The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-29 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The whole of the unemployed troops in garrison
at Woolwich, accompanied by General Sir Richard
Dacres and Staff, proceeded on their " march out,"
and dined under canvass, on Dartford-heath yes-

terday.
In order that the officers and men of the Royal
Marines may be made acquainted with the method
of firing and handling the Armstrong guns, Admi-
ralty orders have been received at Chatham direct-
ing one of the large 100-pounders and two of the
40-pounder Armstrongs to be furnished to the ships'
gun battery at th e Royal Marine Barracks, where
the officers and men are daily instructed in the
great gun exercise.

In consequence of the present inefficiency of the
proof-butt in 'Woolwich Arsenal, several shots hav-
ing recently passed through, to the great discom-
fiture and alarm of the steamboat passengers and
inhabitants of the neighbouring coast of Essex, an
investigation has been officially gone into, the result
of which has proved that since the erection of the
butt, about two years ago, the huge mound of earth
has considerably diminished in height, and in con-
sequence has ceased to give the protection it was
intended to afford.. The committee appointed to
investigate the circumstances discovered that the
butt had literally sunk, and disappeared below the
surface or base some 9 or 10 feet since its first erec-
tion. The portion now standing is consequently of
insufficient height. Yesterday a body of men com-
menced carting fresh materials for raising the butt
to its former elevation. The Mei sey guns, ordered
to be proved this week, will therefore be held over,
and all proof of ordnance has been necessarily sus-
pended until the work is completed.

TEE CAPE AND NEW ZEALAND.

PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.

The Union Steam Navigation Company's mail
packet Athens, Commander R. B. Davie, from
Table Bay July 22, St. Helena 31st, and Ascension
August 4, arrived in the Sound about 5 o'clock this
morning.

The deficient condition of the finances has formed
the most important subject for discussion in the
Cape Parliament. Mr. Southey announced in the
present Session that it was something about
£200,000. A loan to that extent has been deter-
mined on, and, to meet future recurrences, £lOO,OOO
a year increased taxation. The annual estimate
will now be over £600,000. The Customs tariff for
wines, spirits, and tobacco is doubled. Transfers,
legacies, bank-notes, &c., make up the balance. The
offices of Colonial Engineerand of Commissioner of
Roads are to be abolished. The question of sepa-
ration has lost ground. A bill to give the members
of the Dutch Reformed Church power to elect mi-
nisters, wardens, &c., was withdrawn. The Assem-
bly has authorised a survey for the construction of
a branch railroad from Wellington to Malmesbury,
and the erection of a telegraph from Cape Town,
via Port Elizabeth, to Graham's Town. The first
vote for annexing the whole of independent Caffraria
(from the Kei to Natal) was carried by 12 to 10.
This important measure, proposed by a private
member, is supposed to have the sanction of Sir
George Grey, whose expected removal to New
Zealand would probably greatly increase the diffi-
culties of its execution.

The following message from his Excellency the
Governor was transmitted to the Hon. the House
of Assembly' at Cape Town on the 20th of July :

"The Governor transmits for the information of the Hon.
the House of Assembly the copy of a despatch he has re-
ceived from her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for
the Colonies, stating the reasons which have led her Ma-
jesty's Government to advise the Queen to appoint the Go-
vernor to administer the Government of the colony of New
Zealand.

" The Governor further informs the Hon. House that
he considers that his duty to the Queen, and a due regard
to the interest of her Majesty's subjects in this colony, re-
quire him to remain here for the period of time which is
likely to elapse before the business of the present session of
the colonial Parliament is brought to a close.
"G. GREY.
" Government-house, July 19, 1861."

"Downing-street, June 3, 1861.

Governor Sir George Grey.

" Sir,—Your attention will long since have been directed
to the native insurrection which has broken out in New
Zealand, and which, though the list accounts give some
reason to hope for the restoration of peace, if those hopes
should not be realised, appears to be assuming a character
more serious and threatening than that which it had pre-
viously borne.

" Her Majesty's Government have no reason to doubt the
prudence with which the affairs of that colony have been
conducted, but they cannot disguise from themselves that
the occasion is one of unusual urgency; they perceive that
the present progress of the colony and the destiny of a reo;
markable and interesting race may depend on the eventsv t
the next few months, and they feel that there is n servant
of the Crown on whose resources and experienceiif possible,
theyser can
ng,
so entirely rely as on your own for avert
the dangers with which the colonists and Maories are alike
threatened. Although, therefore, lam aware of adopting
an unusual course in requiring you to quit what under any
other circumstance would be deemed a more important
Government in order to return to one which you have
already held, I have that confidence in your public spirit,
and in the deep interest you take in the welfare of both
races in New Zealand, that I feel certain you will not de-
cline the opportunity which is offered you of doing your
country important service ; and I have advised her Majesty
Ito appoint you Governor of New Zealand. I forward, in a
separate despatch, a warrant, authorising you to administer
the Government of New Zealand, which, in the absence of
Colonel Gore Browne, will give you all requisite authority,
until a formal commission can be sent out to you.
"I should wish you to lose no time in repairing to Auck-
land, and I am sufficiently acquainted with Colonel Gore
Browne:s generosity and anxiety for the public good to be
assured that in placing in your hands the administration of
the colony he will give you every assistance and informa-
tion which can be of service to you in the performance of
your duties. " I have, &c.,
"NEWCASTLE."
The country beyond the Kei is half the size of
England and Wales united. It possesses, accord-
ing to Sir Walter Currie, who recently inspected it,
about 35,000 warriors. The chiefs seek a union
with England, The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Raw-
son, is absent on leave. Major-General D'Urban,
commandant in British Caffraria, will come home
shortly.
The island of Icb.aboe was annexed to the Cape of