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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 711, 23 August 1869, Page 3

Westpobt.— Some peculiar tidal phen* omena were witnessed at Weatport the othsr day, by which some damage was done at Charleston.

Three were ten ships posted on May 18 at Lloyd's as missing, a notification for the underwriters to settle with the owners. The crew of the Hamburg, ship, which picked up the crew of the gold ship Blue Jacket have claimed 50 per cent salvage on the box of £4,000 in specie, which the/ took on board with them. The Financial Statement.—The Wai* kouati Herald says:—"ln common wish all other newspapers throughout the colo* ny we were, we suppose through the cour* tesy of Mr Vogel, furnished per telegraph, free of charge, with his financial statement, thus showing the advantages an energetio member of the fourth estate, when con* aected with the Government, can confer on the country at largo." [Our contemporary is in error in supposing that the financial statement was sent by telegraph, f ree of charge, to all newspapers through* out the cobny ; as, although it was sent to oar local contemporary, the same courtesy was not shown to us, which we presume would have been the case had we been partisansoftheFoxMinistry.—Ed. H.B.T.]

Flax Machines.—The Wellington In* dependent, August 14, says that a number of gentlemen, including two or three mem* bers of the Assembly, attended at Mr 15. Mills' Lion Foundry on Thursday last, for the purpose of testing tho flax machines manufactured there. The trial was in every way most successful, the whole of the gentlemen present expressing their satisfaction at the manner in which the machine did its work. One or two of those present, who have had experience of machines made in other provinces, considered it decidedly superior to any they had seen. Dr. Wil* ford, of the Hutt, ordered two machines. Another trial will shortly take place, and we are informed that Mr Mills will bo happy to see present persons who are interested in flax. A Wobd to Ma. Donald M'Lean.— The Wanganui Times, discussing the mission of Mr Booth to the West Coast to procure evidence against Tauroa and his co rebels, says, under the heading " A word to Mr M'Lean":—"We adopt an, unusually plain style of writing in addressing a word to Mr M'Lean upon this subject, simply because we haTe hitherto looked upon him as the ablest man in tha Colony to deal with native affairs, and will atill adhere to that opinion until we see and are fully convinced that he has sent Mr Booth upon such a mission. We ask Mr M'Lean plainly and bluntly if, with his thorough knowledge of Mr Booth, the circumstances under which he arranged with Tauroa to surrender, and the manner in which, during the past two or three years, he has exercised his authority to shield and protect the said Tauroa and his corebels from condign punishment, he, Mr Booth, i-J now a fit and proper person to procure witnesses to convict those men f If Mr M'Lean thinks so, we can assure him that there is no man in these districts that will coincide with his opinion upon that su j-'cfc, and that should those prisoners be acquitted upon the evidence brought forward by Mr Booth, the ruined settlors will look upon the whole as a mere sham. Why not depute Colonel M'Don* nell to collect and take down witnesses for the prosecution of those men ? He would be a witness in- chief, and he could select and take down men whose evidence would put the prisoners fairly upon their trial before the country. Is Mr M'Lean afraid that witnesses who could be brought forward inight give such evidence as would necessitate the trial and conviction of others besides Tauroa and co-rebels ? If so, let Mr Booth perform his own mission, but we ask Mr M'Lean to pause before bringing these men to trial, merely upon the evidence such men as Mr Booth will bring forward. Tho subject is one which so materially affects the future peace and prosperity of these districts that we put it candidly to Mr M'Lean and the Government to say whether tlie evidences of witnesses brought forward by Mr Booth will bo received by the Colony at large as clear 'proof of the guilt or innoc-nee of the prison* jers. We suy assuredly not, and ask the Go--iverumeut to ruooiwidar tho subject.