The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-01 00:00:00

IN THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

IMPORTANT TO ALL SUCII AS WOULD
EMIGRATE SUCCESSFULLY,
AND ESPECIALLY ADDRESSED TO SCOTCH FARMERS.
This delightful country must and will progress in
spite of any previous or adverse circumstances ; it
will very speedily force itself into notice as one of
the most safe depositories for capital throughout the
globe, and for emigration it is unequalled anywhere.
The little war there the other day was soon brought to
a termination, and the Boers taught to eat humble
pie. We are led to the following remarks by having
seen in the public journals that Mr. George Robins
(a tolerably good judge it may be inferred, if ex-
perience be worth anything), has recently purchased
the estate, called Slabbert's Poort, with FORTY-THREE
THOUSAND ACRES OF PASTURE LAND, AT THE CAPE,
on the river Traka. His ultimate intentions we shall
see presently in respect to this iintnense demesne.
It is said there are upon it five permanent springs,
and that it is capable of depasturing at least twenty
thousand sheep annually, and from which the finest wool,
equal in quality to merino, is constantly sent to Eng-
land. The intention of Mr. Robins (as we have been
told, and it is amongst the on dits of the day), is to
let it in farms of from 1,000 to 5,000 acres each, or
more if it be required ; selecting, and especially from
Scotland, the best practical men he can find, with
moderate capital, plenty of industry, and a good cha-
racter. These farms it is intended to let FREE FROM
RENT THE FIRST YEAR, and for the next seven years
at ONE SHILLING PER ACRE PER ANN UM,
for rich pasture and arable land.
If thirty or forty such mew embark in this enterprise
they must and will get on, and get rich even beyondtheir
most sanguine expectations ; indeed, it is believed,
more rapidly than in Australia, where such tremen-
dous fortunes have been made by means of the enor-
mous return from sheep, wool, and cattle • but at
the Cape, wine and other profitable sources of wealth
are to be added to the cheering prospect.
We have a letter before us from the Cape, that has
inclined us to feel a very lively interest in this genial
climate. We will give an extract, in order that our
wary, cautious friends in the North "may mark,
learn, and inwardly digest" this enterprise well, be-
fore they embark in it ; for ourselves, we entertain no
doubt, and if we HAD previously, why the name of the
purchaser, sets this very quietly at rest. Beside the pre-
sent and prospective advantages seem not to be con-
fined to sheep or wool, since we learn from good
authority that the best wheat that ever came into
England was grown at the Cape ; and we know that
the Madras cavalry are entirely supplied from thence,
and that the -Mauritius, as well as St. Helena, are all in
part supplied from this fertile source. Then, again, the
wines : the Cape furnishes a large quantity, and very
fine; and upon the estate under review, we are told there
are already 3,000 or 4,000 very fine vines, an abundance
of fruit, and five permanent springs, a most important
consideration to a farmer, beside live and dead farm-
ing stock, to commence operations ; but we find we
are exceeding our original intention, which was
merely to authenticate a doubtful point, viz., that Mr.
Robins is the proprietor of this fine property, which
in extent approaches " the demesne of a German
Prince." The observations upon the exceedingly
great advantage of the new tariff will, we suspect,
not escape our friends in Scotland, who are all famed
for travellinc, by the safety coach in all their under-
takings, and, it may be added, are the best farmers in
Europe.
A short extract from a letter, written at the Cape
on the 15th of last May :
" Slabbert's Poort (the estate under review) was
selected by an old Dutch Vee Boer,' or cattle-graz-
ing farmer, very many years since, whose experience
may be reckoned worth something ; he was very suc-
cessful, but owing to some real or fancied oppression
of the English Government, he joined the emigrant
Boers and went to Natal, disposing of his estate pre-
viously to the late owner; its size would admit of its
being divided into sections, as its extent (43,000 acres)
is beyond the means of most persons singly to culti-
vate or stock it. The homesteads of Dutch farmers are
generally of rude construction, but yet well adapted to
their wants and comforts. An English farmer is always
improving his property; a Dutch farmer is a slothful
animal, that adopts an old adage,and4leaves well alone,'
never seeking, by additional activity or enterprise, to in-
crease his means or comfort.
" Slabbert's Poort is a most improvable estate,
