MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 185, 17 July 1873, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lieutenant Charles R. Low in his book entitled " The Great Battle 3 of the British Navy," thu9 comments on hard service m New Zealand — " In the series of wars in New Zealand, commencing w ith the jear 1845 and ending with the very recent pacification of that noblo dependency of the British crown, the seamen of tho nary have done excellent service. Many brnve hearts that onco beat under tho bluo jntket throbbed for the last time in ft New Zealand "pah," jmd when victory crowned the hard-fought day, the loud hurrahs of our gnllnnt sailors have struck a chill to the limit of tlie M.iori liravo, w lio, not less devoted than his pale-skinned antagonibt, has learned to recognise in him the represent at i\e of a superior race. Tho first Taranaki nur was inaugurated early m 18fiO, after aji unbroken peace had prevailed, without either wars or rumours of wars, since tho termination of the operations in Cook's Straits in 1816. A truce was patched up on the 21st May, 1861 ; but soon after the appointment of Sir George Brown (ho Waikatos committed thp murders of tho 4th May, 1863, which were followed up by renewed hostilities. In the attack on the pah at Eanginn, 1,300 men, including 200 s.ulois, were engaged, nnd tht force was accompanied b\ four gunboats. Before n breach bad been effected, four dc«perntc attempts to assault the pah were made; but the walls were 21 feet high, and Uic ditch nine feet broad, and there being no breach, tho troops nnd Bailors were driven back, with tho loss of 35 killed and 85 wounded. On the following morning tho Miniving Maoris, to the number of 183, surrendered with their arms. The next affair of importanco was the attack on Orakau, whence the Maoris managed to escape, after causing us a loss of 16 killed nnd 52 Hounded, though the •enemy also suffered se^roly. Mostdisostrousof all was the assault on the Gate Pah, on the 28th February, 1864, when the assaulting column of 300 men, — half of whom were rnimen nnd marines, ltd by Commander Hay, of the Harrier, the remainder consisting of the 43rd, was driven back ; Cnptain Hamilton, of the Esk, who rushed up with the rrservo of the naval brigade, falling a victim to his gallantry, as did also Commander Hay, and more thin 40 officers and seamen. Our total loss m this lamentable business nmonnled to 27 killed, nmo of whom were officers, and 66 wounthxl. The following are the principles of tho Victorian Electoral Bill: — 1. Singlo electoral district*; that is, the division of the colony into electorates each r t iming one member. ?. Increase of niembcs from seventy-eight to nniet \ . 3 R i?epayers to vote irrespective of whether their local rates haro been met. 4. Restriction of non-residential votes to one for c ich person. Other interesting alterations may bo grouped as matters of detail ; but amongst them are luch provisions as the substitution of an electoral register iqr electoral rights, and requiring all the flections to tuke place on ouo dtt).— The Weekly Timeb.