NEWS FROM THE CAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6815, 20 September 1883, Page 5

NEWS FROM THE CAPE.

A Melbourne telegram in the Sydney Morning Herald gives the following items of news, from the Cape by the steamship Garoane, which left there on the 18th ultimo : — Miss Webb, sister of the noted swimmer, Captain Webb, who was drowned at Niagara, Who has. lately been living at the Cape, became frantic on hearing of her brother's death, and drowned herself. Cetewayo's wounds are stated to have been only slight assegai wounds on the thigh,, and which did not prevent him from walkiojr. The De Beer Company have fguod a diamond weighing 150 A carats, being Worth about £5 a carat. In the House of Assembly a motion for th© discontinuance of the payment of the High Commissioner by the colony has been introduced by Mr. Pearson. A debate ensued,which was adjourned. In the Legislative Council, the second reading of the Basutoland Disancexatwn Bill has been moved by the Piemier, and was carried. In committee on the Bill, the Council made several .important amendments. . The draft proposals of a South African Confederation Union have been published. Tne following are the principles to be sought, for : —"A confederation of the various States, viz., the Cape Colony, in different provisoes, the Transvaal, the Free State, aud Natal; local self-government; a uniform system of native administration; and a central senate, in whiqh each of the States shall be represented'— the Eenate to sit at the capital of the union, which must be chosen for general convenience; entire independence of action within the limits of the union to be granted by the English Government—England to retain control of all the ports for Imperial purposes, "