GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 921, 1 February 1872, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

A deputation from Blenheim, consisting of Captain Bailie, M.L.C., Messrs Dodsou, Henderson, J. Ward, and Conolly, recently waited on the Government to urge the re-considera-tion of the appointment of Mr Eyes as Resident Magistrate, on account of his unfitness for the office, and upon other grounds. Th«r>y were courteously received by the Hon. the Premier and the Hon. Mr Gisborne, who explained that no objection had been made to the appointment of Mr Eyes as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and that the two offices must be held by the one gentleman. The deputation explained that the respectable people of the province were not so strongly opposed to Mr Eyes being Commissioner of Crown Lands among them, because it was a comparatively private office, but they decidedly objected to his being placed in the position of Resident Magistrate of the district. Ministers admitted that the obnoxious appointment had not been gazetted, and desired time to consider the matter before giving any definite reyly. Benjamin Townson, gardener to the Bishop of Nelson, who had been missing from home since Saturday, the 6th ultimo, was recovered by Captain Clduston, Gaoler of Nelson, on Thursday last, so that he spent nearly three weeks in the bush, without, as far as known, any food but such as he could procure there. Mr. Clouston first noticed Townson loitering about the old cemetery, but did not know who he was. From his listless manner he was induced to notice his movements, and on his leaving the cemetery wen*" up to him and asked where he had come from. Townson said he had been in the bush for nearly three weeks, and that his chief food had been water-cress, which he did not think very nourishing, as he felt very weak. The weather had been favourable during all the time he was away, so that he suffered but little from the exposure. We have said before, that Townson had a similar fit of despondency about two years ago, from which he recovered.

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bovven are on a visit to Marlborough. Mr S. E. Batt, mate of the Dawn, was drowned on Saturday last whilst bathing in the Manawatu. An inquest was held, and the verdict was " Accidentally drowned." Mr Moir, a settler at Palmerston, was also unfortunately drowned on Sunday, whilst bathiug at Ngawhakarau.

The Lower Wairau District nomination for the Provincial Council took place on January 23. The candidates were Mr George Henderson, Mayor of Blenheim, and Mr Samuel Johnson, proprietor of the Express. The show of hands was—Johnson, 8 ; Henderson, 2. A poll was demanded on behalf of Henderson. The Bank of New Zealand has shipped four casks of iron sand from Auckland, by the City o? Auckland, for Loudon. This sample is being forwarded for testing purposes. A quantity of mottled Kauri timber has been shipped from Auckland to London for ornamental cabinet work.

A movement is on foot amongst the settlers of the Waikato, and more especially of the Cambridge district, to establish a journal to uphold local agricultural interests. There is a probability of Mr Swan contesting the district of Eodney, recently vacated by Mr Farnall, with Mr Sheebau.

Two thousand acres of phormium, leased to the Opunaka Flax Company, was destroyed by fire about a fortnight ago. Two or three years will elapse before the land will again produce the plant fit for manufacture.

A fire occurred at Tokomairio, Otago, on-the 19th instant, which de-

stroyed the stables of the White Horse Hotel.

The Governor of New South Wales, Earl Beltnore, and his family, leave for England by the Sobraon, which sails from Sydney sumo time in February. Potatoes have been selling at the same price per bushel as wheat in aotoe parts of California lately. Thirty clerks in the Treasury department at Washington are enjoying trips to Europe at the expense ot the country.

On January 10th, SOOOozs of gold, and on January 16th, 89330zs reached Auckland from the Thames. The "Ballarafc Star" understands that Mrs B. C. Aspinall has been appointed telegraphist to a station in Victoria at a salary of £2OO per annum.

From Levuka the schooner Peri, which had on board some natives and two white men, is missing; it is believed the natives' have murdered the two whites and escaped with the vessel. —At Tanna, aMr Morrison has been Bhot by a native.—At Malicola the crew of the Dancing Wave were attacked by the natives, and several of them wounded. —At Tavinui, a foreign labourer has been hacked to pieces with knives, by Solomon men. —At North Taviuui a Mr Findlay has been severely wounded by a Tokalau native.