78,000 more than the ordinary revenue of the year, and that by special payments to military settlers and Kat river residents, for new gaols, and for immigration—which latter item is, some time or other, to be refunded from the proceeds of land sales—the actual expenditure was brought up to a total considerably exceeding £600,000. So that, notwithstanding their taking up £50,000 on [loan, the Government, when they come to square up the results of the year —if they ever do—will be somewhat out of pocket. Commercial.—The paucity of arrivals in port during the last fortnight has kept business in its ordinary channels, and scarcely anything is noticeable beyond the sale of deals ex Hoppit, from Grefle. A small sale of about 600 muids of Cape wheat has been effected at 255. per 2001b., and stocks on hand being small, no holders are willing to accept the price already quoted. Breadstuffs of every description are in great demand, and a further advance in price must of necessity arise, unless an undue amount of foreign importation should tend to keep down prices. Sugars, coffee, tea, rice, &c., are quiet, almost amounting to a stand-still. Business, as a rule, is conducted oh a safe and solid basis, demand and supply being evenly balanced, and every prospect of an improvement in commercial matters. The Customs duties received at the several ports in this colony during the quarter ended 31st March amounted to £84,545 Os. Id, being an increase of £28,543 over the corresponding quarter of last year.