IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

MR. HEMMING held a Court last Week nesday to decide upon the objections 217 Native applicants residing on the Tyumie for the privilege of being registered tered voters in the King William's Town division. Following the example of their neighbours in the Victoria East distr ict, the Natives mustered in force, and retained Mr. Attorney Innes to represent them in Court. It appeared that the objectors were Messrs. James Francis, William Terwin, H. Collins, and W. Mann, resident among these people, but as they failed to appear to substantiate their objections, Mr. Innes naturally availed himself of this circumstance, and asked his Worship to dismiss the objec- tions and uphold the claims ot his clients. The Magistrate ruled accordingly, and proceedings -which might otherwise have proved interesting were summarily brought to a termination. Mr. Innes addressed the men at the Court verandah, and urged upon them the necessity of guarding their privileges themselves. He pointed out that the absence of a large number of them would have been dis- astrous to their cause if the objectors has appeared, and that they had to thank the law that they were on that occasion successful. As we predicted, it would now appear that the Native Registration contest at Alice last month has been fruitful of goad results. The Tvunie people applied to be registered two years ago, but certain indi- viduals took advantage of their ignorance of the law and objected to them success- fully. They have to-day to thank wisdom after the event, for on referring to the Statute Book they have learnt that it is not enough to send in a claim, but that the claimant should be able, if need be, to substantiate his claim. It is to be hoped that those who interest themselves in objecting to Natives will recognize the fact that these people, taught by bitter experience the futility of having their grievances redressed by'resorting to the gun and the assegai, are now fully determined to make use of the constitu- tional machine to attain their ends, which we are happy to say, are not at present in any way derogatory to loyalty to the Queen. There is no ground whatsoever for the apprehensions which found ex-pression the other day in the Evening Express that the retention of the Natives on the electora' rolls will result in the sending of professional politicians to the highest councils of the country. Up to the present time professional politicians have found seats in the Legislature by and through the exertions of purely European constituencies, and Natives have been only content to return men after their own hearts, no matter whether they were professional politicians or no in the opinion of some. IT would appear that the amalgamation of the Postal and Telegraph Departments of the Civil Service, hinted some weeks ago, has at last been effected. The process of absorption has taken the form of the Telegraphs being absorbed by the Post • that is to say Mr. Sivewright, the young' ctive and energetic Telegraph Manager etires on a pension, and his department has been handed over to Mr. Aitchison, who has worked up the Postal Service to its present state of efficiency. The manner in which this change, professedly made in the name of Retrenchment, is being ad- versely criticised in the Press, gives us ' hope that nothing likely to impair the efficiency of these Departments will be done by the Government in their zeal to reward deserving officials in their estimation without being called to a strict ac- count If any one of these two officials were bound to retire, the opinion of the country, as expressed with unusual un¬animity by the Press, would have been better pleased with Mr. Aitchison's retire- went, who has served the colony long and well and was already entitled to his pension rather than with Mr. Sivewright's, who is still young active, and possesses wonderful administrative abilities. No slur is cast upon the two gentlemen by the papers, and the expression of opinion is thoroughly bona fide. THE Synod of the Graham's Town Diocese is in Session at Graham's Town. Among the important matters that have already engaged its attention is that o making provision for the support of the ministry. Fresh burdens are about to be imposed upon the members ot the Church just as much as they have been imposed upon those of other denominations. When we were beginning to drop into a. despairing mood on contemplating the 'wherewithal these multiplied burdens are to be made we were cheered-up by Canon _ Woodrooffe. The Rev. Canon is nothing if not cheerful. Said he to his brethren, 'There was no doubt they were at present labouring under special depression and disadvantages, but this was a wonderful country—two months rain would dispel their present depression, make them all prosperous and glad again. In the present suffocating season, the Canon's words came as the scriptural cup of cold water.' We hope the reader will ponder them. The Native Farmers. of Tembuland had held their yearly meeting at their headquaters on the 7th and 8th instant. The ATTENDANCE WAS LARGE. AMONG THE VARIOUS questions that, were discussed was the absorbing question of stock- sealing, which was handled with intelligence and ability. The Cala special police force raised among ??d composed of these people themselves are effectively put out stock-stealing in ??s district, and whatever of it still remain- nings carried on by the people of the district separated from the Cala, on which action we animadverted in our last. Through the overbearing mood of the people of this district, who disclaim any other authority but Matanzima's, the police are not allowed to follow the spoors of stolen property which invariably lead to the confines of this new Alsatia. The chief difficulty of the Native Farmers lay in rendering their method more universal. There were not wanting those who thought that Government should leave the matter stamping it in their own hands, giving them the necessary carte blanche to deal with thieves. Ultimately it was resolved to make Native procedure (forfeiture of stock) respecting thieves a rule of hurt. and that imprisonment be added, and above this. Kokstad Missionary in Pondoland and the editor writes as follows from the fulness wholeheartedly: 'Dear Sir, I send a line to congratulate YOU upon the initial success of Imvo Zabantsundu. The paper has Struck out a new line, is in itself unique in this country, and will, I trust by the blessing of God, prove useful. Any enterprise calculated to promote a right understanding between the European and the Native populations of this and deserves all encouragement. It is but right to say that, so far, you have handled delicate and difficult topics, with great Moderation and judgement.' We value this testimonial greatly.