The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-22 00:00:00

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received files of papers from the Cape

;0 the 9th of June.

On the sth of June the Cape Parliament was pro-
rogued by the Governor in the following speech
"Mr. President and Gentleman of the Legislative
Council; Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the
House of Assembly—
"l. I have to express my thanks to you for the care
which you have, throughout a protracted session, be.

stowed upon the various measures which have been
under your consideration. I have assented, in the
Queen's name, and on her Majesty's behalf, to the several
bills which you have sent up to me, and I will do my
utmost to cause them, to be so carried into operation as
to produce as large an amount of good as possible for the
country.

"2. I hope that the Executive Government may sue-
cited in giving full effect to the wishes you have expres-
sed with regard to the building and improvement of
gaols. Nothing can be more consonant with my own
wishes than that every effort should be made to alleviate
the evils which have so long existed from the want of
sufficient and proper gaol accommodatton. With a view
to immedia.ely attaining, at least in part, this end, I
will endeavour, without delay, to devise a plan by which
circuit courts may be more frequently held throughout
the colony.
" 3. I have been much gratified at finding how large a
share of your consideration has been bestowed upon the
question of education, and at the efforts which you have
made to stimulate and encourage it, by providing the
means of bringing the inhabitants of the colony together,
in their various locations, to deliberate upon this sub-
ject. I cannot but hope that they will thus at once be
rendered anxious to of.tain the benefit of a good educa-
tion for the youth of their several vicinities, and inven-
tive of the means by which they can best attain so desir-
able an end.

" 4. It was with great satisfaction that I receivedfrom
you the Public Examiners Bill. In passing this mea-
sure, you have, I trust, laid the foundation of a future
University. By thus providing the means of obtaining
in this colony an education of the highest order, you will
cause to be reared up here a class of highly educated
men, who will carefully watch that the benefits of an
ordinary education are secured to all classes of the com•

munity. • .
"5. I thank you for having afferded the Government •
the means of continuing to encourage the stream of Eu-
ropean immigration, which appears to be setting steadily
in to this colony, and which will increase so largely the ,
produce, the wealth, and the security of the country.
" 6. The large and liberal provision which you have
made for the continuation and maintenance of our great
lines of internal communication will afford ample means
of providing employment for all immigrants who can
arrive here, and add greatly to the future prosperity of
the colony, and to the value cf all fixed property.
" 7. I have also to thank you for having matured a
measure which provides for the improvement of the im-
portant harbour of Port Elizabeth, upon which our
commercial prosperity so largely depends.
" 8, Although the Home Government has not felt
justified in lending its aid in carrying out the proposed
Harbour of Refuge in Table Bay, it bas been to ma a
source of great pleasure that our own revenues have been
found sufficient to enable the Local Government to carry
out a large part of the contemplated plan. I still indulge
the hope that the efforts you have thus made to carry
en this great undertaking may ultimately lead Great
Britain to assist in the completion of a work so nearly
connected with the facility and security of the com-
merce of the world, and with the interests of the widely
extended British empire.
" 9. Tne assistance you have afforded the Government,
in adding so largely t..) the Border police force, will en-
able
me effectually to provide for the defence of the fron-
tier, and the maintenance of the public peace in those
districts into which Kaffirs have been largely introduced;
while this preceedieg on your part, and the sense of se•
curity arising from it, will reader still more satisfactory
to the colonists the measure the Government was com-
pelled to adopt, of introducing so large an amount of
Kaffir labour into the country, and which has happily,
in so many reTects, proved advantageous to its interests.
"Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of
Assembly,—
" 10. I thank you for the liberal supplies which you
have voted for the conduct of the public service. The
Executive Government will endeavour to administer
these carefully and economically.
"11. Large as these supplies are, they are in a great
measure to be devoted to expenditure which may be
considered of a reproductive character, and which will
thus, in a short time, inure than repoky the or ginal out-
lay. Moreover, the public revenues are now in so satis-
factory a state, and promise so well for the future, that
the expenditure you have sanctioned is fully justified by
your financial prospects.
" Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Legislative
Council, Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the
House of Assembly,—
" 12. I thank .you for the interest you have mani-
fested in the lamentable events which have recently
taken place in the country beyond the Orange River.
" 13. In compliance with your request and an appli-
cation which had Peen made to me by the Government
of the Orange Frei S:ate, I tendered my mediation to
that Government and to the Basutu nation, expressing
• to each of them my earnest hope that I might succeed
1 in successfelly adjusting the unfortunate differencee
I which prevailed between there.
"14. Toe former of these countries has notified to inn
its grateful acceptance of toy offer, surject, however, to
the confirmation of the VoArsraad, which was to meet
in a few days. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed for
the reply of the Basutu Chief to reach m a
"15. Should his reply be of a favourable nature, I
will then exert myself to the utmost to give effect, to
your wishes by carrying to a successful issue the media-
tion you have advised, if au opportunity is afforded me
of so doing ; but new complications appear to be taking
place in the country beyond the Orange River, which
may preclude me from acting in the manner you had
des'red.
" li. I am happy in being able to inform you that
British Caffraria is in a perfectly tranquil state, and
that sauguiuo expectations may new he reasonably in-
' dulged that the great national resources of that fertile
country may be uninterruptedly developed, in which
case it will very shortly attain to a high degree of pro-
' sperity, and will contribute greatly to the wealth and
commerce of this colony.
• ~ 17. I cannot permit this, the last session of the first
• Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope, to close without
expressing rity thanks t) the members for the zealous
i and efficient exertions which they have, throughout its
whole continuance, made to advance the interests of this
country ; for the sacrifices they have made for the public
good ; for their remarkable freedom from faction and
. party spirit ; and for the support and aid which they
' have so often afforded roe under circumstances of great
difficulty and perplexity. These will all leave an ins-
• pression of gratitude and friendly feeling upon my mind
which nothing can efface.
" 18. And these sentiments are heightened by the con-
viction I feel that the wisdom and moderation evinced by
the members of this Parliament have conclusively sheave
that the peeple of the colony were in every way fitted to
use well and wisely the liberal Constitution which her
Hsjesty, in her gracious care for the welfare and ad-
vancement of themselves and their descendants, was
pleased to bestow upon them. Thinking thus, I cannot
Lut confidently indelge the belief that this, the first
Parliament of the Cape of Good Hepe, will be admitted
to have established lasting claims upon the gratitude of
their country."