CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 341, 25 January 1861, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Bi the courtesy of Captain Wyse, of the yacht Spray, we are in possession of Cape papers to the 16th of November.

The league for the separation of the eastern province was conducting its agitation with great spirit, and the movement is said to be beginning to tell powerfully.

A great destruction of sbeep, from the prevalence of heavy rains, is reported throughout the

colony

The papers notice the arrival of the Spray at Table Bay. The Gape Chronicle says, under the heading, "Bun of a small yacht to Australia"—" On Tuesday afternoon a small cutter of 20 tons, named the Spray, Captain E. Wyse, put into Table Bay for refreshments, on her voyage from Greenock to Hobart Town. She left Greenock on the sth September, and Lamlash, at the mouth of the Clyde, on the 7th. She was detained a couple of days at Madeira, so that she has made the run to the Capo in 65 days —a remarkable thing for such a small craft, and reflecting great credit on Captain Wyse's skill and seamanship."

The Governor.—His Excellency the Gover* nor has received a very complimentary. letter from che Queen in which Her Majesty expresses herself highly satisfied with the reception of his Royal Highness, and the care bestowed upon him by Sir George Grey. The statement, that Sir George Grey had been offered the Governorship of Madras is, it appears, unwarranted. Neither is there any foundation for the rumoured recall of Admiral Keppel.— Hohart Town Mer~ cury, January 7.

Photography.—To the photograph we are indebted for a most accurate representation of the Nelson Government Buildings, which has been transferred to wood and printed upon tinted linear paper applicable for correspondence to England. By such as would wish to convey to relations and friends a picture of one of our finest buildings, these printed sheets can now be procured in Nelson at a small charge, with this most suitable heading to a letter home. Speaking of this art reminds us that the photographer of longest standing here (Mr. Oxley) has announced his intention of residing at Richmond, where he will continue to "hold the mirror up to nature " to any country residents^ desirous of testing his portrait-taking capabilities.

AUCKLAND. (From the Neio Zcalandcr.) PEACE CONSPIRACY. Mr. Tom King of Taranaki has achieved notoriety at least, if he has not secured a niche | in the Colonial Temple of Fame. He has preserved sub imo pectore, through party trials, through all the temptations of debate in the House of representatives, a terrible secret which he has revealed only in the agonies of his political decease, when rejected by his Taranaki constituents and wounded by the sharp pen of the ruthless Fox. ! Mr. King was conscious of a plot at the " Royal/ to bring about a peaceful solution of the Taranaki difficulty. The conspirators ■were the Superintendents of three of the Provinces of the Northern Island, and other repre- ! sentatives of the people in. the General Assembly. Their vile purpose was to promote an Address I from the General Assembly to the Governor, praying his Excellency himself to appoint a commission " to ascertain and report whether or not any means can be devised, consistent with the dignity of the Crown, to bring an end to the unhappy war," at Taranaki. Our readers will not need to be reminded that on th 3 subject of the justice of the war, opinion in the House was greatly divided, and that it was a painful trial for conscientious men to be called upon to increase the public burden of debt, in order to provide for the vigorous prosecution of a civil war, involving frightful loss of human life, so long as they were haunted by a suspicion well or ill founded, of the perfect righteousness of the cause in which we were engaged.

Had such an enquiry as was talked of been made, it might have led to a peaceful solution of the Taranaki difficulty. If it failed, it would bare at least disarmed the Maori sympathisers and strengthened the hands of the Governor. In either case a great benefit would have resulted.

One of the dangers which we have always dreaded as the result of the interference or control of the local Governmeut iv Native affairs, ia now being made prominent. This question of peace or war at Taranaki has been made a political-party question, and it is now being degraded into an electioneering cry. Strong passions, rife enough and easily excited upon such occasions, are being assiduously fanned, and tbe breach between the European Colonist and his Native fellow is in danger of being widened for tbe miserable purpose of securing a factious triumph or of damaging a political opponent.

We are glad to be able to record that on Monday night one of the largest and most influential meeting? which it has been our fortune to see assembled in Auckland, put its seal of condemnation on this sort of electioneering in general, and pronounced a verdict upon Mr. Tom King in especial, which will not be very flattering to that gentleman's vanity. After having heard the explanation of the convenors of the meeting, the gentlemen whom Mr. Morrin accuses of treason, this very plain issue was put by the Chairman, —"All those who are opinion " that the statement in Mr. King's letter and ia tbe Southern Cross are untrue, will hold up their hands." A show of bauds from every quarter of the Hall was the quick response. " Those who are of opinion," said the Chairman, " that the statements contained in these doouments are true, will now hold up their hands." We observed two hands, not over clean, which showed themselves for an instant and disappeared.

Again we deprecate the criminal folly of stirring up destructive passions, between two races of men occupying the same soil and living under the same rule, in order that Mr. Heale may be returned for Parnell or Mr. Hardiugton for Newton, — that " vigorous prosecution " should triumph in the East city or in the West over tbat " treason " which seeks an honorable peace. Day by day we do thus but sow dragons' teeth which in time will inevitably confront us as armed men. In that hour of need it will be seen whether the men who scream and execute war dances on public platforms are braver, have more enduring " pluck," than the men who desire honorably to live in quietude. Those who choose to judge of the probable behaviour of the disciples from the conduct of the Apostle of " vigorous prosecution " will not fail to observe that Mr. Tom King prefers ferreting out plots in Auckland, or writing letters to the newspapers in Nelson, to fighting at Taranaki.