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Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 63, 16 March 1868, Page 66

Cabtain M'Donnell’s Case.— The following plain statement of Capt M’DonneH’soase is taken from the Wanganui Times, of the sth March, and submitted to the consideration of his Excellency Sir G. Bowen i —The colonial forces may read in Captain M c Donnell’s case a lesson and a warning.. In Ootober, 1866, he was dangerously wounded whilst commanding a night attack upon the Haubaus at Te Umu, in the neighborhood of Kakaramea. A rifle bullet, entered the groin, passed through the right hip, shattering the bones of tho pelvis, and passing through the body. After lying under canvas for about a month, he was conveyed on a stretcher to Patea, and from thence to Wanganui by steamer. , Hereseveral pieces of bone were extracted from the wound, which underwent periodical probings until February, 1867, when, on the invitation of Sir George Grey, the sufferer removed to Wellington. There he remained under the medical treatment of' Dr. Grace until the month of May following, when he returned to Wanganui. Since then he has been under the medical treatment of Drs. Gibson and Earle, under whose hands he has recently undergone two or three severe operations, by means. of which several other portions of shattered bone have been extracted. Capt. M‘Donnell is not. only disabled for life, but hia sufferings are most acute and continual. The decaying bone has to be constantly probed, but operations must be continued until suoh time as the last of the shattered and decaying pieces of bone are extracted. All this time, and under these circumstances, the sufferer has to live at a hotel, and pay doctor’s expenses out of an allowance of seven shillings a day, and even that pittance will shortly be' discontinued. It is said that he has been informed that if he goes to Wellington—at his own expense—the Ministry will use their influence to have him admitted into the Provincial Hospital there —as a pauper, of course—and that, it appears, is the last refuge for a disabled officer of the Colonial Defence Force. Now, as the Military Pensions Act, 1866, provides for such cases as this, why make such a humiliatiug proposal to Captain M‘Dounell ? Under that Act he is entitled to. £l5O a year from the time the wound was received, “ the continuance of which shall depend upon subsequent examinations before a medical Board.” Even that, in the case now before us, would not pay hotel and medical expenses, much less compensate the sufferer for what he has endured and continues to endure. The. Pensions Act fails to make any provision for a case where a wounded man may siuffer for years and have to pay heavy medical expenses. When such oases arise they should bo treated as “special” uht-U such time as. they could be legally dealt with, but we cannot see how Captain McDonnell can be deprived of a pension in accordance with the Act.

Location ob the 18th Regiment.— The Evening Post, of the 7th March, saya —-We learn upon what we conceive to be excellent authority that hia Excellency the Governor has issued instructions for. a company and head-quarters of the 18th Royal Irish to proeeed to Wellington, and that they may be expected to arrive before the end of the present month. There is little doubt that while British troops con-. tinueVto be . located in the Colony, and while they are not required for active military operations, their place of residence should he fixed at the seat of government —the almost permanent abode of the representative of her Majesty.

Legislative Council.— -His Excellency the Governor has in her. Majesty’s name summoned the . Hon. Henry Scotland, of New Plymouth, in the Province'of Taranaki, to the Legislative Council.-‘.of New! Zealand, by writ of summons under ‘.ihe seal of the colony. / / !'

AUDiTOR.-r-Richard Chilman, Esq. has been -appointed auditor for the province of Taranaki.

Definitions.— A training ship—-Ap-prenticeship. Curious fowls—A shuttlecock and a tailor’s goose: .A regular bruit ■ —idle rumor. A plaice-hunter—-a fisher*: man. —Melbourne Punch.