CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. (From the Wellington Independent, Dec. 13.)

Otago Witness, Issue 36, 24 January 1852, Page 4

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. (From the Wellington Independent, Dec. 13 .)

By the arrival of the " Columbus" we 'are put in possession of papers from this colony to September 15th. Sir H. Smith had been engaged in sending out troops to traverse British Kaffraria in various directions, while within the Cape Colony the Kafirs had completely devastated many extensive tracts, burning numcious farmhouses, and carrying off many thousand head of cattle.

On the 15th of August, Sir Harry Smith, after repeatedly declining to accede to the urgent solicitations of the Graham's Town Board of Defence, entreating that a portion of his force might be sent into the colony for the protection of the inhabitants, at length consented to despatch Lieut-Colonel Eyre, with half of the 73rd regt. and more than 100 horse, into Lower Albany. This movement has been productive of some advantage to that part of the colony ; but in spite of the activity displayed by the troops, the marauders have continued their ravages in the close vicinity of the patrols, and within a few miles of Graham's Town.

About the same time a detachment of 152 men of the 45th regt, under Major Kyle, while patrolling near the Sevenkloof Mountains, had a sharp conflct with a body of Kafirs and Hottentots, — losing one man killed, and three wounded, but inflicting, as was believed, a considerable loss in both killed and wounded on the enemy. Another skirmish took place, near the Debe Neck, on August 19, between Captain Vialls, of the 45th regt., with about 70 men, and a number of Kafirs, of whom several were shot, with no loss to Captain Vialls' detachment.

On the 21st ult. Colonel Mackinnon, with a force of about 850 men, was despatched to convey supplies to Fort Hare, and bring back the 50 Hottentot rebels, convicted and sentenced to transportation by the court-martial. This service was duly accomplished ; and on the 27th the column returned to head-quarters without having encountered an enemy, either in going or in returning.

On the Ist inst. Lieut.-Colonel Burne, of the 2nd regt, who was engaged in patrolling the Fish River Bush, near Committee's Drift, had a severe action with a body of Kafirs and Hottentots. The particulars are not fully known. The fight is described as " a sharp affair," and the casualities were rather heavy, three soldiers being killed and twelve wounded.

Some other operations within the colony require to be noticed. The Tambookie marauders having been very troublesome on the northeastern frontier, a party of 200 Albert and Colesberg burghers, under Commandants Olivier and Joubert, assembled to chastise them. The party made a patrol into Tambookie Land, and captured about 200 head of cattle. On their return they were surrounded by a very large force of Tambookies," estimated at about 2000 strong, and were for a time in a critical situation. They were rescued by the advance

of Commandant Joseph Read, with his mounted troop, to their assistance. The united colonial force then attacked and routed the Tambookies, killing 120 of them.

Major-General Somerset, with the First Division of the army, has been moving between the Somerset and Albany Districts, but has been able to accomplish little for the protection of the inhabitants. In the latter part of July he made an effort to expel Macomo from the Waterkloof, which that chief, with several hundred of his people, has made his stronghold. General Somerset was unsuccessful in this attempt, and he soon afterwards withdrew from that neighbourhood, leaving the inhabitants to defend themselves. This they have done as well as their numbers and resources enabled them, but only with partial success.

On the 4th ult. a party of twelve mounted men, headed by Messrs. Ainslie and Macgregor, with about thirty Fingoes, encountered a large body of Macomo's Kafirs, estimated at not less than 600, whom they defeated and drove before them, killing no less than twenty of them. This easy victory of so small a body of colonists renders General Somerset's failure the more unaccountable. That officer has recently been engaged in patrolling in Albany, and has succeeded in recapturing some cattle taken by the enemy.

