AN ACT OP BRAVERY. Captain M'Donnell, of the aimed Con stabulary, writes to the ' New Zealand Herald':—"l have heard that a Com mission, nominally appointed by his Ex • cellency the Governor to inquire into the recommendations for the New Zealand Cross, have come to the conclusion that none of the acts of valor mentioned were of such account as: to entitle any (except ing the Agent-General. Dr. Featherston) to be worthy of the decoration; but, knowing what has taken place, I hope you will allow me space for the following :—I was leading a party of scouts some miles in the;forest one morning—l think in Oc tober or November, 1866:1'•'It was just before daylight when I stumbled against a tree that had been felled by the enemy across the track that led to the Hauhau village of Popoia. I put out my hand to steady myself, when I touched a fence or pallisade that had been erected on the trunk of the fallen tree, and a volley was fired at us from the other side of it. My clothes were burnt by the discharge, and I fell, shot through the hip. The Natives with me retreated at once to the column, about 200 yards distant, and who, in obedience to orders, not haviug been able to surprise the village, had commenced to march for the open country. It is but just to say that no one knew I was hit and left behind at the time I fell. But Sergeant Austin, formerly a color-sergeant in her Majesty's 65th Regiment, and Sergeant White, since shot dead, missed me, and concluded I was wounded and left on' the ground. These 'two' men, in .company with Wiremu Kat'ene (a Maori), ran back to the barricade in search of me. I heard the/ltauhaus, gvopihg in the. 