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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1071, 3 August 1869, Page 3

A Tjelescopic Cometh at present visible, and is likely to remain so for an] unusual length of time. It was discovered near the beginning of tbe month by Dr. Winnecke, at Karlsruhe, and has been identified wifchPon's comet of 1859, and Winnecke's of 1858 — a small comet with a period of only five and a half years. It is expected to come to its perihelion about 30th June, and to be again seen afterwards, though chiefly in the southern hemisphere, until September. In the great length of period of its visibility and the short elliptical character of its orbit, it is therefore something approaching the planetary, though as to its physical structure it is cometic in the extreme, for all. that a six-inch object glass would show on April 29 — the finest observing night for months, and with the comet at so large an altitude — was a faint spec of vapour [barely visible under a low power and vanishing under a high one], about three or four minutes in diameter, and slightly concentrated towards a nearly central nucleoid point. — -European Mail. The Patea Prisoners. — That the report in reference to the escape of the Patea prisoners is untrue, is not the only satisfactory item in reference to them. Whether the report stimulated the Government to action, or whether it was the action of the Government that created the report, we cannot positively say, but we believe the latter hypothesis is the correct one ; at any rate, measures have been taken to bring tbe prisoners to justice with all convenient speed. Rumor states that when the Sturt left Wellington the night before last, her orders were to bring them down at once, with a view to their being placed on hoard the City of Newcastle, under a strong guard. The Summary Trials Bill has not yet passed the Legislative Council, and possibly may not pass ; but, whether it does or does not, it is to be hoped the report is correct that the prisoners will be brought to trial somehow. We hear that, if the Summary Trials Bill passes the Legislative Council, the prisoners will be tried before the Supreme Court under that act; but tbat, should the bill be unfortunately thrown out, the prisoners will then be tried by the Court under its ordinary jurisdiction. We believe the women and children will not be brought down, but left in charge of the friendlies at Wanganui and elsewhere. The final destination of the prisoners, if convicted, is a question of interest, and. there is some talk of tbeir being removed to the South. They would be safe enough at Otago, if arrangements could be effected with the authorities there. The prisoners would be better out of the Colony altogether, but if the difficulties in the way are as great as they are said to be, Otago will deserve the thanks of the Colony if she will cut the knot by taking charge of them. The Sturt is expected here to-night or tomorrow morning. — Evening Post, July 29. Public Feeling in Canada. — The Canadian House of Commons has taken the earliest opportunity of expressing its views on the relations between Great Britain and America. On the 26th of April Mr. Gait made a speech in which he showed that, whatever the sentiments of her people, Canada as a State adhered to the Northern side in the war, had repressed raids organised by Southerners within her border, had passed an Alien Act to help the pursuit against the murderer of Mr. Lincoln, had suffered 40,000 of her people to join the Federal Army, and had allowed the transit of incalculable supplies to the North. On the other hand, the American Government has not prevented the Fenian raids, for wbich Canada was as much entitled to damages as America could be for the losses caused by the Alabama, As for the Dominion, if separated from the mother country she would not become American, but " would claim the right to dispose of her own destinies." Tbis speech was reported to the Tribune by telegraph, and seems to express the feelings of Canadians. — Spectalor. Earthquake in Canterbury.— A smart shock of earthquake was felt a few seconds before ten o'clock yesterday morning, and a slight one about 15 minutes later. Opinions differ as to the direction of the current, some possitively asserting that it was from east to west, and others being equally positive that it was from south-east to north. From the information we have collected in various parts of the city, and oiir own observations, we are inclined to place the most reliance on the latter. Many people ran into the streets when they felt the shock ; but we are happy to say that no damage has come under our notice. A smart shock waa felt in port at 9.58 a.m. by many of the inhabitants. The time given by the telegraph manager. It lasted about three seconds. At Opawa, the shock, or shocks (for there were two), were more severely felt. The bells were violently rung in Mr. E, Richardson's house, and he informs us that it was a "jumping" shock, tofeUyd^e|ent from that experienced a few weeks l sippe.-; Its direction was sonth to north. The Jij^fe iv Mr. Mills' house, Op^wa, hang east andwest. They were agitated, but.flQt fang. The shock was felt by the fiUuj&f-ift* telion Times. ;24th July.