The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-12 00:00:00

THAMES.

FLI-MOUTH, Aug. 1
The Diamond Steam Navigation Company's
screw steamship Kaffraria, Captain B. B. Starks,
arrived at Falmouth on Saturday night, from Table
Bay, July 6 ; St. Helena, July 15 ; and Madeira,
Aug. 2. She brings 24 passengers, 13 bags of mails,
and a full cargo, including 1,500 bales of wool.
At the,, Cape, Parliament was still in session, and
during fortnight had been engaged in con-
sidering some important meas_urpa,
The home Government despatches relative to the
withdrawal of the troops had been tinder discussion,
and resolutions had been adopted by the Assembly,
urging Luau to is impossible for the colony to pay
more than it now does—upwards of £lOO,OOO a
year, and otherwise appealing to the generosity as
well as justice of the mother country for continued
protection.
The Legislative Council were left discussing ad-
ditional resolutions on the same subject, in which
they took up a bolder position, and stated reasons
why they thought the 'colony entitled to this pro-
tection. Two bills, intended to modify the colonial
legislation relative to the natives, had also been
under discussion. The first of these bills was in-
troduced by the Government, and virtually estab-
lished a vagrant law. It provided that any person
found wandering about or over a farm might, unless
ho could give a good account of himself, be imme-
diately arrested, and summarily tried and punished
before the nearest magistrate. The second bill was
introduced by a private member, Mr. Molteno, and
was strenuously opposed by the Government. Its
object was to more effectually repress sheep and cattle
theft; and with that view it empowered resident
magistrates to try offences of that sort summarily,
instead of the usual process of a circuit judge and
jury ; and it provided as punishment either a short
imprisonment, not exceeding one year, with or
without spare diet, or a limited flogging. Both
these bills had met the approval of a large majority
in Parliament, and would in all probability pass,
although there was a strenuous opposition from a
minority.
A similar Reform measure to that recently
abandoned by the Government had been attempted
by Mr. R. W. Murray, the member from Cradock,
bat was rejected, the Parliament being decidedly
Conservative. The expected visit of the Duke of
Edinburgh continued to be looked forward to
with much interest, and arrangements for
giving him a most loyal reception were
being continued on the largest scale. The
inner docks of the Table Bay works were con-
fidently expected to be completed and ready for
traffic next April. For the works at Algoa Bay,
the Assembly had agreed to authorise a loan of
£40,000, and for the Kowie works £30,000. The
ship Queen of the Deep, 1,257 tons, from Calcutta
for Liverpool, with a cargo of cotton and jute, took
fire in lat. 31.50 S. and long 28 E., and had to
be abandoned at sea. The crew, after being three
days and two nights exposed in their boats,
were picked up June 26, by the Union Company's
steamship Natal, and were taken on to Natal,
and from there
_shipped on board the Diamond
Steam Navigation Company's screw steamship
Nataliau, en route for Algoa Bay and Table Bay.
Her Majesty's ship Orontes left Simon's Bay,
June 21, for Mauritius.
The Union Company's screw steamship Saxon,
Captain Ricketts, left Table Bay on the same after-
noon, July 6, for Southampton.
The outward bound mail steamer Celt, from Ply-
mouth June 11, arrived at St. Helena July 3, and
proceeded on.
Her Majesty's ship Vesper, iron screw storeship,
Staff-Commander J. G. 11. Thain, from China, for
England, arrived at St. Helena July 5. The Torch,
5, screw gunvessel, Commander G. A. Douglas,
was at St. Helena July 11.
The liaffraria's mails were landed at Falmouth,
and forwarded by this morning's (Sunday) mail
train. Several of her passengers also lauded at
him,
Falmouth.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKETL= This Day.

The niarket opens firm at full prices, especially
for American. Sales probably 12,000 or 15,000
bales.

