§ MR. RICHARDasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the atention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the proposed annexation by the Cape Parliament of certain territories between the Cape Colony and Natal; and, if so, whether they are able to give the House any assurance that the native tribes have given their consent to such annexation?
MR. LOWTHER,in reply, said, the attention of the Government had been directed to the matters referred to in the hon. Gentleman's Question. The conditions of the proposed annexation had been freely consented to by Adam Kok and those principally concerned with him in the government of the country, and were to be submitted by him to his people for their ratification, which was expected to be given by a very large 1244 majority. Beyond this no official information had been received, but there seemed no reason to doubt that the native tribes concerned would have been consulted and would have given their assent to a formal and complete annexation to the Cape Government.