LATEST NEWS FROM THE CAPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 41, 28 February 1852, Page 1

LATEST NEWS FROM THE CAPE.

I (From the Sydney Empire.) | By way of Adelaide we have news from Cape Town to the 24th of October, and from the Frontier to the 18th of the same month. The " Port Elizabeth Telegraph" of October 16th draws a gloomy picture, and does not expect the war to terminate without a reinforcement of 5000 or 6000 additional troops. The " Graham's Town Journal" of October 11th says : — " It is computed that the four divisions of the enemy now engaged against the colony amount to from 10,000 to 12,000 men : and it is a most serious, matter for consideration that this host of barbarians is maintained at the expense of the colony. The contractors for our troops slaughter some 1500 beasts per month, and the enemy consume as many more. i * * * Should this wasting warfare continue ; a few months longer, the colony will be irre- I trievably ruined." ! The following extracts from the Cape " Shipj ping and Mercantile Gazette" of October 24th ! present more cheering intelligence from the i Frontier : — " The post, which left Graham's Town on the 18th, brings no important news. The head-quarters division of the Lancers was expected to reach King William's Town on the 17th. On the loth a column of nearly 1000 men, including a strong detachment of the Rifles, marched from King William's Town for the Chumie Valley, with the object of intercepting Macomo's hordes, if they should be driven by General Somerset and Colonel Michel from the Water Kloof, and attempt to take refuge in the Amatola Mountains. The Caffres had recommenced their depredations in Lower Albany. The Assistant-Commissioners were about to proceed to the Sovereignty. Affairs in that province had assumed a more encouraging aspect. Moshesh continued to profess peaceable intentions, and supplies of provisions had been procured from his country for the town of Bloem Fontein. A deputation from the Trans- Vaal emigrants, headed by a son of A. W. J. Pretorjus, had visited Bloem Fontein, bearing a communication, expressing a strong desire on the part of those emigrants to enter into terms of ' lasting peace' with the British Government, and, if necessary, to afford their friendly aid to prevent the ' war and desolation' which seemed to be impending. Major Warden returned a

suitable reply to this communication, promising to forward the proposals to H.M. High Commissioner, but adding, that ' while the British Government is ever desirous to cultivate the friendship of all, it will never tolerate uncalled-for interference in any portion of the Queen's dominions.' It was the general opinion at Bloem Fontein that the intentions of the Trans- Vaal settlers were really amicable."