Untitled

Untitled

Publications & Reports

Bleek reviews Sir Philip Wodehouse's speech on the forced incorporation of British Kaffraria into the Cape Colony by an Act of Imperial Parliament. The public should expect passionate legislators, rather than Governor Wodehouse, to interrogate this unwanted outcome. For Bleek, this top-down behaviour makes an urgent case for Responsible Government accompanying a federal system of self-government, which would also satisfy the Eastern Province agenda. With the death of parliamentary greats, there is a shortage of astute leadership that men like Molteno might rectify. Solomon is engrossed in his pet bill, which Bleek feels might benefit from ideas of federation and self-government. One committee should be appointed to handle the three interrelated questions of British Kaffraria's annexation, federally dividing the colony into two provinces, and Responsible Government. These answers will dictate the management responsibility over British Kaffraria and the appropriate measure of self-government for the Eastern Province. Lastly, he covers railway matters, questioning whether the Cape Railway and Dock Company remains entitled to the whole amount of the Colonial Guarantee, given their poor accommodation of the public.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

27/04/1865

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. No title was subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing.

The Western Districts, along with Bleek, were especially opposed to this action as it strengthens the Eastern Province agenda to increase their "share of self-government". Bleek's previous condemnation of the Eastern party members bill to supplant local inheritance and marriage regimes with those of English Common Law sharply contrasts with him calling the claims of the Eastern Districts "righteous". He does at times come across as disingenous as he oscillates. Bleek states that with the federalising of the Western and Eastern districts into "self-governing" provinces, the separating of their often incompatible agendas will make Easterners more welcome under Table Mountain.