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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 919, 22 February 1868, Page 2

Sheep Washing-. — The Daily Times says : — The new process of sheep washing by means of hot water, followed by the sheep being brought immediately after under a strong spout of cold water from a considerable elevation, has been successfully carried out this season at Deep Dell station, belonging to Messrs. Douglass, Alderson, and Co. We have seen samples of the wool so treated in the office of Messrs. Wright, Robertson and Co., and find the tips entirely free from dirt, and the fibres very pure and clean, with a fine soft feeling, rendering it well adapted for immediate use by the manufacturer. The samples will be shown to any one interested in the result, which promises to be of some importance to the pastoral interests in this province. The abundant water supply will enable the new process to be practised in the most efficient manner, and will raise the character of New Zealand clips in the London market. Native Lands. — A notice from the Registrar-General of Land, which appears in the Gazette, warns purchasers, lessees, and others having dealings with aboriginal natives in respect of lands, the titles to which have passed through the Native Land Court, that all transfers of estates and interests so derived are invalid until the duty payable under the fifty-fifth section of " The Native Lands Act, 1865," has been paid, and the Colonial Treasurer's receipt endorsed upon the deed. " Lord Lyttelton, a few days since, paid a visit to Christ College Grammar School. The Times says he spoke strongly against the custom of sending boys home to England for their education. For his own part, he could not conceive how they could endure the long separation. But looking upon it from another point, he considered that the real interests of the colony were injured by it. The interests of the schoo^ required that the boys of the upper classes should not be taken away ; rather let them remain here, and learn to look upon this as their home, and bind up their fortunes with Nevr Zealand, and look upon it aa the sphere of their work. He was glad to see that many of the leading persons of the place had set a good example by sending their sons to school in New Zealand, and he hoped that all would bear in mind that they had a great and important work to do, that they had to bear a part in laying a strong, and sure, and lasting foundation. Major General Chute. — In all probability (says the Southern Gross) MajorGeneral Chute will accompany the Duke of Edinburgh to Auckland for the purpose of holding the half-yearly inspection ot the 18th Royal Irish. The last inspection by him was at Wanganui in July last. Ball to the Governor. — A ball will be given by the inhabitants of Wellington to his Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen on Thursday next, in one or both (as may be found most convenient) of the Chambers of the Houses of Assembly, which have been placed by the Colonial Secretary at the deposal of a committee appointed to make the necessary arrangements . — lndependent. Reception Committee. — The Hon. Alfred Domett, his Honor Donald M'Lean, Dr. Hector, F.R.S., and Lieut. Benson, R.N.R., have been appointed to serve on the Royal Reception Commission. Gold Prospecting. — Mr. Grove intends, according to the Journal, to spend three months in prospecting the Wairarapa. He will first prospect the Wharehama and Tararua, and their brauches, and if these localities fail to give satisfactory results will proceed inland. The Nelson, man of war, which was Presented to the colony of Victoria by the mperial Government, at the instanco of Mr. Verdon, arrived off Cape Otway on the 3rd Eeb. The Nelson was formerlyemployed as a ship of war in the British navy ; but we are not aware that she was ever on any foreign service. Of late she has been laid up in ordinary on home stations. The vessel is over 2000 tons burthen, and since she has been fitted out for the colony is one of the strongest modern ships of war. She is under the command of Acting-Commander C. B. Payne, R.N,, who, since his residence in the old country, has gone through a complete course of gunnery instruction at Hythe, Shoeburyness and Portsmouth. Several 300---pounder guns for the shore batteries have been brought out by the.Nelson as freight, and it was waiting for this armament that so long delayed the departure of the vessel from Portsmouth. The passage out under sail has occupied ninety-nine days. Westland. — At the first meeting of the Westland County Council, on Feb. 10, an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending June 30 was laid on the table. The receipts are estimated at £78,950, and the. expenditure at £46,642 16s Bd, leaving a balance for distribution among Road Boards and Municipalities of £32,307 3s 4d.