The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-30 00:00:00

THE CAPE MAILS.

The Diamond Steam Navigation Company's
screw steamer Kaffraria, Captain Starks, arrived at
Plymouth yesterday, from Port Natal,
August 6 ; Port Elizabeth, August 20 ;
Table Bay, on the evening of August 23 ; St.
HPlena, September 2, and Madeira, September
21. She bad head winds from Table Bay, and put
in to Madeira to coal. Cargo : 1,099 bales wool,
99 bundles sheepskins, 33 ditto goatskins, four
cases ostrich feathers, and several cases of sun-
dries, all from Alga) Bay, and valued at 20,5291.
Also from Nata 4 200 tons sugar, and 1,500
boxes arrowroot The Kaffraria brings three
I days' later news from the Cape colony,
'but nothing of much import bad transpired in the
interim. Business continued quiet, but an improve-
ment was drawing nearer every day. Seasonable
rains had fallen in and around Port Elizabeth
during the last day or two, and it was hoped that
they had extended to the country districts also.
There bad recently been considerable discontent
on the part of the labouring classes in Cape Town
at the scarcity of employment, owing to the dis-
continuance of government works, but some orders
had been issued for the continuance of those
works, and this bad had a beneficial effect.
The governor bad instructed the colonial railway
engineer to proceed immediately with the new rail-
way works at Tulbab Kloof. The Wyuberg line of
railway was very shortly to be opened for public
traffic. The disputed doctrinal trial of the Rev.
Mr. Kobsif v. The Synod of the Dutch Reformed
Church was to oome off in the Supreme Court the
day after the Kaffraria sailed. The proceedings
throughout, as well as the final decision of the
court, would be watched and waited for by the pub•
lie in the colony with the deepest interest.
The Dromedary, 2, iron screw troopship, Master
Commander Alexander Brown, en routs for the
Brazils, arrived at Madeira the same day as the
Kaffraria. The Brisk, 16, screw-corvette, Captain
J. W. Hope, passed the Kaffraria, exchanging
signals, on Sept. 27, about 240 miles off Falmouth,
also the Bremen steamer Concordia, bound for the
Mediterranean. The passengers of the Kaffraria,
on their arrival at Falmouth, presented an address
to Captain Starks, expressive of their great satis-
faction at the accommodation afforded them on
the passage. The Kaffraria brings a supplemental
mail of 11 bags.

TESTING OP CH•INS AND CABLEn AT LIVERPOOL.
—A oommunicatioo from Marra. dams Baines and Co.,
0•1111111 al the Block Ball base, was laid before the Mersey
Dock board yesterday, complaining of the great delays
which take phis at the testis; works is Liverpool, and
slating that these delays are riot only a source of great
incowirenienos to the manufacturers, but that liners. Hainan
and Co. bad been much harassed in conse.joence with
regard to some yowls engaged in the government transport
service. The complaint was referred to a committee.
DIFENCER or THE MEX:KY.—The Mersey Dock
Beard agreed at their meeting yesterday to adopt the tug-
of the government authorities for the removal of the
(Gel at present being constructed near the landmarks at
Bootle to a site still further north, at the extremity of the
dock estate. The government will be wholly reimbursed by
the dock board for the espeose incurred—namely, 8,50 W.
The chairman of the works committee, is alluding to the
subject at the meeting of the board yesterday, explained
that the engineer of the board had been ether too candid
io divulging that the site of the fort at Bootle was of great
importance to the dock estate. Government therefore were
under the kiss that the board would only be too glad to
bear the expense of its removal.
IMPROVEMENT OF BRISTOL RIVE* AND DOCKS.—
The Bristol Docks Committee purpose an expenditure of
300,000!. oe the improvement of the river Avon sod the
entrances to the floating harbour, by removing all the deo-
gerous points between Rownliam.ferry and Bleckrork, or
the Phemant Quarry, awl enlarging the entrance locks from
the river to Cumberland Beau, sod from Comberlaod Basis
to the floating harbour, to a width of 60 feet and a length
that la 'sable two large vessels to be lead at the mine
time. New docks are about to be constructed et the month
of the river for the sooommodatsos of coma steamers is
oossexios with the poet mid pier railway, bat the projected
improvements al the Docks Committee will afford full cow.
endows is Bristol far sailing vessels of 1,200 tor register,
the real hordes sad earryiss powers is both eases being,
perhaps, a third more. It is a remarkable thing for Bristol
that the of the Docks Committee is likely to he
MAL PALACE—An Italian concert will be
gives to-morrow by the company of Sigma Ludes Gari-
baldi, siege of the gesseaL It will be condseted by Yr.
Massa.