CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1266, 21 July 1864, Page 2

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

By the Neptune, via Bydnay, we {Argus) have papers from the Cape of Good Hope to the 17th May. Tho Cape Anjits of that date states that from the returns of the imports and exports for the quarter ending with tho 31st of March last, it has been ascertained ttuvt the grand total of goods entered for consumption during the first quarter of the present year was £480,053, while the value of the exports of colonial produce was £609,370, being a difference of £183,336 in favour of the colony. The imports were £512,847, as compared with £612,558 last year. The exports, on the other hand, show an increase of from £413,292 to £669,379. Compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, the imports have fallen ofl' £46,926, and the exports increased by £203,086. Return of tub Zamhksi Mission.—The Advertiser and Mail of 20th April says lI.M. steamer Valorous, Commander Forsyth, arrived in Simons Bay on Friday last, with the steamer Pioneer, in tow from the Zambesi—and the Rev. Mr. Waller, of the Universities mission, and several native people on board, Dr. Livingstone and Bishop Toze?, in company with their band of followers, have left the sphere of their recent labours. From the advices to hand it appears that on the 19th of January the river Shire rose to a sufficient height to allow of its navigation, and the Lady Nyassa and the Pioneer commenced their descent to the sea. The mouth of the river was reached on the 12th of February, and on the following day her Majesty's steamer Orestes arrived, and was almost immediately followed by the Ariel. The Orestes, with the Pioneer in tow, and the Ariel with the Lady Nyassa, then left for Quillemaine; but, owing to the violent weather which was met with, the latter vessels could not make the contemplated port, but stood on for Mozambique, which was reached towards tho end of the month. Dr. Livingstone has proceeded with the Lady Nyassa to Bombay, with a view to selling her there. Writing from the Mozambique, in February last, to his friend Sir Thomas Maclear, at the Cape, he says:—"Viewing calmly all the circumstances connected with the project of introducing the gospel into the slave marts of Eastern Africa, and having some little experience as to what ought to encourage or discourage one of a manly, missionary spirit, I have no hesitation in asserting that the Zambesi highlands, with so many souls at the absolute will of the missionary, presented a most inviting missionary field. It was occupied under the most favourable auspices. War and famine, it is true, caused great distress; but where is the mission which has not suffered from the like? If I were to begin a mission again, even single-handed, I could not conceive of a sphere in which the missionary prospects would be more inviting than that which has now been abandoned. I sometimes wish that I were young again, to be the first to plant Christianity among ♦he down-trodden people west of this; and I have no doubt that it will be done, though I may not be alive to hear of it. Were Ito go over again I would repeat all that I have said about this fine region for military enterprise; and I know that the future will justify my words and hopes." . Supposed Murder bt the Kafirs.—An official report to the Government has just come in from the Field-cornet J. Steyn, that a Koranna herd in the employ of one N. Else has been found murdered in the field, on a farm about five hours' ride from Bloemfontein, in the direction of the native boundary. When discovered, the head of the Koranna was severed from the body. The head had apparently received several severe blows from knobkerries, and the body was mutilated with a knife. The spoor of three mounted men, supposed to be Kafirs, had been traced by the field-cornet from the spot in the direction of Molitsani's country. The farmers i.Q the neighbourhood are much alarmed, and are already trending from their farms.—Friend of the Free State.