Numerous other skirmishes of military and colonial patrols with the enemy have taken place ; but it does not appear that any material effect has yet been produced in restraining the activity or diminishing the boldness of the enemy. Every post brings accounts of fresh depredations and ravages committed at various points within the line of the frontier. By the latest accounts from the Somerset District many coloured servants, Tambookies and others, who had hitherto remained faithful, had joined the enemy, and aided in driving off their masters' cattle. The burghers of Graaf-Reinet, Cradock, and Zwagers Hock, were to assemble on the 4th inst. at Somerset, to endeavour to expel the enemy from the Kaga mountains.

In the Orange River Sovereignty the British Resident has made no movement since his repulse by Molitsane on the 30th of June. He has, however, published a " Government Notice Extraordinary," in which the people of Moshesh and Molitsane (the Basutos and Bataungs) are denounced as enemies, and the settlers in the Sovereignty are summoned to enrol themselves for military service. The inhabitants have generally refused to obey the order, alleging that they have no desire or motive for quarreling with those chiefs. A public meeting of landowners and merchants has been held at Bloom Fontein, at which resolutions were passed severely censuring the conduct of the Resident towards those chiefs as impolitic and unjust. A force, consisting of two companies of the 45th regt., with some native auxiliaries, has been despatched from Natal by LieutenantGovernor Pine to the assistance of Major Warden ; and it is said to be the intention of the Commander-in-Chief to send the 12th Lancers to the same province. The latest rumours from the Sovereignty received through Kafirland are of a startling nature. It is reported that the two denounced chiefs, Moshesh and Molitsane, were about to join the hostile Kafirs, with all their forces, numbering eight or ten thousand fighting men ; but the report needs confirmation.

During the last month the 2nd Regiment of Foot (Queen's Royals) has arrived from England, and the 12th Regiment from Mauritius. About 450 men have also arrived from England in the troop-ship " Sumner" and the steamer " Cyclops," to reinforce the various corps already in the colony ; and nearly as many volunteers have been sent to head-quarters from the Western Districts. The* freight-ships "Berkshire" and " Charlotte," and the steamers " Retribution" and " Odin," with the 12th Lancers (for whom a full complement of horses has been purchased), and the second battalion of the 60th Rifles, are now daily expected. It is rumoured that, in consequence of the unfavourable news from the Orange River Sovereignty, two steamers will probably be despatched to India for reinforcements. But nothing is known of the intentions of the Commander-in-Chief relative to the affairs of the Sovereignty.

From the latest information it appears the Kafirs and Hottentots are far from subdued, and that they were closely watching the movements of Colonel Eyre, taking every care, however, not to come into collision with him. Two Hottentot deserters, one the confidential servant of the Major General, had been hanged.

The whole of the 91st Regiment, now in Graham's Town, will proceed to join headquarters at Fort Hare. We believe that the following is the distribution of the troops at present intended : — One company of the 12th, Avith head-quarters, will remain at Graham's Town ; two companies will relieve Colonel Eyre in Lower Albany, and the remaining three will

be placed at the disposal of the Major-General. The 45th will go to Fort Hare and Forts White and Cox will be garrisoned by the 2nd. The 12th Lancers are to go to the Sovereignty, and the 6th Rifles to join the Major-General's division.

The " Cape Town Mail," Sept. 12, observes that there is something astonishing and almost incredible in the species of infatuation which appears in the dealings of the Home Government with the South African settlements. Instead of leaving the management of colonial affairs to the persons most interested in the preservation of peace, her Majesty's Ministers persist in committing all these settlements, with their varied populations and their complicated concerns, to the unrestricted control of three or four military or civil officers, who haA r e no personal interest whatever in the prosperity of the colonies, and whose only plan of government — even when they are animated by the best intentions — seems to consist in an absurd mixture of intimidation and cajolery.

How long will it be, and how much will it cost, before the statesmen of England will learn that any number of Solons or Alfreds in Downing Street cannot govern a colony, six thousand miles distant, as well as it would be governed \>y themselves ? (The colonists of New Zealand have repeatedly asked the same question, and are now pausing for a reply.)