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NATAL.

Constitution and Government.

The colony of Natal, formerly an integral part of the Cape of Good Hope settlement, was erected into a separate Government by Letters Patent issued in November 1845. A Lieutenant-Governor was appointed, as well as an Executive Council created. The Lieu- tenant-Governor was subordinate to the Governor of the Cape, and the Legislative Council of the latter continued to frame laws for the colony till 1848, when a Legislative Council for Natal was estab- lished. In 1856 Natal was erected into a separate colony under the British crown, represented by a Lieutenant-Governor. Under the charter of constitution granted in 1856, and modified, in a direction towards greater independence, in 1870, the Lieutenant- Governor is assisted in the administration of the colony by an Exe- cutive and a Legislative Council. The Executive Council is com- posed of the Chief-justice, the senior officer in command of the troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Secretary for Native Affairs, and two members nominated by the Governor from among the Deputies elected to the Legislative Council. The Legislative Coimcil is composed of four official mem- bers, namely, the Colonial Secretary, the Treasurer, the Attorney- General, and the Secretary for Native Affairs, and 12 members elected by the counties and boroughs.

Lieutenant-Governor of Natal. — Robert William Keate; formerly Civil Commissioner at the Seychelles Islands, 1849-53 ; Lieutenant- Governor of Granada, 1853-56 ; Governor of Trinidad, 1856-64 ; appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Natal Nov. 1866.

The Lieutenant-Governor has a salary of 2,500/. per annum.

Revenue and Expenditure.

The public revenue and expenditure of the colony in the six, years 1863-68 were as follows : —

Years

Revenue

Expenditure

£

£

1863

123,089

116,891

1864

152,241

119.210

1865

105,104

147,915

1866

94,884

126,067

1867

96,780

118,328

1868

95,762

117,255