POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 8 February 1866, Page 2

POVERTY BAY.

(fbobc ora own cobhespondent.)

On Tuesday, the 16th Janurry, the forces here competed for the District Rifle Prizes. The weather was unpropitious, a strong wind prevailing. The scores made were consequently not so high as it is to be presumed they would otherwise have been. The highest was, I believe, 37, made by Sergt. Walters, of the Forest Rangers; Charles Ferris, C.D.F., was the next (26); and Philip Putnam, C.D.F., third, (25.) On Thursday, the 18th January, a Maori was made prisoner here by order of the officer commanding, and confined in tho guard room of the Wilson Redoubt. I am not very well informed as to the crime of which he is supposed to be guilty, but so far as I understand he is suspected of having written and,sent a letter to one of the Hau-haus at Wairoa, advising that they should come here and attack the forces, stating that as there are not many men, they might easily kill the lot. He is one of those Who surrendered and took the oath of allegiance at Waeranga-a-hika, and has been in receij t of Government rations since. A person cannot help indulging in conjecture as to what, supposing the charge clearly made out against him, will be deemed the proper punishment. If “ being fattened ” is the proper punishment for an ordinary Hau-hau, then it would follow that this one, having shown special zeal in the cause, ought to have extra rations allowed. I overheard a man remark with reference to this subject, that the only vational allowance appropriate in the present instance would be the old one of— Two posts standant; One beam crossant. One rope pendant. And a rogue on the end on’t. •—But he was a man who knew nothing at all about it; in fact ho is a man somewhat erratic m his notions. He was a long time m the old country, to which circumstance I •oppose may be attributed the fact that big

ideas are rather old fashioned. The subject 1 ' elicited from him a few. general remarks as to Hau-haus. He said that when they sur* rendered and took the oath of allegiance he certainly would give them peace (p’s), but that he would insist upon them having q’s a» well. He would have the latter branded over the region of the heart, so as they might be known to be Queen Maoris, and so long as they minded their p’s and q’s it would ba all right, but so soon as they broke the peace - (p’s) then be would smash the q’s with a bullet. But the man is evidently mad. If he had been speaking of common white Christians who had been guilty of omitting to show their loyalty for a time by deserting from the Queen’s service, then his remarks would be applicable; but to talk of branding a coloured and probably a tatooed savage who had merely been guilty of open rebel* lion is altogether preposterous.

The Command of the p.a. Hhntbess.—' regret to hear that the Government has, for eco* nomical reasons, thought St to take from Captain Stalker the command of the paddle steamer Huntress. As far as we are aware, Capt. Stalker has ever honestly and faithfully fulfilled his (it must he admitted) somewhat onerous duties j and it is on these grounds, if on no other, we see cause to regret the dismissal of that experienced seaman from the public service. The command of the steamer has, we believe, been conferred upon Capt. Cellem, but how that gentleman will be able efficiently to fulfil his duties as harbor master and “skipper" of the Huntress seems to us one of those inexplicable mysteries which art so plentiful now-a dais. Time, however, will tell how the “amalgamation system" works.

The White-bo ad Murder This case was heard at the Supreme Court on Monday last, and the prisoner, Bichard Farrell, being unable to ob* tain counsel, was afforded by his Honor the Judge every facility in conducting his defence, which consisted of (ho plea of temporary insanity from delirium tremens, and consequent irresponsibility for his actions. It seems, however, that he was not able to succeed in convincing the jury of th# soundness of the plea, as, after a consultation bordering upon two hours, they returned to Court with a verdict of Guilty —greatly to the surprise of many of the audience. His Honor of courts had no alternative but to pronounce the sentencs of death. The great length to which the evidence extended, and the pressure upon our space consequent upon the receipt of important news from North and South, precludes our giving the whole of it in this issue. We have just heard a rumour that a petition praying for a commutation of the sentence on Farrell is in course of preparation. We cannot vouch for this, but give the rumour just as we heard it. Fatal Accident. —An accident attended with* loss of life took place in Coote-road on Monday morning last at about 9 o’clock, the unfortunate victim being a soldier of the 12th Kegimcnt, named William Pike. The deceased was a prisoner and working with the hard labor gang at an excavation for the construction of the road in ths neighborhood of the gaol, when, without warning, an immense mass of earth slipped from the cliff, and buried him, crushing hint to death. The body was extricated as quickly as possible, and surgical aid obtained, which, however, was of no avail, the body being already dead. An inquest was held on the body in the evening, when a verdict of “ Accidental Death " was returned. Ws would draw atteution to the fact that tho sale of Mr Begg’s goods continues this day, at 11 o’clock. Yide advertisement.