Captain A. H. Evelyn Wood, son of Evelyn Wood, served in 1897-98 on the North-west frontier, in the Sou dan, and went through the Natal cam paign with General Buller, taking part m the engagement ' at Pieter'a Hill. Captain Wood did not come on to I Wanganui, but his wife (who is a daughter 'of Mr Andrew Duncan and niece of Mr John Duncan, of Wanga nui) was here, and went up river this morning en route for the Hot Lakes and Auckland. Lieutenant Dick-Conyngham, com manding the 21st Lnncersu 18 a nephew of tho gallant Colonel Dick-Conying ham, who fell at Ladysmith. Captain Wilson! of the Life Guards, is the husband of. Lady Sarah Wilson, one of. the heroines .of the Maf eking siege. • ' Amongst tho ' pressmen present yes terday were "A Tramp, Esq." (Auck land Herald, Mr Percy Freeth, repre senting the New - Zealand Times, Mr Tom L. Mills, of the Evening Post, Mr ' Malcom Ross, representing the Otago Daily. Times, the Cbrirt church Press, and the London Times'; and Mr J. Holloway (Patea Mail). We understand that the .whole of the 21st Lancers, with one exception, were present at the historic -charge- at the battle of Omdurman, and the 'lances that they performed their evolutions with yesterday wore the identical wea pons that did such destruction amongst the fanatics of the Soudan. <

A despatch from a porjt of Spain says persons from the mainland of Venezu ela report that the Venezuelan gunboat Miranda has burned the sloop Maria Teresa, owned by a British subject. It is said the Government suspected that arms for the rebels were being imported from Trinidad, and ordered that vessels trading 'with the 'islands should ftc stopped. The Maria Teresa, which was anchored at Guiria, attempted to move to smoother waters and then the Mir-, a'nda's men, without question or explan ation,, are said to have taken possession of rhe sloop and poured kerosene over her anii burned her, to the water's edge. The Uquire, Trinidad and Cocoa, all coasting vessels, have been stepped. Tho rebellion is spreading and it hod been previously reported that the Govern ment liai Fcized two steamers of the Orinoco Steamship Company. , The American Government will dis patch perhaps more than one warship to the scene of disturbance. 