WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 316, 30 October 1860, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

{From the Advertiser.)

The Wairakapa.—We have receired Beveral letters from this district, all of which express their astonishment at the course affairs are taking at Taranaki. It appears to us that if some alteration is not soon displayed by our commanders, or Governors, or Ministry—we may as well at once abandon the colony, or place ourselves under the protection of the Maories. One correspondent exclaims that our women and children would seem to do better than our military Commanders. We can assure him that the present state of affairs is as inexplicable to us as to him. "If," says be, "stockades involve the presence of, and subordination to military officers, for God's sake let us be without them. We may be able to protect ourselves, but we don't wish to have to protect soldiers commanded by a Murray, Gold or Leslie." We are afraid the error is even more deeply rooted than our correspondent his aware of. To a weak minded Governor who has no views of his own, and who, if be had any opinions at all, are of a similar character to those entertained by men now so loudly calling for his recall, may be ascribed the evils now laid on the shoulders of the military authorities. We admit that the public generally condemn the military commanders ; our own impression is that there is a backstairs influence at work, antagonistic to their vigorous prosecution of the war; and it is of this that we complain. If we are found to be iv fault we shall willingly confess our error.

Electro Biology.—We learn from the Nelson Colonist that Captain Wilson, of the White Swan, gave a lecture on this subject at the Freemasons' Hall, which was numerously atteuded. We understand that it is bis intention to give a lecture here on his return from Auckland, on this uovel and interesting subject.

Miraculous Escape.—As the Hutt Volunteers and bund were crossing the bridge last Saturday afternoon, Mr. Albert Hease, a man well known here, in keeping time to the music, being at the time in a state of intoxication, acci dently fell over the bridge ioto the river, a distance of some 15 feet, his head falling within a few inches of a projecting log. Mr. W. Cleland, of the Voluuteers, with great presence of mind, and in a most praiseworthy manner, divested himself of his belt and accoutrements and jumped from the bridge into the river, and succeeded in bringing the poor fellow to the shore, he having apparently sustained but little damage except a good duok.ing.

Melancholy and Fatal Accident.—We regiet to, state an accident, which terminated fatally, occurred at the Hutt on the morning of the 23rd hist. It appears that a young man, named Ingram, was preparing fora shooting excursion, and taking the gun down from the mantle shelf, asked his mother if it was clean. She replied that it was, when he put a cap on and snapped it, and to his horror the gun went off, lodging its contents iv his mother's braiu. The poor woman never spoke afterwards. Mrs. Ingram lived on the most affectionate terms with her son, and was much respected throughout the Hutt district; the young hud is quite inconsolable for the loss of his parent.