-----
CLOSE OF THE SESSION. —Lorcl Redesdale, as
Chairman of the Committees of the House of Lords, sig-
nalised the approaching close of the present Session of
Parliament on Saturday last, by the usual fish dinner at
the Trafalgar. Covers were laid for 60 guests. The
Mi-
uisterial whitebait dinner has been fixed for Wednesday
next, at the Ship Tavern.
A clergyman in Cornwall, named
.Barton, has
been fined £5 and cogs for abusii3 and staving a flock of
20 sheep.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF ASSAULT.—Alexander
Crawford, a man about 40 years of age, was brought before
Mr. Partridge charged with violently assaulting Henry
Pink, a watchmaker, of No. 18, Beaumont-terrace,
Stepney.
The complainant, whoso face was marked, said he was
passing along the Mile-end-road on Saturday evening
when the prisoner, who was a total stranger to him, tapped
him on the shoulder and said, "I wish to speak a few
words to you on a matter of great importance, will you
retire a few steps. He refused to do so, and asked the
prisoner what he meant. The prisoner said, "If you
don't come with me l'll look you up for robbing my wife of
a jacket 12 or 18 months ago." He begged of the prisoner
to leave him. The prisoner immediately struck him a
fearful blow and knocked him down. When he got up
the prisoner struck him three " consecutive" and "very
distinct" blows, and he was immediately covered with
blood. The prisoner then dragged him to the opposite side
of the way, and said to hls wife, "Do you know this
man ?" to which she said "No, I do not."
Mr. Partridge—How do you know it was his wife ?
Witness—He said it was his wife. He beat me again,
and while doing so a policeman interfered and pulled him
off me.

Two witnesses confirmed the statement of the com-

plaivant.
The prisoner said ho was vory sorry for what he had
done—he had mado a dreadful mistake. His wife pointed
' • '-' -" - - ngo. and he
thought the complainant was the man, and on this reiusai
to confer with him he did striko him. Ho was now satis-
fied of his mistake. He was now anxious to make an apo-
logy to the prosecutor.
Mr. Partridge—What aro you?
Prisoner—l am a wood engraver.
Mr. Partridge—l will let you retiro with the prosecutor.
You may come to terms if you please.
The parties were away for a few minutes, and on their
reappearance the complainant said he was satisfied with

the apology made by the prisoner.
Mr. Partridge--You are very forbearing. The prisoner
has committed a very gross and unjustifiable assault, and
I hope this will prove a caution to him in future. lie is
discharged.

The Chasing-Cross Hotel Company, Limited.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING (THIS DAY).
The seventh general half-yearly meeting of the
Charing-cross Hotel Company took place at the
Board-room of the hotel this morning the Hon.

James Byng in the chair.
Mr. Haines, the secretary, was called upon to
read the report, which was as follows :—" That the
directors congratulated the shareholders on the very
satisfactory condition of the company, as shown by
the accounts. It would be observed that their an-
ticipations of increased business, as referred to in
the last report, had had been fully realised, and that
the receipts during the six months were £38,603
ss. Bd., and that after placing £2,000 to the credit
of the fund for depreciation and renewals, charging
interest on debentures, and £690 14s. 9d., the
balance of the cost of the South Shades, there re-
mained £9,016 13s. 2d., which, with £74 19s. 10d.
brought forward from last year, would amount to
£9,091 13s. The proprietors would observe that
the directors had been enabled to write off the re-
maining costs of the South Shades, by which the
future profit arising from that department would
be added to the revenue without any increase of
capital. The directors recommended that a dividend
at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, free of in-
come-tax be declared, which would absorb £B,OOO,
and leave a balance of £1,091 13s. id. to be car-
ried over to the next ha-year—the dividend war-
rants to be payable on the 15th August, at the
Imperial Bank, Victoria-street, Westminster.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the proprietors on
the position of the company, and the report having
been unanimously adopted, and the retiring direc-
tors and auditors re-elected, proposed a vote of
thanks to Mr. Higgs, the manager, eulogising in
very strong terms the ability and energy displayed
by that gentleman.
Mr. IliGGs briefly replied, and, after the cus-
tomary formalities to the chair, the meeting
erminated.