GENERAL NEWS OF THE DAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 917, 14 January 1871, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS OF THE DAY.

THE WAIEA.TO NEWS. The Auckland Weekly IJerald, 7th inst., contains the following amongst its " Topics of the week ":—To what are we tending ? What does the news from Waikato mean ? We ourselves incline most decidedly to the belief that the few lawless, homeless, impudent rascals who hang about the King —King, forsooth ! a mighty fine Kingl —are getting up a little row on their own account. Of course it would be a capital thing for them to have the looting of the Waikato. Lots of guns, lots of powder, plenty of tomahawks, and all that sort of thing But our friends must have been reckoning without their host this time, and they can hardly have counted the cost to themselves. It strikes us most forcibly that the {Jaunau.s wouhl find government B,up-

plies and an independent life at Takangainutu preferable to starvation and cold lead or'' the Dunedin gaol and consumption. Most certainly, if we have any nonsense with our dusky friends, they will have to choose between the two alternatives. MOONLIGHT CONCERT. A grand moonlight concert took place in Albert Barracks square, Auckland, on the night of the 7th inst., in aid of the funds of the Orphans' Home. There were nearly 2,000 people present, and the novel entertainment is said to have gone off extremely well. ACCIDENT ON BOABD A STEAMEB. The Thames correspondent of the New Zealand Herald reports that about 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 10th inst., an accident occurred on board the p.s. Challenger, whilst alongside the wharf, which, but for the presence of mind of one of the injured men (the fireman), might have been attended with fatal consequences to the engineer, Mr Heslop. It appears that both men went into the starboard wheel to screw the key in the boss, whilst the steam was generating. Unfortunately, the engineer had left the valve open, consequently when off the curb, she made one or two revolutions, throwing them into the water, and jamming the fireman between the wheel and sponsou bearer, wounding him about the head severely. How the latter managed to get out is unknown, but fortunately he did so, and had the presence of mind to run and shut off the steam, thus saving the engineer from being thrown round again. He was at once extricated from his dangerous position and placed on board, when it was found that both of them had received serious injuries, necessitating the attendance of Dr Trousseau, who immediately dressed their wounds, and pronounced that no bones were broken, but external injuries about the head and shoulders of both men are severe. After a few hours' delay, the steamer proceeded to Coroinandel, having procured substitutes. IMPUDENT BURGLARY. The New Zealaud Herald records that on the night of the sth instant, the house of Mr A. Dura well, at the Three Kings, was burglariously entered, and a quantity of clothing and other articles stolen. The burglars must have been wretched villains, for they not only stole everything they could see, and ate and drank everything in the house, but by means of a crowbar wantonly smashed up every article of furniture in the house. Nor did all this content the scoundrels. The sheep in the neighbouring paddock were driven up, and the best picked out and killed, and the carcase taken away. A reward of cBIO is ottered this morning for informa- \ tion that will lead to a conviction, and we heartily wish that the offenders may be brought to justice. POLITICAL. The Auckland papers report that a requisition to Mr H. H. Lusk, already numerously signed, is in circulation, asking him to oppose Mr Reader Wood for Parnell. The Herald understands that Mr Lusk will accept the invitation. The Taranaki Herald is given to understand that Mr Carthew will not conr test the election for the Egraont district. In fact, it is stated that Mr Carthew intends to propose the kon. Mr Gisborne on the nomination day. COLONIAL PRIZE JIBING. The following are the Otago representatives in the forthcoming Colonial prize firing ; -r- Messrs. Goidie, Maefarlane, Wales, Taylor, Christie, Reid, Buchanan, Wilson, Adams, and Creagh. " VERY LIKE A WHALE." The following is from a recent issue of the Thames Advertiser :—The strong N.E. wind blowing on Thursday morning raised a very heavy surf near the Miranda Redoubt, opposite Grahamstown. The effect was. singular at about ten o'clock, for in one spot in particular it looked as if a large school of whales were *' blowing." So strong was the semblance that quite an excitement prevailed amongst some of the more knowing ones, and there was a " brisk inquiry" for harpoons. One gentleman in particular, who is looked upon as quite an authority on this and all other matters, got quite excited over the circumstance, and tried to persuade a party to start in pursuit of the school, and confidently asserted that there could not be fewer than twenty whales in the school.. With large visions of blubber in his, eyes, he appealed to tt*e adventu-

rous to assist him in borrowing harpoons and starting in pursuit of the whales, Fortunately, harpoons are scarce at the Thames, and while searching them out, a telescope was brought to bear on the " whales," which proved to be nothing more than the surf breaking on the beach and sending up clouds of spray. The whaler " collapsed." MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The Thames yield of gold for December, 1870, amouuts to 13,086 ounces. The sum expended on Native wars in New Zealand amounts to <£5,915,000 ! The want of seaman at the Fiji 3 is said to be severely felt. The Grey River Argus records the fact of a nugget weighing 58 oza. 11 dwts. having been found at Camp Town, A London telegram states that South Australian flax sold in London at 46s per cwt. We (Evening Post) have been informed that Mr Dillon Bell stopped at Alexau* dria on his way out in consequence of the illness of Miss Bell. "No resources," says the London Times of the 4th November, " would enable the Prussian rulers to place a single German soldier on these shores." Many young women of respectable families in Paris have reached London destitute and friendless. An immense natural cave has been disco-> vered near Coriime, Utah. It has been explored for two miles without any termination or outlet being found.