Amusing and Instructive.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 341, 15 January 1866, Page 1

Amusing and Instructive.

. Funeral of a Bee, —A correspondent of the Glasgow Herald transmits the following:—“ On Sunday morning last I had theploasuse of witnessing a most interesting ceremony, which I desire to record for the benefit of your readers. Whilst walking with a friend in a garden near Falkirk, we observed two bees issuing from one of the hives, bearing betwixt them the body of a defunct comrade, with which they flew for a distance of ten yard*. We followed thSm closely, and noted the care with which they selected a convenient hole at the side of the gravel walk—the tenderness with which they committed the body, head downwards, to the earth—and the solicitude with which they afterwards pushed against it two little stones, doubtless ‘ in mcmoriam.’ Their task being ended, they paused for about a minute, perhaps to drop over the grave of their friend a sympathising tear,, and then they flew away.” Amoks the Planets. —Whatever be the truth about these vast provisions for the wants of Saturn, surely there must be living inhabitants there to whose needs they are wisely adapted. Travel among the other planets would have its inconveniences to us,of the earth. Light walking as it might be across the fields of sether, we should have half our weight given to ns again in Mars or Mercury, while in Jupiter our weight would be 'doubled, and we should drag our limbs with pain. Jn Saturn, owing to the compression of the vast light globe, and its'rapid rotation, a man who weighs twelve stone at the equator weighs fourteen atone at the pole. Though vast in size, the density of the planet is small, for which reason we ahoutd not find ourselves very much heavier by change of ground from Earth to Saturn. We should be cold, for Saturn gets only a ninetieth part of the earth’s allowance of light and beat. But then there is no lack of blanket in the House of Saturn, for there is a thick atmosphere to keep the warmth in the old gentleman’s body, and to lengthen the Safumiau twilights. As for the abatement of light, we know how much light yet remains to us when less than a ninetieth part of the sun escapes eclipse. We see in its brightness, as a star, though a pale one, the reflection of the •unshine Saturn gets, which, if but a ninetieth part of our share, yet leaves the Sun of Saturn able to give five hundred and sixty times more light than our own brightest moonshine. And then what long summers 1 The day in Saturn is only ten and a half long hours long, so that the nights are short, and there are twenty-four thousand six hundred and a half of its own days to the Saturnian year. But the long winters! And the Saturnian winter has its gloom increased by eclipses of the sun’s light by the rings. At Saturn’s equator these eclipses occur near the equinoxes, and last but a little while ; but iu the regions corresponding to our temperate zone they are of long duration. Apart from eclipse, the rings lighten for Saturn the short summer nights, and lie perhaps as a halo under the sun during the short winter days.—“ A Few Saturnine Observations,” in All the Year Bound. . Education, conducted as it usually is, upon one uniform plan, has a constant tendency to cast the minds of the instructed classes into one unvaried inould, destroying all originally, even where it does not altogether benumb and cramp the intellectual energies. Thoughts and opinions, instead .of being suSered to develop themselves spontaneously from within, are compulsorily stamped . from without, until the faculties, relieved from all necessity for their exercise, lose their expansive aptitude and vigor, and become passive recipients, Instead of active exponents. — Horace Smith’s Mesmerism. Remedy fob Dipxhebia. —Diplheris is a very troublesome and dangerous disease. A very easy remedy-has bean found for it that will effect a •peedy relief Take a common tobacco pipe, place a live coal in the bowl, drop a little tar upon the coal, draw the smoke into the mouth, and discharge it through the nostrils.—The West Indian. A Patient Lad.— “ Ben,” said a father the .other to his delinquent son, “ I am busy now, hut as soon as 1 can get time, 1 mean to give you a flogging.” “ Don’s hurry yourself, pa,” replied the patient lad, “ I can wait.” Man is a reasoning animal, who paints with the Sunbeams, travels by steam, and talks by lightning. Not B ad. — Why is a spider a good correspon- " 4eotf Because he drops a lius by evsry post.