and in the hands of an Englishman, or more
especially a few first-rate . Scotch farmers, would
soon become invaluable, as its position is one
of the first importance, being on the direct road
to the frontier, and in a position where a profitable
business might be carried on independent of farming.
It is near the forests of the Knysna and the ports of
Massel Bay and River Knysna; the latter port will,
probably, soon be opened by th completion of a pro-
jected road from Beaufort District to it ; it is very eli-
gible in many other respects; vessels of 400 tons bur-
then can enter at all times, and take cargoes on
board four miles up the river.
" There are a great number of English sheep
farmers, with moderate capital, say from 1,0001.
to 3,0001. each, who have, within the last two
years, located themselves in the colony ; and it is not
a little gratifying to behold the fine flocks of well and
cross-bred sheep so abundantly scattered about ; it is
surprising to see how well the animals look—sheep as
well as cattle. This is a convincing proof that the grazing
qualities of the land are adapted for cattle as well as
sheep. The wool flocks are fast increasing in all parts
of the colony., and, it is said, from the frontier alone,
one million of pounds, at least, will be exported this
year, and a corresponding export from this end of the
colony, the Cape, will eventually, and ere long, force
itself into notice,for the investment of capital and in-
troduction of labour, in spite of any opposition. EMI-
GRATION HERE WITH MODERATE CAPITAL, MUST BE
CERTAIN AND SUCCESSFUL.
"Slabbert's Poort is situated, distant from Beaufort,
seventy miles, three hours on horseback from that
fertile and beautiful district Zwartland ; eighteen
hours from George, and to Swellendam, still nearer.
"The new tariff is most important to the Cape
colony, as it will now be enabled to export large quan-
tities of salt provisions to this country at a very mode-
rate rate. Fat oxen may be procured,to weigh seven
and eight hundred pounds, for 4/., and 41. 10s. each.
which is lid. and 11-d. per lb., the hide being worth
twenty shillings.
" We are now in correspondence with our Colonial
Government on the subject of a road from the
River Knysna to the Lange Kloof which opens
to the sea the whole district of George, and
will make the Knysna the central port in the
colony, and from it would proceed the high road to
Beaufort and Graff Reinet. If you refer to one of
Arrowsmith's Maps, you will find the road marked
out nearly in a direct-line to Beaufort, distance not
quite two degrees from the mouth of the Knysna,
which is navigable for vessels of 400 tons ten miles
inland, the projected road would pass over the end of
the Swaute Berg Mountains, and come out on the
River Traka on the Beaufort side of those mountains,
from whence the distance to Beaufort is about sixty
miles. Major Mitchell has surveyed the country, and
has estimated the expense at 1,700/. sterling. An
offer has been made to advance 2,0001. sterling at
6 per cent. per annum interest, and capital to be se-
cured to the lenders by the tolls and forest licenses'
till such time as this small sum of 2,0001. be paid off.
" I know generally that the colony is advancing in
wealth and productiveness, and with good roads and
the several seaports of the colony made accessible to
the produce of the interior districts, quite a different
state of affairs must be produced, and the result .to
the intelligent farmer beyond compare to any other
part of the world."

THE GREEN PARK IMPROVEMENTS.—The whole of
the site of the late Lady William Gordon's house,
with the shrubberies, &c., attached to the late ranger's
residence, was yesterday thrown open to the public,
the new footpath, which had been formed through the
centre of the ground, extending to Lord Coventry's
gardens, and other embellishments, which have been
in progress during the summer, being completed. We
hear that the long-projected and desirable improve-
ment of widening Piccadilly from Devonshire House
to Hamilton-place has been postponed by the Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests until next year, as
an Act of Parliament must be first obtained to autho-
rise it. The parish of St. George, Hanover-square,
has consented to bear the expense of keeping the road
in repair after the contemplated improvements shall
have been carried into effect.
NEWPORT, PEMBROKESHIRE, SEPT. 26.—A water-
spout was seen in this Bay, 21st inst. It assumed the
form of an upright column, and afterwards an inverted
cone ; a small quantity of water fell on its bursting,
when the lower parts entirely disappeared, and the
summits united into a dense body resembling a thick
cloud.

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