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Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 623, 2 June 1869, Page 2

The Empress of the French, according to a correspondent, often speaks and writes French incorrectly. Whenever she gets excited she uses a great many Spanish words in her conversation, and when really angry she will, at last, only speak Spanish. The servants at the Imperial Court, therefore, when saying, "The Empress has talked Spanish to me," mean, " She has scolded me."

The mace (the identical " bauble" which Oliver Cromwell ordered off the table with so much virtuous indignation) has been re-gilt and burnished during the recess, and now makes quite a brave show. The Ser-geant-at-Arms (Lord Charles Russell) bangsitabouthoweverin a dreadful manner, whenever it becomes his duty to remove it, on the House going into Committee. This display of animosity to the innocent insignia of power may be said to arise—first, to the circumstance that the mace itself is very heavy and that Lord Charles Russell is by no means an athletic official; and next, to the fact that he is understood to lift the mace under protost, his lordship's solemn conviction being that the duty should by right devolve upon the Second Clerk of Parliament, who used to perform it until he accidenfly discovered that it was part of the functions of the Sergeant-at-Arms, not only to enrrv the emblem into and outofthellou.se but to lift it off and on the table whenever occasion required. (

J THE WAITOTARA SETTLERS. The Settlers of the Waitotara district, who; were driven off their lands, and whose property was destroyed, have had two meetings in Wan-1 ganui, and have unanimously resolved to petition the Government for compensation. The following is the form of the petition, which is being signed by the settlers. The prayer of the petitioners is just and reasonable, and will, we are sure, meet with the favorable consideration of the Assembly and the Government :— To the Hon. the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the Landholders and Settlers in the Waitotara Block, in the Province of Wellington, New Zealand, Respectfully sheweth : That your petitioners having purchased from the Government certain portions of land in the Waitotara Block, did enter on and take possession of the same. That your petitioners did erect sundry improvements thereon, consisting of buildings of dwelling houses, barns, woolsheds, stables, and stockyards ; also did convey thereon farming implements of various kinds, together with household furniture and domestic utensils ; and j your petitioners did also place on the j aforesaid lands a large quantity of live j stock, consisting of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. j

That youi petitioners lived in peaceful possession of the above property until the months of October and November, 1868, when they were compelled by the rebel Natives to abandon it, and seek safety in Wanganui.

That the said rebel Natives did burn down the houses and other buildings, destroy the fencing and crops, drove away the live stock, and took away or destroyed the implements and furniture, thereby causing serious loss to your petitioners.

That your petitioners, being aware that the settlers of Auckland, Taranaki, and other places, were compensated by the Government for losses sustained under similar circumstances, bea; most humbly to present this their petition, in the hope that it will receive the favorable consideration of your Honorable House, and that a Commission may be appointed to investigate the losses and claims of your petitioners.

And your petitioners will ever pray,