Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/23

1873] On the 24th of April 1873 the parliament of the Cape Colony met in Capetown, and as the ministry had taken care to have all the important bills to be introduced published in ample time to be studied carefully, there was no delay in proceeding to business. Provision was made for the preliminary work of construction of several lines of railroad and telegraphs, particularly for the survey of routes, that everything might be in readiness for final decision in the following year. Harbour improvements were also resolved upon, and a subsidy of £10,000 a year for ten years was promised to a company that undertook to lay down and keep in working order a submarine cable from the colony to Aden via Natal, Mauritius, and Zanzibar. This came to nothing, however, as the company failed to carry out its agreement. A bill for the amendment of the constitution by dividing the colony into seven circles instead of two provinces for the purpose of electing members of the legislative council was carried by a large majority in the house of assembly, but was thrown out by the casting vote of the president in the council. A voluntary bill, or bill to cease paying the salaries of clergymen by the government, was also passed by the assembly, but thrown out by the council. On the 26th of June parliament was prorogued, after the shortest session on record, but one in which much useful work was done.

One act of this session must be more particularly referred to. This was the creation of the university of the Cape of Good Hope, to supersede the old board of examiners. It was based upon the model of the London university, and was purely an examining body, with power to confer degrees. The first council consisted of Sir Sydney Smith Bell, chief justice of the Cape Colony, the reverend John Brebner, M.A., professor of classics, Gill college, the reverend James Cameron, B.A., LL.D., professor of classics, South African college, Langham Dale, B.A., LL.D., superintendent-general of education,