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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 76, 11 December 1862, Page 3

Maritime and Military Record. —Summer has now fully set in. After a wet and boisterous winter, in the course of which the soil became completely water sodden, dry and scorching weather has overtaken us at a moment when a week of plentiful rain would be most beneficial to the baked and sun-cracked earth. Hay harvest is upon us ; the pastures ai’c beginning to don a russet garb, the country looks sadly parched, although the potato crops are not. only extensive and healthy but give goodly promise of an abundant yield. The harbour is pretty well studded with merchant ships; but we are again without any man-of-war, the Jfc/rrier, having sailed on the sth instant, on a cruise of exercise from which she has not yet returned. The other ships of the squadron are dispersed in different directions. Fawn, Commander Cator, before completing her commission, being under orders to return to England, in consequence of injurious representation of the late Senior Officer. The troops are variously disposed a considerable number of the different regiments being encamped at Point Chevalier, for yearly musket drill. At Otahuhu, the camp is comparatively abandoned. On Monday morning last, the headquarters of the llth regt., and two companies of the 05th marched out to Drury. • The TUth remain in garrison in Auckland ; whilst a mixed force occupies the Queen’s Bastion overlooking the Waikato ; with detachments at intermediate posts along the road to Bokcnoe,—A 'etc Zeal anih-r, Nov. 21). The Land Commissionersiiip.— Our late Land Commissioner, Mr. Domett, left Nelson, on Monday last, for Auckland, where his Drcsenco is needed as Colonial Secretary. Mr. Domett’s succesor, as Land Coimninissionor, will be, wo understand, Mr. .1. C. Richmond. Mi - . Domett’s removal from Nelson will occasion a vacancy in the representation of the town in the Provincial Council. — Examiner, Nov. 19. To M finesses. —In a criminal ease which was heard before (ho Court of Betty Sessions at Illawarra, a witness who had been subpoenaed by the complainant refused in the first instance to enter the Court until he had been paid for his loss of time, and on being shown into the witness box bv the police, he still refused to give evidence until his expenses had been paid. It was, however, pointed out to him by the Court and bv Senior Serjeant Gibson, that being a criminal ease he stood in the light ot a witness on behalf of the Crown, and that lie was therefore compelled to give evidence whether liis expenses wore paid or not. A refusal to do so would render him liable to committal for contempt of Court. As the fact appears not (o be generally known, wo may take tins opportunity of stating that witnesses in criminal cases have no right to demand payment, although the Bench posesscs a discretionary power to order payment. In civil cases, however, a witness can refuse to be sworn until his expenses have been paid him. Charring- Fence Posts— Speaking of this practice a writer in the Counln; Gentleman says ; “ This is an old practice of rather doubtful advantage. Charred posts olten appear sound when they are not. The charcoal does not decay, and the cnarred post retainsa good exterior appearance ; but as water readily passes through the charcoal, the inter.or. which was never heated, soon decays and a mere shell is left, if the post could bo horded through enough to turn the wood brown, without rendering it brittle, the result might possibly be better, although the operation would bo difficult or impossible. A good coating of hot gas-tar would fill the pores of the wood even better than paint, and prove very useful. A good nuderdraiti beneath, with gravel or coarse sand rammed about tbc post, to allow all surplus water to pass quickly down into the drain, would contribute much to the durability——in the same way precisely that a post sheltered entirely from wet and weather would many times outlive one that is soaked and dried twenty times n-vear.