The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The Union Company's Cape Royal Mail steamer
Norman, Captain Boxer, arrived at Plymouth on Tuesday
evening. Her dates were : from Table Bay, June 21 ; St.
Melees, July 1 ; and Anemias, July 5. /ler mails were
landed sad forwarded to London that evening. She brought
the usual general cargo, among which were: 425 boles
wool, 300 bags copper ore, 155 tusks, 36 hales of skins, 48
hell sums and 24 qr. casks wine. Her passengers were
fifty.four in number, among whom were : Captain Burnett,
R.N. Governor of Aocensson ; Colonel Murray (Garman
Legion) and lady, Coleco) Farrell (Madras retired lis.) and
two children ; Dr. Dalloy, surgeon of the Narcissus. in-
%Aided ; Colonel Hill (Cape Volunteers) and lady, Moe.
J. Xesenthal, _ _ ,/LL.O Assistant-Commissary-General,
assitla, Lieut. 11oleswerth, R.K, Lieut. Currie, C.M.L.
sad Mrs. Cure* ke.
At the Cape parliament was still sitting ; the great ques-
tion that had occupied the principal portion of the session
was the bill for the separation of the eastern and western
provfrees lakoduced under eastern iefluences ; very lengthy
+bates hod issued thereon, and when the Norman left the
House of Assembly had rejected it by • majority of seven ;
and la the Legislative Council, the voting having been even,
the question had been postponed for • fortnight. It was
generally felt that the bill stood ro chance this session ;
but that ultimately, at some future time, the provinces
would certainly be the mere distance between
the miles—being —being alone considered an ire-
preterit iestigator to the change, and the great progress
made by Port Elisabeth reude'ing it entitled under the
circumstances to lay • claim to be the seat o: local
oohs's' legislation. A hope was being entertained
that the Impanel government would deal with the ques-
tion in the mine manner as at Moreton. Sir George Grey's
well-known views a federation, it was thought, might also
be brought to bear on the matter. Sir George had
not yet left for New Zsaleod, and it was much desired that
he should' put this ape difficulty in train for settlement
Were he left. The finance committee had brought up their
report, and having found that it would require X5,X3/. to
make all things satisfactory, recommended that an iir.me-
diets loan of 200,000/. should be contracted for the service
of the Ferment year ; and to meet the charges of this and
other loans, and to provide • sinking fund, they proposed to
lacrosse the reveuue by 100,0001., thus—by re-imposition of
transfer duties, 40,000/. ; increue of customs duties, '28,270. ;
pea coinage charge on bank paper issues, 10,0001. i and for
the remainder the stamp tans and a legacy and succession
duty were suggested, but reserve.' for further consideration.
It was believed that the colony could bear this increased
taxation well, but it was thought to look an
awkward policy, after parliament bad recently been
remitting taxation. The general feeling of the co-
lony was increasing to view more favourably the vo-
luntary principle ; instead of stets grant for religious
p • bill bad been introduced for the establishment
orr:Oluntary principle, but was not considered likely to
seemed this session. There had been no further news of
Bishop Mackenzie or the Zambezi mission. The public
works, under the control of the colonial surveyor, were re-
Mam progressing satisfactorily. Winter, though late,
elt in very severely, and trade had been much impeded
by • succession of storms. The stock of wine was very
low. The wool speculators in the Gaston province had last
very heavily—ea much as 100,00 W. was named—through
the deeeleen in the price of the wool at borne. The volun-
teers were Jealously continuing their meritorious efforts to
attain proficiency in drill and rile shooting. Trade had
been rather unusually dull, the may feature of novelty
large speculations in tobacco and cigars through the
rise in the duties. The barque Bernina, Capt.
Pions, which left England March 25 with • general cargo
widths following passengers for Table Bay—Mr. and Mrs.
OBE mid three children, Mn. Pritchard (wife of Admiral's
secretary) and three children, Mr. Van Boork, Mr. Hassell,
Mr. Nicoll, sod • girl in the service of Mrs. Pritchard—was
wrecked on Rabbets Island. Mrs. Pritchard's little boy
and baby, Ma Old and two of her children, Mr. Van
Boca, and airman. were lost. _ _

ThiAthens mail steamer arrived out at Table Bay June
10. The Norman left Plymouth on Wednesday night for
Iformilmaspron.