IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WIPPENER'S HEAD-QUARTER'S. Friend of the Free State Office, August 16,

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2602, 20 November 1865, Page 5

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WIPPENER'S HEAD-QUARTER'S. Friend of the Free State Office, August 16,

By the Simthfield po*t of this morning w« learn that, on the Ist of Angiut, a patrol of 400 men ttortned Letsea's mountain before daylight, met 1,000 of the enemy, killed from 40 to 60 of them (amongst whom Let c ea is supposed to bo one), hunted the Basutos like wiluehee«ite», and captured 3,700 head of cattle, 1,250 horses, and 12,000 sheep. On the following day, the 2nd iuct., lome slaughter stock and horses fit for lervice were to be picked out of thw number, and the remainder were to be lent to Sraithfield and Bethule, there to remain till the war ii over. The Acting Commandant-General Wipener has pro. claimed the country till now occupied by Labenjn, Putsanie, Bushuli, Mahali, Sofalie, M»k\v»i, Lettea, and other petty chiefs and their people, to be, from this time forth, Free State territory. The commando of Wipener hoped to reach ThVb* Bo3igo on Thursday last, 3rd inst. No men have been killed or wounded o» our side. From a perion who arrived here fvotuThabi'Nohu last evening, we learn that it is currently reported there that Thaba Bosigo ban been abandoned by the enemy, and that the houses on it have since been burnt by our forces ; but this report, though highly probable, requires confirmation. At Thaba Nehu it it considered certain that his Honor the President, the artillerymen, the Whitworth, gun, and the party of men escorting the same, have arrived safely at the headquarters camp. It is now known for certain that little if any assistance in the shape of volunteers need bo looked for by this State from the South African Republic, Martial law has beon proclaimed by President Protorhts; the calling together of volunteers has been indefinitely postponed, and the burghersoftbatcountry been commandeered, or called up, to join those who have for some' wr eks past been lying at WakkerJitroom under Commandant Paul Krnger. Though Kruger has hitherto fallen in with no enemy, and President Protorius has repeatedly urged him, in the event of there being no danger threatened by the Zulus , in that quarter, to proceed at once with his men to the aisistance of the Free State, lie (Kruger) has in reply continued to declare that both Utrecht (the nearest Republican town to Zululand) and Wakkerstroom were in danger, and persistently, to request that more men should without delay be sent to him." Persons from Wakkerstroom say that all ii quiet there, but it is thought that Cetohwayo wishes ( to come through that part of the country to the assist, ance of Moshesb, in -which caso Paul Kruger will «oon put a stop to his movements. During the last few days intelligence has also been received at Potohefstroomthat in Zoutpansberg district matters are anything" but quiet All • that we :of this ttate need expect then, is that Paul Kruger will keep his eye on the movements of the Zulus, and will endeavour to prevent their coming, to the atsUtanoe of . the Basutos. Wo believe that President Protorius' has, in all honesty and sincerity, done bi« best to induce hii burghers to come as volunteers to our aid, more especially after he heard of the murder of his near relatives near Harriimith, but, at the same time, he has evidently failed in his well-meant endeavours on our behalf, Thirty-six volunteer* from that republic are said to

r Lave recently passed near Winburg, and eight wore at tho oouibiued lager when we last heard, making together forty-four, but it still remains to bo seen whether tho last thirty fix wi" ever reach tho otimp. We doubt it. ' Vt 'ono thing we aro raoro'tban evor convinced, that but £ow Mouth African boors will be found ready to go out of their way to fight from motives of patriotism, nationality, or even the innoh talked o£ brooder■chap. Only those who come under tho provisions of our Commando Law, and not all Of *'' ose » will be found fighting in oue ranks. Ihose whose place of residence happens to bo far from the Bnsnto border come up to the front witu the greatest possible reluotnnoe — witneM the inon of Jacobsdal, who were fined the other day for desertion and refusal to perform burgher duty. Wo are at the same time proud to acknowledge that wo have among tho farmers in this State many bravo and good men, and wo hope and trust that they, with tho assistance of the few Europeans and townspeople, will, without foreign aid, completely oreroonie and put down tho Basutos. If suoh should be the case, far better will it be for this State. Had we been beholden to the Trans- Vaalers for theirjusistauoe, they would thereafter have given iw nojend of tiouble with their olairas to land, and their claims for tho lion's share of any cattle or other atock that might havo been oaptiued during tbo joint campaign. It is now pretty dear that we shall be loft to fight our battles alone.

Thero are Capo Town dates of tho IStU Axigust; by telegraph. The only news appears to bo "a liotoh potolx crisis" in politics, as it is called, ou the Annexation and Representation Act. The Eastern Province, with British Kaffrnria at its back, threatens secession »nd an appeal to the Throne. It is the Separation question agitated in the Cape colony ; nnd, judging by the tone of the speecheg and writers, with more bitterness than in Now Zealand, or formerly in New South Wales. Fiom Port Elizabeth, 17 th of August, we leaiu that a vigilance committee h sitting. In tho Great Eastern (Graham's Town journal) of the 19th we have later from Port Elizabeth. It says :—: — Business remains dull : financial embarrassments in the Eastern Province have increased since the monthly mail left. The restoration of peace in Americ* has led to the re-opening of transactions m wool between American and Port Elizabeth houses. Money is very dear and difficult. The banks have almost ceased discounting altogether — they only serve their customers, and that at high rate. There is veiy little commercial confidence existing. Trade U positively at a standstill. Unless some public works are initiated by tha Legislature before the session is biokeu up, a gieat number of skilled labotuers will be thrown out of employment. It is believed that Parliament will iwient to tho railway from Port Elizabeth to Commando Kraal, and from Wellington part way to Woicester. Thero have been no rains, and tho country is parohed. Gient watt of water is expoiieneed in all the inland distiicts. Within three miles of the coast the countiy looks well. Wheat is fine ; oats are suffering from rust, and barley from lice. The war made by the Free State upon the Basutoa has resulted, so f.ir, in favour of the Boers, and the general opinion is that Moshesh's tribe will be completely broken up. The accounts from tho Free States are, however, most unieliable. No other disturbauces with natives have broken out. Parliament has now been sittiug every day since the 27th Apiil. The Annexation aud Representation Bill is now iv the Council, where it is likely to pass without amendments. The Easterns, seeing the hopelessness of obtaining a fair share of the revenue at the hands of the Parliament, will soon address the Imperial Government, and pray for Rome organic change. The whole colony is disgusted with Constitutional Government. Trade in the West is quite as bad as in tho East ; but the failures nro almost entirely confuted to Port Elizabeth as yet. It was teported here that Sir Philip Woclohouso was to l>e recalled, bnt tho report is not behoved in. The 96th Regiment remains in Graham's Town. Tho Lieutenant Governor, Sir Percy Douglas, has leturned from Natal, and is now residing at the Lieuteuaut-Govsruor's residence, Giaham's Tovu. Colonel Gawler, aide de-camp to his Excellency the Lieutenaut-Governor, has just returned fiom a tour throughout the British South Aftican territory between the colony and Natal. He reports the native tiibes to exhibit no wailiko tendencies at present.