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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 26 September 1861, Page 6 (Supplement)

Maritime and Military. —The New Zealander, of the 7th instant commences its “ Monthly Maritime and Military Record” as follows :—Tha month of August has been a dull one in our intercourse with British or colonial ports, the only arrival from the former haring been the Ida Zeigler; the ship Northumberland, which sailed thirteen days before her, not as yet having made her number. We are in a state of expectancy on this side the water, our former ruler not having returned, and the probability of war or peace still hanging in the balance ; this causes inaction and incertitude on the other side of the water, the emigration wishful and willing to pour in upon us being arrested until there shall be a rational assurance of the establishment of British supremacy, so that civilian settlers shall not be exposed to the risk of becoming colonial soldiers. We incline to tha hope that one way or other the Native difficulty will be speedily and satisfactorily solved. If tha Natives will not listen to the urgent remonstrances of their best and truest friends, if they will compel a recourse to arms, they will find, when too late that future operations will not be conducted either by the goverraent or the chief in command in tho faint and faltering manner of the Taranaki campaign, but with real vigour , a resolute and uncompromising reality of purpose. The long winter is passing away, and wet and weary as it has been it has not been spent in vain. All initatory preparations have been carefully and zealously attended to ; large munitions have been received and stored ; the Artillery is efficiently horsed, and thoroughly equipped ; aland transport corps has been organized ; the troops of the lino are in the highest health, condition, and discipline, and full of confidence and spirit. Besides, there are rumours coming from reliable sources of largo reinforcements yet to arrive, among which we hear of a regiment of dragoons and one or two of Sikhs from India. If struggle there must be, it is merciful to all parties to render it as sharp and as summary as possible, to prevent it from creeping into another winter. We shall soon have a long and, most probably, a favourable summer before us, and of this, unless we greatly miscalculate, tho chiefs on whom we realy will assuredly know how to take advantage. H. M. Steam Corvette Pelorus, 21 guns, Commodore Seymour, has returned from her cruise among the South Sea Islands, aad together with lI.M. Steam Sloop Miranda, 15 guns, Commander Glyn, occupies her station off Fort Britomart. Harrier, Steam Sloop, 17 guns, Commander Sir Malcolm MacGregor, Bart., is in the Manukau ; Cordelia. Steam Sloop, 11 guns, Commander II umo is immediately looked for from the Solomon Islands ; and Fawn, Steam Sloop, 17 guns, Commander Cator, is expected forthwith from Sydney. The prospects of an early adpistment of the struggle are therefore more probable than they have heretofore been. The Taranaki Iron Sand. —The uncertainty that has attended the operations of the iron sand enterprise, of which we occasionally got the vaguest accounts, seems at length to be removed, and not a day too soon, as the period allowed by tho leases granted to Captain Morshead for preparing for operations expired last month. It will be remembered that these secure to Captain Morshcad, for a term of 23 years, the exclusive privclege of smelting and working tho iron ore which abounds on our sea beach, the equivalent to tho Province being that the ore shall be smelted and worked in the Province to the end that the produce thereof may become merchantable and fit for exportation. The valuable property of the oro has been for years past often reported on, but all question of its use and value is now set at rest by the quality of the steel produced by (he sand shipped to England. The steel is pronounced to bo of the first class, and specimens in (he shape of razors, penknives, watchcaps, &c., have reached the colony. We now learn from a reliable source that Captain Morshead has transferred all his right and interest in the leases to a company represented by Messrs. Martin & Soblechero, who express full confidence in the success of their undertaking. A vessel the “ Heart of Oak,” has been purchased to sail the latter end of June, with plant, machinery, superintendent, and workmen. An agency has been established in Sydney, and operations are to be commenced here immediately on the arrival of the vessel.— Taranaki Herald. A faithful minister of the Gospel, being one day engaged in visiting some members of his flock, came to the door of a house where his gentle tapping could not be hoard for the noise of contention within. After waiting a little, lie opened the door, and walked in, saying, with an authoritative voice, “ 1 should like to know who is the head of the house?” “ Weel, sir,” said the husband, and tho father, “ if yc sit down a wee, weTl may be be able to tell ye, for we're just tryin’ to settle thst point. Two men, strangers to each other, got into a dispute, when one of them exclaimed threateningly, “ 1 will let you know, sir, that 1 am Air. Hodge —“ Oh, well, I am equal to several of you,” said the other ; “ I am Mr. Hodges.” Of all thieves fools are the worst.—they rob yon of time and of temper.