THE 70th REGIMENT IN NEW ZEALAND. (From the Daily Southern Cross, 3rd January.) The 70tb (Surrey) Regiment of Foot, which has done such good service in New Zealand in upholding the honor, and adding to the lustre of the brave deeds done by the British army in all parts of the world, takes its .leave of us during the course of this week; the present is therefore a very fitting time to say a few words of the doings of this regiment whilst resident amongst us, and fighting oar battles against a horde of half-Christianised, half-savage warriors, carried away by a horrid fanatical superstition. Unlike the 65th Regiment, which left our shores for England about two months ago, after a service of 19 years in the field in New Zealand, few men, we believe, of the 70th Regiment will be left behind to become settlers in the colony, their term of service in New Zealand not permitting such a course being adopted; but we cannot refrain from thinking that it will be found, in many cases, from the associations formed during their residence here, that in future years many of our new and energetic settlers will be taken from the ranks of this regiment after the men have completed their full term of service, and who will at once direct their steps to New Zealand for the purpose of forming a home here for the rest of their lives. It is an admitted fact on all sides that the petty warfare which has unfortunately existed in New Zealand for some years past has proved an unmitigated evil and annoyance to all who were unhappy enough to be engaged in it. From its desultory character, and the very nature of the tactics pursued by the wily Maori, who almost always has taken good care to leave a loop-hole by means of which to effect his escape, it has become generally acknowledged that, whilst on larger fields and more extended operations the heroic deeds performed would be justly honored, on the New Zealand battle-field they have sunk into inglorious skirmishes and inoperate displays of military movements. - Superadded to the one pre-eminent difficulty of keeping the rebel forces in check, and coping with them in their natural fastnesses, as well as protecting the many scattered settlements in the Northern Island from attacks on every side, roads have hud to be formed, redoubts erected, forests penetrated, and the enemy dislodged from almost impregnable fortifications, as well as flying columns established to keep up communication with out-stations; all this having to be done in every sort of weather, under the broiling midsummer sun, as well as in the depths of a pluvial New Zealand winter, which only requires once to be experienced, whilst under canvas, ever to be remembered. Our readers, however, well enough know the difficulties under which warfare has been pursued in New Zealand to require any prompting from our pen to induce them to accord every respect and honor to one of the regiments now about to leave us at such an early date, and which has done so much to protect the lives and properties of her Majesty’s subjects in this and neighboring provinces. The practical experience gained by most of the male residents of this province, whilst doing duty in the militia and volunteers, renders a description of the hardships undergone by the military unnecessary in this notice ; and we may, therefore, we are sure, with the hearty consent of our fellow settlers, wish in every sense of the term “ Goo speed” to the 70th Regiment to their old British home. The 70th Regiment has seen 61 years* service since its formation; and during that period it has made the name pi “ Surrey” conspicuous on many hard foughtbattle-fields. The regiment embarked for India on the 29th January, 1849 ; and whilst there served in Bengal during the mutinies of 1857-9 in the north-west provinces. Captain Turner was honored with a medal and clasp for services rendered during the mutiny. He commanded a detachment at the affair of Khoodund Puttee under Major Eyre; was present in the actions of Muugawar, Alumbagh, and and relief of Lucknow, with Havelock’s column ; also in two sorties from the Residency the defence of Cawnpore, and defeat of the Gwalior mutineers, and actions of Kallee Nuddee and Kerker Goalie, capture of Bareilly (as orderly officer to Brigadier Stisted) and actions of Beroia and Nohumdee. Cap*

