The men working at the Wanaka will not bo able to take advantage of the present spring tides to attempt to float otl the vessel, as the work of putting in a wooden bottom is not i.ir enough advanced to allow j of the weight of the steamer being put j upon it. The attempt lias now been post poned until the next spring tides, which will come in about 10 dnys' time. When all is icady, a steuuei* will be sent to tow I the Wanaka off her piescnt position. A rather curious gun accident happened atTe Aute (Hawke's Bay) on the 17th. A son of Mr W. Robinson, farmer, was stand iug by a stack watching some sparrows, having one hand resting on the muzzle of his gun, the butt ot which rested on the ground. The gun suddenly went o/l, and the charge entered hi& hand, leaving a clean rouuel hole on the palm but jagged on the back, c u'lied i piece of bone into the check, while a poi t ion of shot grazed along the bone of the skull and c vine out at the top. Ho was at once brought to Fi Mirback'b, who found that tlnee fingers must be cut away. He alao removed two more bits of bone and j some shot from the cheek. j During a heated discussion in the Bal laiat town council quite recently in reference to the visit of Sir Henry Parkes, in wlit.li the couucillois felt grievously annoyed at not having been invited by the city mayoi? to the reception, a startling in cident occuried. The passage at arms between the mayor and Cr M'Kee was of a most exciting nature, and just, when it appeared likely that the belligerents would resort to sterner measures to settle their dif ficulties, one of the globes and peudants above the council table c«me down with a ten ible crash ai.d was smashed to pieces. The mayor was speaking at the time of the explosion, and the councillors arose fiom the table amidst hearty laughter. At the Police Court at Goulbonrn re- i ccntly Dr Beytb, a Mahommedan, proceeded against a man for assault. In Court he de clined to remove his skull cap, stating that to do so would be against his conscience and his caste of religion. 