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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 701, 19 July 1869, Page 3

f Native Agents.—The power in th& hands of Native agents is exemplified by the following, from the Wanganui Herald r —" We hear that the Putiki natives have, at the dictation of Mr Booth, written to the Government, asking for terms for tho natives captured on the Patea River. We have always entertained the greatest suspicions of Mr Booth and the Putikis—that nothing would please them better than to see the whole of the cannibals on this coast restored to the bosom friendship of tho Pakeha. The Stafford Government deserve to be ousted from office, if it was |onlj for their suicidal action with regard ito rebels. Richmond, Parris, and Booth, slink in the nostrils of every man who knows anything of how native affairs ara managed. The audacity, too, of these agents is something startling. The other day, Booth, without communicating, wita his commanding officer, jumped into tbecanoe with the rebels who had come to ask for terms, and went into the rebel camp to korero. This agent has power greater than his commanding officer, and will descend to anything to work out his Native ideas,, and those of the Native Department. Wo invite attention to the action of the Stafford Government in the matter of theserebels."

The Great Pacific Bail way.—A latetelegram announces the fact, that the railway between New York and San Francisco was completed. The Economist of the LOth April gives tho following informal iou as to the works : 'We may expect very soon to get news of the running of the first; through train between San Francisco and New York. By the last mail from America the information has been received that here only remained a gap of 82 miles oetween the two constructing parties—tho one working westward iroiu the Atlantic side, tha other eastward from the Pacific. Trains are now running all the way between the Atlantic and Pacific, except over this gap. The reports are renewed as to the bad construction of the line, and if it is like other Western lines in America it will not be well constructed ; but a few months ago a surveyor, appoiuted by the United Stales Grovernnent, reported rather favorably on the line as at any rate not; worse than the generality of works to which it belongs. The promoters may have wished only to do enough to make a title fco the United Slatos bonds and lands promised them, but at any rate a line haa been built that will be much better thaa lione.

Earth in Treatment op Wounds.— An eminent American doctor has for. warded to the Philadelphia Evening Post the following interesting account of certain experiments in the application of eurth as a means of curing wounds:—On Monday last, herag at Plnladelphia, I was invited to attend the morning dressing of the earth-treated wounds. This is what I saw. First: Two patients suffering from serious varicose ulcers, after prolonged suffering,, and witli little relief from usual treatment, have ceased to be offensive to their wardmates ; they find their sores growing daily smaller; all pain and infiamation have left thorn ; and they feel the certainty of atx early cure. Second: A railroad brakeman, whose hand was —a year and a half ago—crushed between the coupling heads of two cars, and who has never been free from pain, and seldom from iutense pain ; whose hand from the wrist to thekuuckleawas a festering mass of carious bones anok flesh, and whose system had been so re--duced that he could not have survived the? amputation which alono can entirely relieve him, is now happy in freedom from pain. His flesh wouna has taken, on a healthy character, and his strength is fast returning. He even hopes to save his hand, but the long-continued decay of the bono makes this impossible. Third: Another brakeman, suffering from a precisely simi--lir injury, in no respect less serious, but received within a few days, was knmdiately treated with dry earth. Its constant application has entirely prevented inflammation, and a healthy healing of the flesh and knitting of the bone will soon return him to his duties with two useful hands.. Fourth: A farm laborer, on Friday, had three of his fingers nearly cut off, and his hand fearfully toru by a horse-power hay* cutter. Since the first application of the dry earth (a few hours alter the accident) he has been free from pain, and he will save his hand. Fifth: On Saturday last ,i laborer, engaged in breaking up con* demned shells, exploded one that was charged. Tne powder burned his face and arms, and (seriously) one of his knees> which was struck by a fragment of the iron, that completely shattered the knee-pan*. His burns and the fractures were immediately dressed with dry earth, and the freedom from pain and the absence of inllammation have been as marked in his case as in the others. Without this dressing, the knee-joint must iuevitrbly have become., involved, and the leg must have been lost. jN'ow, the wound is evidently healing, and (although it is too early to speak positively) there is every reason to hope that the only result of the injury will be a stiff knee. Sixth: Within a lew da>s a woman was brought to the hospital with her neck and a a large part of her chest very severely aud dangerously burned.. That she could escape long weeks of agony was beyond hope. Yet on Monday her eye was clear and calm, and her voice was strong, and when the doctor asked her how she felt, she said she was a great deal better, and that she had no pain. Seventh : Last Wednesday an entire breast was removed for cancer, and the wound was dressed with dry earth. It is now healing rapidly. Th«re has been no inflammation and no suppuration, and this woman too—calm and happy -looking i with a hearltliy color and a steady voice—* > spoke far more than her cheerful wordl in fchankfulneiß for her relief.