7
without incurring any expense, as the cost of form. ing these military settlements has actually proved less than that of the return passages of these men would have been had they been brought home in the ordinary manner.
The Emigrant Boers beyond our frontier, instead of being left in their former lawless state have been subjected to a system of government which is to be mainly administered by themselves, and which though rude and simple, will, as I believe, suffice to main- tain a tolerable degree of security for the persons and properties of both the European and native inhabitants of these remote regions.
The rebellion in the course of last year of some of these people, who were discontented at being subjected to any description of authority, was by the energy of the Governor completely subdued within two months, which short space of time was sufficient for him to receive the intelligence of what had occurred about 700 miles from Cape Town, to draw together a sufficient force and proceed himself to the scene of action, to cross the Orange River, and after one sharp skirmish to obtain the entire submission of the insurgents. Nor is it the least remarkable part of this affair that the expense of the military operations which were required have been defrayed by fines levied on the offenders.
Emigration in the meantime has been directed to the Cape, and to the valuable dependent settle- ment of Natal. Inquiries have also been in pro- gress with a view to the creation of a Representative Government for the Cape colony, and the arrange- ments for accomplishing this great object will very soon be completed.
In the Australian colonies the last two years have
also been a period of rapid advance.
In New South Wales the question as to the terms upon which the owners of sheep and cattle should be permitted to occupy for pastoral purposes the vast extent of land not yet required for more permanent settlement, had for some years prior to 1846 given rise to much excitement and discontent; it has now been satisfactorily adjusted by an Order in Council made by Her Majesty in 1847 by virtue of an Act of Parliament which was proposed and
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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