tain Thompson also served in the suppression of the Indian mutiny, and was present at the affair of Hurrah, fur which be received a medal.. The 70th Regiment was the first regiment sent from India to the relief of the New Zealand on the 22nd February, 1861, and landed in Auckland on the 13th Slay, udder command of Colonels Galloway and Chute, both of whom did good service in the colony. Major-General Galloway, instead of returning to Europe on obtaining his promotion, remained in the. colony, and without pay commanded the Auckland Militia ami Volunteers, which owed so much of their success to his judicious and skilful organization. General Chute, commanding iu New Zealand was the second in command, of the regiment, a duty which now devolves upon Colonel Mulock, then senior major. On their arrival the 70th were sent to make the military road to the Waikato, at which they continued until 4th June, 1862. This task was well and satisfactorily performed. although it must be admitted that it was somewhat beyond the sphere of a soldier’s ordinary duty. On the 3rd of November, 1861, 100 rank and file, under the command of Major. Ryan, proceeded to Otago, the gold rush to that province rendering the presence of troops necessary for the preservation of order until a sufficient police force could be organised. The detachment remained in Dunedin until June, 1863 ; when, the war having again broken out, they rejoined the head-quarters of the regiment at Taranaki, which had previously been despatched thither. The 70th were present at the decisive action at Katikari river, on the 10th June, 1863, under 'General Sir Duncan A. Cameron, K.G.B. Shortly afterwards, as our readers will perhaps remember, the seat of war was changed to the Waikato district, and three companies of the 70th Regiment, under Major (now Brevet-Lieut.-Coionel) Ryan, returned to Auckland, and were present at the action on the Koheroa heights, on the 17th June of that year. The remainder of the regiment (with the exception of one company) subsequently returned to Auckland from Taranaki; and two companies, under Captain Saltmarshe were engaged iu the brief but spirited encounter with the rebels at ibe Pukekohe Stockade. Captain Saltmarshe was wounded in the action, for his share iu which he obtained his majority. On the establishment of the flying column being decided on,by Sir Duncan Cameron, to clear the Hunua ranges and surrounding district of the predatory bands of rebels who had murdered several settlers and destroyed their property, one company of the 70th,. under Major Rutherford, joined the column commanded by Colonel Nixon— Major Rutherford subsequently succeeding to the command of the left wing. Tne de° tacliment (one company) Captain Wright, lett at Taranaki, were present at the action at Allen’s Hill on the 23rd October, 1863 ; it also took part in the destruction of the pa at Kaitaki, and in several other minor engagements. The headquarters and 300 men under Lieutenant-Colonel Mnlock, embarked in November, 1863, in H.M.S.S. Miranda, and formed part of the expeditionary force to the Thames under Brigadier-Gene-ral Carey. Subsequently the regiment proceeded to Waikato and joined the forces at Tukaramea, under the command of General Cameron, on the same day as the 50th Regiment, and were afterwards marched to the Waitetuna Valley. The regiment rejoined General Cameron’s force the day previous to his march against Pateraugi, and served throughout the Waikato; The regiment took part in the midnight march from Te Rori against Te Awamutu and Rangiawhia, being engaged with the fighting 50th” in the capture of ihe Haireni Redoubt on the 21st February, 1864; the expulsion of the rebels from Rangiawhia on the succeeding day; and securing the rebel commissariat s:ores at the latter place. Ou the 26th February the 70th proceeded to Rewi's settlement, Kihikihi, where redoubts were thrown up, ami the regiment posted there until General Cameron’s advance towards Maungatautari Pa. Upon the arrival of General Cameron at Pukemarima, a force of 300 men, under Lieut.-Colonel Mulock, formed the reconnoitring party against Maungauutiri, when the

pa was found to be evacuated. At the attack on the Gate Pa, Tauranga, in May, 1864, the flying column were present, under the. command of Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel Ryan, aud did their duty nobly to redeem the day. In, July cl the same year, the 70th returned to Taranaki, and were present at several skirmishes with the enemy, and the destruction of Manutahi, Mataitawa, and Te Arie. In February, 1865, the right wing, under Major Rutherford, proceeded to Wanganui, and served through the Wanganui campaign, having marched as far as Wuimate. On tha 29th May, two companies returned to Taranaki, and proceeded towards Opunaki to join portion of the regiment which had already arrived there under Colonel Warre. Threa companies proceeded from Wanganui to Opunaki. Two companies, under Capt. Ralston, formed part of the White Cliffs expedition. The Opunaki detachment formed part of expeditionary force, under Colonel Warre, C. 8., to meet Colonel Weare, 50th Regt., and subsequently took part in the destructioa of several pas at Warea. On the 2nd August last, 200 men formed part of the expeditionary force under Colonel Colville, against natives at Warae (to punish the enemy supposed to be in the bush there, who had previously fired at a wood party, killing Captain Close, 43rd L. 1.), and were present at the action in which Lieut. Bally was killed. On the 14th September the regiment embark, d for Napier, and on th© 14th December embarked for Auckland, thence proceeding to Otahuhu. Ihe right wing of the regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Mulock, embarked yesterday on board the Ida Zeigler, and the left will embark on board the Siam to-day. We cannot conclude this imperfect notice of the part taken by the 70th Regiment iu the New Zealand war, without bearing our testimony to the zeal and devotion to duty at all times manifested by both officers and men. We have'spoken of the conspicuous services rendered to the cause of law and order by Generals Galloway and Chute, both regimental officers oa their arrival here; but w© should not be doing our duty did we not record our high appreciation, and. that of the colonists of Auckland, of the less distinguished, but not less meritorious and zealous body of officers of all grades connected with th© 70th Regiment. The conduct of the regiment has at all times merited the approval of the colonists. The men were orderly and well-behaved, and the 70th bus been a pattern since they landed on our shores.