NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE Cape Parliament has decided that it will have nothing to do with the project of Confederation. The project was brought before it in the shape of a motion that a Conference should be held of all the South-African Colonies, and was met by
the previous question." After a debate, which lasted three days, the premier (Mr. Sprigg) on Jane 25th announced that feeling was too equally divided for him to persist, and he should accordingly -" drop the matter." Mr. Sprigg subsequently asked for a vote of confidence, which was accorded him by a majority of ten, and there the question for the moment ends. It will, of course, be brought up again, as the British people will not consent to go on for ever paying for a native policy which they do not direct, and which explodes every few years, with disastrous -results for the British Treasury. The people of South Africa must defend themselves, and they can only do it through confederation. Meanwhile, the failure of Mr. Sprigg's motion places the British Ministry in a fix. The whole object of Sir Bartle Frere's action in Zululand and the Transvaal was con- federation, and he was left at the Cape in order that this con- ference might succeed. Now that there is to be neither conference nor cor federation, what will the Ministry do with Sir Bartle Frere ? If they do not recall him, there will be most grave and reasonable dissatisfaction.
