CAPS OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1869, 12 January 1870, Page 5

CAPS OF GOOD HOPE.

Some cheering news has been received from the Tatin goldfields. The Australian diggers and Swinburne party have sunk several deep shafts and are following a rich vein of gold. Correspondents write that quite a village has been formed, with its population of one hundred diggers in parties, each party with its own residence. Sir J. Swinburne is erecting buildings and stores, and, it is said, leaves for England at once to obtain more workmen and machinery. Several of the parties which left Hope town and other places for the diamond country have just returned, all having met with more or less success. A fine one of twenty two and-a-half carats has been brought in, among some thirty others, since our last mail reports were forwarded, and a package containing precious stones of various sizes is forwarded by to-day's steamer. Reports by way of Natal are unfavourable as to the progress of the Faulkner Zambezi Expedition. Messrs. Donovan and Perrin ore dead; Captain Faulkner and Mr. Norman being the only members of the party remaining on the East Csast.

Dr. Twells, late Bishop of the Free State, has left Natal for England in a sailing vessel. Before leaving he sent in his resignation, both to the Metropolitan Bishop of Cape Town and the S. P. G. Archdeacon Merriman, of Graham's Town, is temporarily in charge of the diocese. Bishop Macrorie opened a Synod at Natal on the 24th. ultimo.

The chief of the Barolong natives has sent a complaint to the Transvaall Government of the murder of two women by a Boer in 1867 ; the matter had|been hushed up from that time to this. The murdorer was a son of the Chief I Commandant Viljoen, who declares bis intention of suppressing the Potchefstrooni paper for publishing the report. Parliament, in committee on the Estimates, has voted for a general pro rata reduction of all salaries in the Civil Service. The Governor' 3 is reduced to £4000, and others in proportion. The Assembly has gone very recklessly to work, under tho leadership of the responsible Government advocatos. The drought in the country districts is broken up by recent heavy falls of snow and rain. The treaty of commerce between Portugal and tho Transvaal has, according to letters from tho latter State, been concluded. The j Portuguese Government, it is understood, has granted free export and import through all Portuguese harbours and rivers on the coast. The Bushmen in Narmaqualupd have made further inroads, and committed numerous robberies and murders. The Council has adopted a memorial to her Majesty in favour of an amendment in the wine tariff, by giving Cape wines the advantage of the one shilling duty. There is a scarcity of news from the goldfields, through the Transvaal Government having suppressed the Advocate as they did the Argtts, and indicted the editors for alleged The diamond finders report many new and valuable discoveries. Another small parcel is sent home by this eteamer. The members of the English Church at Bloemfontein have expressed a unanimous desire for the appointment of the Venerable Archdeacon Merriman, of Graham's Town, to the Bishopric of the Orange Free State.— Caps Standard.