for the purpose of expelling them. The troops advanced
in three columns, under General Somerset and Lieut.-
Colonels Fordyce, of the 74th, and Michel, of the 6th
Regiment. Colonel Fordyce's brigade was first engaged.
A body of the enemy was found posted in a very strong
position, behind the rocks at the head of the Waterkloof
ravine. From this position a deadly fire was opened
upon the troops as they advanced, and with disastrous
effect. Colonel Fordyce and several men of the 74th
Regiment were struck down by the first volley. This
brave and intelligent officer was idolised by the troops
under his command, and had gained the esteem and
confidence of the colonists in a remarkable degree
during the last few months of service on the frontier.
He died on the field a few minutes after receiving the
wound, his last words being "Take care of my
regiment!" The enemy was afterwards partially driven
from his position; but, unfortunately, not without
several more casualties among the troops. Lieut. Carey,
of the 74th, two serjeants, and two rank and file, were
killed, and Lieut. Gordon (since dead), and eight men
—all of the 74th Regiment—wounded. The following
day the operations were resumed, and the enemy was
driven from various positions in the ravines and dense
forests, with considerable loss. On our side, one officer,
Captain Devenish, of the Beaufort West Levy, was
mortally wounded; three men of the 91st, and four of
the levies were also wounded. On the 8th, the weather
proving extremely inclement, Major-General Somerset
withdrew his troops to the camp in the Blinkwater. It
was understood that no further movements against the
enemy in that quarter were contemplated at present.
Marauding parties continue to infest the frontier
districts, and to commit depredations on the few remaining
flocks and herds of the farmers. Several skirmishes
have taken place between these plunderers and small
parties of the colonists, with some loss of life on both
sides—the enemy, however, suffering the most severely.
The Orange River Sovereignty, at the last accounts
(Nov. 17), was still in a very unsettled state. Open
hostilities, however, had not been recommenced.

The draft ordinances, embodying the new colonial
constitution, arrived on the 31st of October; they were
subsequently forwarded to King William's Town for
the Governor's perusal, and, when returned by him,
were published, on the 27th of November, in the
"Government Gazette." On the 28th of November
they were read a first time in the Council, and their
second reading was postponed for two months. The
constitution embodied in these ordinances had given
great satisfaction to the colonists, and this uncalled-for
and unexpected postponement had caused extreme
indignation.

The latest accounts from Australia announce great
discoveries of gold at Port Phillip. Deposits had been
met with at Buninyong, about eighty miles from
Melbourne, and fifty from Geelong, apparently far
exceeding in value any that have yet been found within
a similar space either at Sydney or in California. The
whole population were moving towards the district, and
it had already been ascertained that the creeks and
rivers for many surrounding miles were likewise rich.
The great production, however, had been at one
particular spot of limited extent, where the supply was
such that the space of eight square feet to each man was
considered by the Government Commissioner a sufficient
allotment. The number of persons already at the
place was upwards of 2000, and careful calculation
seemed to show that the average to each man was at
least an ounce a day. Many cases of individual success
were most remarkable. One man had obtained £1500
in a week; and another, a blacksmith, had got £1000.
A party of three men found twenty pounds weight in
one day, while another before breakfast raised thirteen
pounds weight, the consequence was a far greater
desertion from all ordinary occupations than had been
witnessed at Sydney. Hundreds of all classes were
leaving daily, including labourers, mechanics, clerks,
shopkeepers, merchants, and professional men.

The parliament of the Ionian Islands was dissolved
on the 20th of December, by decree of her Majesty
and the Lord High Commissioner issued a proclamation,
explaining that the object of the dissolution of parliament
is a modification of the existing Ionian constitution;
and setting forth the conditions on which that
modification is vouchsafed, with details of the concessions.
The modifications proposed are—1. The substitution
of an annual for a biennial session, in order to
put an end to the dissensions between the Senate and
the Assembly concerning the constitutional right of the
Senate to make regulations having the force of law
during the recess with the consent of the Lord High
Commissioner. 2. The modification of those articles
which regulate the present organisation of the Senate,
in order to increase the responsibility of its members,
and to regulate its duties. 3. The addition of a fifth
judge to the Supreme Council of Justice, in order to
enable that body to decide all cases by an absolute
majority, instead of by the casting-vote of the President
of the Senate and the Lord High Commissioner. 4. The
permission to introduce a bill for the better regulation
of the powers of the local government. 5. The
substitution of powers defined by an Act of Parliament for
those now exercised under the name of the high police,
in virtue of Article 4, Section 2, Chapter 7 of the
Constitution; which the Lord High Commissioner will
recommend her Majesty to abrogate, provided the
Ionian Parliament be disposed to join with him in the
adoption of measures "which the experience of the last
two years has proved to be indispensable."

PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION.

The twenty-third detachment of colonists sent to
New Zealand by the Canterbury Association (since
October 1850) departed from Gravesend on the 4th inst.,
in the ship Stag; a fine vessel of between 600 and 700 tons
burden, built by Mr. Green for the India passenger
trade. The detachment consisted of about 120 cabin-
passengers and labourers.

A number of ladies and gentlemen, intending to
proceed shortly as colonists to the Canterbury Settlement
in New Zealand, assembled at the rooms of the society in
the Adelphi, on the 31st of December. Mr. Self stated
that the latest advices, extending to the 1st of September,
show a steady and hopeful progress at the settlement.
Lord Lyttelton referred to the near approach of the time
when Parliament will again have legislate on the affairs
of New Zealand. The Society, he said, will exert itself
to secure legislation which shall as much as possible
throw the weight of government upon the local management
on the spot. He presumed the Government plans
would tend to that end, but he feared they would not
go far enough. Despatches were read from Mr. Godley,
which communicated that Sir George Grey had expressed
willingness to concur in the wish of the Canterbury
colonists, if properly expressed, for erection into a
separate government.

The voyage and reception of the first party of female
emigrants sent to Van Diemen's Land by the Tasmanian
Female Emigration Society are described in a letter
addressed to the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert by Mr.
Arthur Perry, the Honorary Secretary of the Association.
It is dated from Hobart Town on the 11th of
October, and has been printed for the use of the
committee. The following extract contains interesting
details:—"I am happy to be able to report to you that
the Australasia arrived at this port on the 2nd of Oct.,
after a fine passage of 91 days. The port officer and
emigration officer at this port boarded the vessel with
myself, about nine miles down the river, and we were
glad to find that all the emigrants, with one exception,
were in good health. We mustered them, and asked
them, collectively and individually, if they had any
complaints to make, either against the parties in charge
of them,—the captain, officers, and men belonging to
the ship,—or of the provisions, or anything else. I am
glad to say that they all answered that they had none,
and expressed themselves as very grateful for the attention
and kindness that had been shown them during the
voyage. On enquiring into their conduct during the
voyage, I found that some (particularly some of the Irish
Roman Catholics) had been noisy and rather troublesome
during the first part of the voyage, but that they