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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 568, 13 April 1868, Page 3

Worn Coin. —Tt lias been declared by tbs English Mint that worn silver and cold coin are a legal tender so long as a vest-re remains on the surface of the coin of its origin from the Mint.

A bteanoe Fish. —The Lyttelton Times pays that, a strange looking fish is now b°» ing exhibited attheKniapoi Hotel, Kaiapoi, having been captured bv the fishermen lately near the mouth of the river. It has a soft and apparently boneless body, and on the head arc several tentacles, some of them above two feet in length, which con- j ceal a hard horny beak, something resem-| hling a hawks or ka-ka’s. At interval's! along these feelers are attached a great many protuberances resembling shefls, but which appear to be so many distinct mouths, as every one of them is furnished! with a number of teeth. The trunk of the body is in shape something like the leg of a boot, surrounded by a sort of flabby envelope, and is over a foot in length ; it has a large triangular tail, which is used as a propeller, and the whole fish would, perhaps, measure as much as four feet from its extremities. Altogether it presents a most repulsive appearance.

The Charges agsinst Cot,. M'DgnKKLL —A Wanganui paper says ;—“The Commission appointed by the Government to inquire into alleged cruelties committed by Colonel M‘Donnell and the forces under his command at Pokaikai, in August, 18G6, opened at Matangawara on the 18th March. The Commission consists of Cracroft Wilson, Esq. C. 8., chairman ; members, Major Cargill and Mr G. Graham. The evidence is nearly concluded, and clearly exonerates the gallant colonel, who has been traduced by a lot of scoundrels, one of whom in particular, named Spencer Grey, alias Grey Spencer, has come out Tery badly. Sergeant Austin in particular gives this man an infamous character. He •aid, * I know a man named Grey Spencer; he was a volunteer serving in the Native Contingent $ he said be had been a major in the Indian service; I know him to be both a liar and a rogue. I have charge of the rum—ho would always steal some if he got a chance.’ ” Another witness examined before the Pokaikai Commission — a Maori lady—gives Mr Spencer the following certificate of character : —‘ I know aMr Spencer; he was present at Potaikai as a private in the Native Contigent; he behaved in a very extraordinary manner ; consider him to have been drunk on that occasion ; saw no other in the force the worse for liquor ; saw the native chief Aparaniko there; when Aperhama, the native chief killed at Pokaikai, was lying dead on the ground Aperhama testified great delight, put his hand upon Colonel M'Donnell’s shoulder, and said, Tou Ik a, Ton Ika —(your fish) ; had an opportunity of knowing Mr Spencer’s habits and general character during the time he was in the force; he was not of sober habits, and he ia the greatest liar I ever met.’ The Wellington Independent, March 31, supplies the following latest intelligence respecting the inqnrry :— c ‘ By later papers received from on board the s.s. Wanganui we learn that the Commission have closed their pro- , oeedings for the present. They will assemble again eight days before the meeting of the House of Representatives for the purpose of taking the evidence of a native wop?an who is at present at Xaupo.”

THE KELSON GOLD-FIELDS,

The news from the West Coast is of a very encouraging description. The Westport Times, on the 17th March, has the following paragraphs in reference to the

Flit: - Bfllle Eiveb Diaansros. —Some time ago we gave a detailed account of the vari--o>>a diggings on the Holler and its tributs.i'ics* Ws then predicted the ultirnatp richness of the country, and little by little the truth of our prophesy is becoming exemplified. Yesterday, by the arrival of some parties for tools, &c., we hear that a terrace, with a lead about eighty feet wide, five feet of stripping, and five feet of washdirt, has been opened and taken up, and a w ater-race, with half-a mile of cutting aud forty chains o r Burning, has been brought on by Croawell and party and Pierce and party, so that washing will at once commence. The gold is coarser than the ordinary run of Westport gold, and the prospect shows a probable return from £ls to £25 per man weekly. The number of people up the river cannot be ascertained, and as the parties are scattered through the bush, but the general impression seems to be, amongst the miners river them selves, that any raenwbogoup the with the determination to work, and not to let the first baulk discourage them can be certain to find gold, and in payable quantities. There are three stores at the Lyell, near which the terrace is situated, and they are doing well- Wo are not trying, by these remarks, to cause a rush, but we should advise miners who have never prospected the Buller and its tributaries to do so, before leaving the country, and we are quite sure that success will attend their enterprise. The track is good, and a boat works once a week. We shall lie in a position soon to give a more detailed account, and wo will do as fully and correctly as possible. Addison's Flat.—We are happy to record that several parcels of gold were gold yesterday, at the various banks principally from Addison’s Flat. The prospects there arc very encouraging, and although the diggings are not of fabulous richness, we are assured on good authority that nearly everyone is getting gold, and that the drainage in progress is proving so effective,! that there are no fears of flooding for the future; as this has been the great draw-' 'oaek to (lie success of this extensive field we may look forward to brighter prospects, A great undertaking has been completed here. Younghusband and parly have been successful in constructing a tunnel of nearly thirteen hundred feet in length, in the short space of two months. The beneficial effects are ulteaclv being felt, as it is draining

the ground completely in (hat part of the lend. The above parlies deserve the greatest credit for (heir perseverance, as the work as been completed under many difficulties. The Queensland mania has, to a certain extent, relieved us of our surplus population, and, I may say safely say, -very miner located on this gold field is now fully employed. The erection o( water-wheels seems to be the order of the

Jay, for since my last two more have been completed—one by Jelirey and party, the oilier by Holdgate and party ; the former being of larger dimensions than any other on (ho lead. The whole of the flat where mining operations are carried on has a busy appearance, and every man is steadily at work ; money is becoming more plentiful, and affairs in general have a prosperous aspect.