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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
