GOVERNMENT. During the first thirty years of the British occupation (1806-35) the colony was administered entirely from London. In 1835 a legislative council was established consisting of six officials and six nominees of the Crown. The intnaluetion of Parliamentary institutions was accomplished in 1854, and it is only since 1872 that the colony has enjoyed a responsible gov ernment similar in all essentials to that of the mother country. At the head of the administra tion is the Governor, who is also High Commis sioner for the British possessions in South Africa. ile is appointed by the Crown and as sisted by a responsible Cabinet. The Parliament consists of two houses, the Legislative Council and the of Assembly, which meet at Cape Town, the capital. The former numbers 23 members elected for seven years, and is pre sided over ex officio by the Chief Justice. The House of Assembly consists of 95 members, elected for five years. The qualifications for voters are quite liberal, and no distinction is made on account of color or race. Parliament must meet at least once a year, and the records are kept in English, while in discussions and de bates both English and Dutch are allowed. The law of the colony is the Roman-Duteh law modi fied in auk-ordance with the local requirements and supplemented by special legislative acts. In eases where there is no provision in the Roman Dutch code, the English law is followed. The
highest local judicial authority is the Supreme Court at Cape Town, consisting of the Chief Jus tice and eight puisne judges. There is also a eourt of appeal and a vice-admiralty court, both situated at Cape Town. In the separate divisions and towns justice is administered by resident magistrates, while in the outlying villages the same Itmetion is performed by periodical courts and justices of the peace. The central govern ment is represented in each division and district by a civil commissioner or magistrate, whose functions include the collection of revenues and administration of justice. There are also divi sional councils elected by local rate-payers, and most of the municipalities have municipal coun cils. The colony has a military force of over 1000 officers and men, known as Cape Mounted Riflemen, besides nearly 7000 volunteers. Accord ing to the law passed in 1878, every able-bodied man between IS and 50 is subject to military service in the colony as well as beyond its limits. There are a number of naval fortifications along the coasts, and a strong British fleet is main tained at Simon's Bay. The principal ports and town, are Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East Lon don, Graham's Town, Kimberley, Paarl, and Beaconsfield.