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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 927, 21 March 1868, Page 3

His Excellency the Governor. — Sir George Bowen and family will leave for Auckland on Saturday, 21sfc insfc., in the Wellington. — Independent, March 17. Sheep Washing. — Messrs. Hamilton, Aikman, and Geddes, of Melbourne, have applied for a patent for a new invention, by which wool is washed snow white on the sheep's back. Manawatu Block. — The Native Lands Court is now sitting at Otaki, with a view, if possible, to settle the claims of non-sell-ing natives in the portion of this block purchased by Dr. Featherston. Compensation Commissioners. — G. S. Cooper, Esq., of Napier, ancl Henry Tacy Clarke, Esq., of Tauranga, have been appointedCommissionerstoinvesfcigateclaims for losses occasioned by, and for special services rendered during the Maori rebellion. A High Rifle Score. — The highest score made by any competitor for participation in the firing for the Colonial Prizes has been that made by Private Macfarlane, of fche Dunedin Artillery, who scored 27 at 400 yards, 24 at 500, and 21 afc 600, making a total of 71. The Duke of Edinbuegh as a Musicij\.n. — Prince Alfred has composed a waltz, which has been played in Sydney by Mr. Anderson. It bufc rarely happens that the " divine art" is practised b} 7 Princes, but probably the Duke inherits the taste from his father, who was a talented musician. The Sydney papers say that the Duke of Edinburgh's waltz is very brilliant and spirited,'" and of easy performance. The first part is in F, and the second in B and E flat. — Independent, March 17. Depasture oe Old Settlebs. — Yesterday there was a general turn out of leavetakers on the Government Wharf, on the occasion of the departure of James Alexander. Esq., and family, for Wellington en route for Scotland, and the Rev. Isaac Harding and family for Queensland. Mr. Alexander is one of our oldest settlers, and although his stay in Europe is nofc likely to be a protracted one, still the absence of himself and family will be felt by a large circle of friends. — Wanganui Times, March 14. TnE Jockey Club.— A. H. Hickson, Esq, Secretary of the Wellington Jockey Club, has, we believe, written to the different Jockey Clubs in the colony informing them of the 100-guinea race to come off on the arrival of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, with the view of .inducing owners of racers in other provinces to enter nags for the event. It is therefore probable that we shall see Nelson and Canterbury cracks at our forthcoming meeting on the Hutfc Racecourse.—-Inde-pendent, March 17. Discreditable Treatment of Colonel M'Donnell.— On Thursday last, Cracroft Wilson, Esq., C.8., Colonel Cargill, and Mr. Graham, arrived by the s.s. Rangatira, from Wellington . Shortly afterwards it was known throughout the town that they came, as a Commission to enquire into the reasons why Lieut.-Colonel M'Donnell attacked a Maori pa in the Patea district, in the month of September, 1866, and wo suppose, other matters connected therewith. In fact, M'Donnell is to be tried for making British authority respected in the Patea districts ; calling, with his handful of a colonial force, upon as many rebels as General Cameron would think it prudent to avoid — to surrender or fight ifc out, and thereby restoring a permanent peace which does not suit certain mon in authority. — Wanganui Times, March 14. War. — The Press, alluding to the enrolment of the Defence force and the operations at Opotiki says : — Once again we solemnly xocm-n the Middle Island, that if this state of military lawlessness be not shortly and peremptorily put an end to, a new war will break out. We speak most earnestly, in the belief that we possess a competent knowledge of the subject. The Assembly which votes the monoy for maintaining these little armies is directly responsible for the result. The Assembly only last session voted the sum of £260,000 in one lump sum, without any details, for " militaiw defence," and other purposes. They gave the Government a carte blct/nche to the extent of a quarter of a million, to keep up a state of war iv the colony. They deliberately laid the barrels of gunpowder, and jdaced the fuse in the hands of fche Minister, for blowing up the whole structure of peace throughout tho North. If they find themselves again compelled to spend two or three millions, and to take all the land revenues of the South to save the North, let the, people know that their representatives have done this with their eyes open. Let them nofc complain when they have to pay. They have provided the funds for keeping up two or three " little wars." And let them not grumble when the groat war springs out of the seed they have sown. And let them | remember that they have placed this power in the hands of the same minister who was the author ofthe Wait ara war — who came into -office jj-ledged "to lefc tho Natives alone ;" and whose first step was to march General Chute through districts in which not a shot had been fired for months.