The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-07 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

The Cape Journals of the 3rd of May, being nine days
later than the last accounts, have come to hand. Little
is said of any apprehended outbreak on the part of the
Kaffirs ; and, therefore, the fears entertained when the
previous accounts left the colony had considerably sub-
sided. The most recent intelligence in Cape Town
respecting the affairs in the Free State is contained in a
private letter dated Colesburg, April 23 :
The Bloemfontein newspaper is, as usual, silent about
the Commando. Private letters state that Moshesh has
claimed some fifty of the Boers' farms as falling within his
line. As the same time he professes the most friendly
feeling towards the Boers, and I hear offers to defend the
lives and property of any Boers who may choose to take
refuge with him, during the war with Witsie. This is
snpposed to be a deep stroke of policy on his part, as he
would thus create a diversion among the Boers, leave
them with fewer men, and also by this appearance of
friendliness keep his own country free from alarm, whilst
a large number of his men would join Witsie in resisting
the attacks of the Boers. I hope they may come to an
amicable settlement, for I fear that the Free State is but
ill provided with the sinews of war.
An important measure had been brought before the
House of Assembly respecting the desirability of procuring
or inducing European labourers and others to prefer South
Africa to other fields of emigration. On the 29th April
the following resolutions were approved in a committee of
the whole house :

I That emigration from Europe to this colony, at the
present time, under the auspices of government, is both
expedient and necessary.

2. That the chief objects to be secured under the emi
gration scheme should be two-fold, viz.: to provide a
supply of labour, and add to the general population of the
colony. _ _

3. That the classes of emigrants to be introduced
should embrace, first, agricultural labourers of all des-
criptions, shepherds, and mechanics, and secondly, such
other emigrants as will promote the filling up of the
country, both in the western and eastern divisions.
4. That provision should be made in the first instance,
under proper limitations, to enable persons desirous so
to do, to send for any particular parties whom they may
wish to introduce ; but that such persons should enter
into an engagement with government that the parties so
introduced by them shall, from the day of arrival, be at
their cost and responsibility.
5. That a vessel should be simultaneously dispatched
to Table and Algoa Bays, and that arrangements should
be made for application for these emigrants being received
previously to their arrival, and for their distribution
through the different divisions of the colony as soon after
their arrival as possible.
6. That special government agents should be appointed
at Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, for the purpose of
carrying out the distribution of emigrants at these
points ; and that these agents should put themselves in
communication with the Divisional Councils or local
Emigration Committees, with a view of arranging to
supply the labour which may be required in their divi—
sions.

i 447. That the agency to be employed in recruiting
emigrants for this colony should consist of persons
deputed from the colony, who are acquainted with its
wants, or of persons resident in the mother country, but
likewise acquainted with the character and capabilities of
the colony.
8. That no portion of the expenditure for emigration
should be applied to the defraying of expenses on board
any ship or ships, beyond the expenses of each emigrant,
excepting such charges as may necessarily be incurred in
providing a superintending surgeon.
9. That in providing means for this scheme of immigra-
tion, the credit of the country should be employed, through
the issue of nebentures, bearing a certain rate of interest,
and these debentures should be redeemed, after a certain
time to be fibed in the act which shall provide for their
issue. _ _ _ . _ _

10. That tenders should be invited in London for these
debentures, to the extent, in the whole, of £200,000; that
they should bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum, but that the government should be restrictqd to
the issue of debentures to the amount of £50,000, add no
more, during the current year; and that the government
should not issue any further debentures until authorised
so to do by a vote of both Houses of Parliament.
11. That the government should be requested to introduce
a bill on the basis of these resolutions, and containing
such other provisions as may be necessary for carrying
out this scheme of emigration.
The committee divided on the resolutions, and the Ayes
were 22, Noes 14—majority 8.

Several opportunities would occur for the further dis-
cussion of the above resolutions, both in the Assembly and
in the Council, so that the Cape public need not fear that
so important a measure
,would be rashly adopted or
rejected•

FEARFUL COLLISION AND LOSS OF LIFE
IN THE MEESEY.

About two o'cloek yesterday morning a fearful collision,
attended by a considerable loss of life, took place within
side the Rock lighthouse. The exact number of those
whose lives have been sacrificed has not at present been
ascertained, nor is the precise number of persons who were
seriously injured known. From the information we hate
been able to collect, it appears that, about the hour named,
the Mail, one of the Dublin Screw Steamship Company's
iron steamers, was entering the river from Dublin, and,
when a short distance within side the Rock lighthouse, and
close to the Cheshire shore, she saw the Excelsior, also an
iron screw steamer, outward bound for Belfast, steering
towards her with a light up, and about a mile distant. Seeing
a collision probable, the Mail stopped her engines and
ordered the passengers aft ; but, unfortunately, many of
them were asleep and remained forward. Immediately
afterwards the Excelsior, stein on, struck the Mail on the
port bow, and cut her dawn to the water's edge. Some
time elapsed before the two vessels could be
disengaged from each other. The Mail lost her anchors,
and the Excelsior left her anchors and a quantity of her
chain cable entangled on board the Mail, which had on
board 75 steerage, and 4 cabin passengers. Six of the
steerage passengers were killed by the collision, and on the
arrival of the boat the bodies of the unfortunates were
conveyed to the dead house, at the corner of the Princes
dock. Of three of the sufferers we have been able to
ascertain the names, but the other three, up to a late hour
last evening had not been identified. The names of those
who have been recognised are David Havil, Michael Soyer)
and John Caney.
The names of the eight passengers who had sustained
fearful injuries, and were conveyed to the Northern Hospi-
tal, are—Michael Doran, John Corley, John Murphy,
Patrick Rattle, Lawrence DArken, Michael Kilhorn, Daniel
Nahan, and Thomas Neil. Doran and Corley expired
shortly after they became inmates of that establishment, and
several of the others are not expected to survive.

The cabin passengers happily escaped without injury.
The two boats remained entangled together for upwards of
two hours, therefore some of the missing passengers from
the Mail may have escaped by getting on board the Ex-
celsior. The leading points of these particulars have been
obtained from the captain of the Hail, which, after landing
her passengers, was run into the Prince's dock basin.
The port bow of the vessel seems quite demolished, and
the sprinkling of human blood among the planks and spars,
presented a feartul and appalling appearance. The Mail
made no water after the occurrence, the bulk-head remained
firm, and the engine and boiler remains uninjured.
The Excelsior, so far as is at present known, has sustained
but little injury beyong the loss of her figurehead and
bowsprit. After getting clear of the Mail, she at once
proceeded on her voyage. .
An inquest will be held on the bodies of the unfortunate
deceased's, all of who are harvestmen, this day but in all
probability will be adjourned until the return of the
Excelsior, when all the facts connected with this painful
event will be elicited.