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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 17 April 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

Romaxce IX Real Life. —At the time of the election for the Presidency of the French Republic there was a young Lieut enant of Zouaves serving with Lis regiment in Algiers. This regiment, as did a large portion of the army of Africa, voted for General Cavaignac, and was conspicuous for its partisanship. After Louis Napoleon had been declared President, loud and dire were the expressions of dissappointment, and the Lieutenant in question made himself so obnoxious by Ins fearless expression of opinion as to attract the notice of the Chief of the State, and the result was a disbanding of the regiment and a peremptory order for our hero to quit the French territories. He afterwards went to Belgium but was again involved in political trouble, and ordered across the frontier. Soon after the gold discoveries in Victoria, our Lieutenant, who had incurred the displeasure of his uncle, who was a strong Bonapartist, made his way to Melbourne, and, was for some time in various positions in the Police and Escort. Subsequently ho came over to New Zealand and was for some time working in company with an individual who now occupies an eminent position in the Native department, cutting timber, splitting shingles, Ac. Having picked up the Native language, he succeeded in getting a subordinate office under Government and was located as an agent of the Land Purchase Department, in the extreme north of the Island. When the late war broke out he rendered good service as a Government messenger, and was subsequently attached to the Staff of General Cameron, as interpreter. A short time ago, an official communication was forwarded by the French embassy in London, to the effect that this sol disatii Lieutenant of Zouaves, policeman, sawyer, and interpreter, was the nephew of a nobleman high in the good graces of the Emperor, and this undo had recently died bequeathing to our hero bis large estates and fortune. It is said also that the Emperor bad in an autograph letter expressed bis wish lo welcome to his Court the nephew- of bis friend, and to forget in the “ Comte de Ville” the indiscretions of the Lieutenant of Zouaves. The Count proceeded to Europe a few mails ago, and before leaving, expressed bis intention of again visiting New Zealand.— Ota[jo Di’ilt/ Times, M anvil 1.