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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 908, 4 January 1871, Page 2

King George of Tongataboo (says the correspondent of a contemporary) has determined to observe a strict neutrality during the war between France and Prus-» sia ; but has put the Tonga contingent of his army on a war footing by furbishing up some 50 old muskets. Caterpillars having made their appearance on the barley crops at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, the plan of pulling a light rope, about three chains in length, through the barley crops twice a day, has, been adopted, and has the Argus states, proved efficacious. The insects are thus hurled to the ground, and do not reascend in time to do much harm before they are again prostrated. We (Otago Times) regret to learn tha%. an accident to Mr David Hepburn has terminated fatally. It seems that he was on horseback drafting oft sheep for exhibition at an agricultural show, whea one of them ran away, he followed ia chase of it. The sheep turned round in front of the horse, which ran over it and fell, either throwing Mr Hepburn or rok ling over him. lie was picked up insensible, and died at about five o'clock on the morning of the 20th December —17 hours after the accident —-during the whole of which time he remained unconscious. Every effort was made by the doctor attending to restore consciousness, ness, but without avail. News has been received of the discovery by the Colonial Government geologist, Messrs. Sawkins and Brown, of magnificent waterfalls, far exceeding those of Niagara in Demerara, British Guiana. They are on the upper part of the Potaro River, three days journey from the colonial penal settlements, and within one hundred miles of the capital of the colony. Although so near comparatively to European settlements they have hitherto remained unknown to civilised men, and are but rarely visited by the Indians, who have not appreciated their marvel-* lous character. The fall consists of two leaps—one being a perpendicular fall of 770 feet, and the second over 50 feet, the volume of water measured in the dry season is 28 feet in depth, aud nearly 100 yards broad. The Government of the colony have undertaken to open the neighborhood and give facilities to visi* tors. The Niagara Falls are 190 feet high. A Melbourne telegram, of date 21st December, states that the Victorian As* sembly are discussing the state of the defence of the colony. Extracts were read from Mr Verdon's letter to the effect that England would defend her colonies in the event of war,