ATTACK ON THE NAPIER COACH.

The public are by this time pretty well acquainted with the vagaries of Mr Alexander Macdonald, and the extraordinary methods he adopts of asserting the rights of the hapu of which he claims to be an adopted member. Not many weeks ago Mr MacdonaJd was fined £20 for pulling down a trig station erected on the Mana-watu-Kangitikei block, and he had previously been convicted at Wanganui for a similar offence. The particulars of his grievances are well-known. He has several times been in trouble regarding the action he has adopted to ventilate them, and has been mosb leniently dealt with ; but he seems incapable of taking warning. HiSj latest exploit in the assertion of the Native title to the Manawatu land (although the Crown grants for the reserves claimed by the hapu have recently been issued, and. actually delivered to Mr Macdonald himself), occurred this morning. The mail coach service between the Manawatu and Waipukurau was to have commenced today, and die contractor, Mr Andrew Young, dulfPfcarted with the coach, but at Schaltz's Hotel, at Arahuri, M'Donald was met with, and as the coach attempted to cross the Oroua Eiver and on to the Manawatu block, he deliberately shot one of the horses. Information of the on t rage was received in town by the following telegram from Mr Young, dated Bull's, 10.23 a m , and addressed to Mr John M' ln tosh :—: — " While proceeding from Bull's to Palmerston with Napier coach, met Alexander M'Donald at Schultz's Hotel. -^Went upstairs, got a gun, and shot one of my leaders. I had to return here. M'Kenzie driver."

Why is a garret like a disorder? Because it's a room-attic (rheumatic). Why is a dead man proud. Because he's stiff.