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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 709, 16 August 1869, Page 3

I Capb Campbell Light-hottse.— The (Wellington Independent understands that this useful erection is progressing rapidly. Lohd Btbon's valet, Lindsley, who was present at the poet's death, and immediately thereafter, is now a cripple in a Western hospital. He was in Abraham Lincoln's company in the Black Hawk war, and served throughout the late conflict in the 61st Illinois regiment. He is in great destitution and distress.—Toronto Globe. Coast Defence.—ln the Legislative Council, on the 11th August, the hou. Colonel Whitmore gave notice of motion that he would ask the G-overnment whether they are going to take into consideration during the session the question of harbor defence. The Waitotaba Natives.— We are happy to inform our readers (says the Wanganui Times, 7th August) that the whole of the Waitotara rebels who had not been previously captured have given themselves up to Poena and Toma at Jerusalem and Kaiwairoa, up the Wangauui river. They have delivered up over sixty stand of arms, including rifles, breech loaders, and revolvers. There are at least three murderers amongst them. Gold up the Wangantji Riveb.—The Wangr-aai Times, 7th August, says that some months ago a gold prospecting party was sent up the river, under the command of Captain M'Donnell. The party returned and reported that they bad discovered gold. Since then the natives have prospected'in the same locality, and we can assure our readers that a payable goldfield has been discovered up the Wanganui river. Nelson.—We have papers to the 10th inst. An inquest was held on the 6th on the body of Mary Ann Bradcock, a married woman, whose corpse was found floating out to sea that morning by some persons in a boat. It was shown in the evidence that the woman was intoxicated, and, it is supposed, fell over the unprotected sea wall on the Haven-road, Verdict, " accidentally drowned."—The Nelson Association held their first monthly meeting on the 6th, when a letter from *ir D. Monro, accepting the office of President, was read. —The prospecting agitation is still going on.

Embezzlement —lt will be remembered that in his financial statement the Colonial Treasurer stated that a Treasury official had been sent to investigate the state of the Westland County accounts. The officer referred to, was Mr G-avin, and we learn that the result of his investigations has been the discovery of some very serious defalcations on the part of an officer holding a high position in the County—Mr Winter, the County Treasurer. We are also informed that Mr Winter, finding his defalcations discovered, attempted to leave the colony, but was arrested on board ship on the eve of his departure. Mr Winter was for many years in the Treasury department in Otago before his appointment to Westland.—Wellington Independent, 12th August. Deduced Kates of Colonial Postage. —A Treasury warrant has just been issued which reduces the rates of postage upon packets consisting of printed papers, books, publications, and works of literature and art, or of patterns and samples of merchandise, between the United Kingdom and our colonial possessions, if transmitted by the routes and in manner indicated in the warrant, which varies somowhat for the different colonies. As regards Australia and New Zealand, there will be charged, after July 1, 1869, on which day the warrant came into force, upon all packets consisting of articles above mentioned a uniform rate, via Southampton, of Id., if not exceeding loz. in weight; if above loz, but not exceeding 2ozs., 2d.: via Marseilles, if not exceeding loz., 2d.; and if above loz., but not exceeding 2ozs., 4d. The existing regulations with respect to the dimensions and making up of the packet remain unalteied. The other colonies and countries which share the benefit of this reduction, provided the packets are transmitted by the routes prescribed with respect to them, are—British America, West Indies, Cape of GJ-ood Hope, St. Helena, East Indies, China, Japan, Java, Borneo, Plnllipines, &c.

One Law fob Both Races.—The following is among the Police reports in the Wellington Independent of the 12th inst.: —Tiuioti te Kaui, one of Ihe Ngatiporou guard, was charged with stealing a woman's jacket in the drapery store of Moeller Bros. Wm. Webster said that the prisoner, in company with several Maoris, came into the shop on Monday last. They were engaged in examining goods. While they were doing so he stepped on one side a short distance to bring another article for them to inspect. On returning, he missed one of the jackets the Maoris had been examining; and as his suspicion was aroused by the furtive movements of the prisoner, he seized him by the arm, and cook the article from underneath his coat. The prisoner was then given in charge. The value of the jacket was 17s. 6d. Tne prisoner siid that he fancied the jacket; that it was good; that they all fancied it; and to prevent any of hia companions being beforehand with him in the purchase he put the jacket under his coat, but had no intention to steal it. That when ho was seized by the shopman, he said he had money in the purse (about the size of a havresaek) at his side to pay for it. The shopman would insist upon taking the jacket away, while he wished to pay and retain it. His Worship did not consider it an overt act of larceny; that it was very suspicious, certainly j but yet might be> satisfactorily explained in many ways; and that even the prisoner's explanation might be correct. He therefore diamisaed the oase.