GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 935, 4 March 1872, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The survey in the Kai Valley, be. tween Nelson and Havelock, is commenced, and when finished °will open to the public a large extent of good timber land. In a jewellers'a shop, in Dunedin, a \\atch left on a work bench one evening could not be found next morning, but was at length discovered in a rat hole twelve feet distant. A serious accident occurred to the eldest daughter of 8. Kingdon Esq, Nelson, who was riding alone on the Wakapuaka road, when her horse shied, a little beyond the cemetery, throwing her, and, as whs afterwards ascertained, breaking her right arm in two places above the elbow. Miss Kingdon very courageously walked back to her father's house leading her horse, and on her arrival there, medical assistance was sent for, and the injuries ascertained to be as stated above. About 250 men are at work on the "Waikato railway, and they got on very well with Mr Brogden's overseers ; 30 of the loafing class were discharged. Sooner or later it must have come to that, for what employer of htbor will pay liberally for nothing done ? Any man capable of doing anything like a fair day's work for good wages need not be idle here ; and it must be confessed that a generous interpretation obtains with Mr Brogden's overseers when amount of work done has to be computed.

W. T. L. Travers, Esq , F.L.S., and Charles Knight, Esq., F.R.C.S., havo been re-appointed by his Excellency to be governors of the New Zealand Institute. The "Wanganui Herald" states that the at Putiki, Kaiwhike, Raorikia, and other pahs on the river are preparing for a great meeting at the plains on the 4th March. The subject for discussion will be the disposal of about 300,000 acres of arable land within 70 miles in a straight line of Wanganui. Colonel M'Donald will most probably attend the meeting on behalf of the Government. The Hon. Mr Reeves has telegraphed to his Honor the Supemtendent that orders have been issued to commence the working survey of the Nelson and Foxhill line of railway. The difficulty which was, for a time, sought to be placed in the way of this scheme, appears now to be effectually removed. William King, of Waitara, and 200 Waikatos, came through the town of New Plymouth, on Fed. 22. This is the first time since 18G0 that King has met the Europeans in a friendly manner. He was warmly welcomed, and those who had formerly known him shook hands with him. The natives then assembled in the reserve near the Native Office, crowds of people being present. Mr Parris came forward, aud delivered an address of welcome. Kahu of Te Mam, next spoke, saying ho was glad to see that William King had come out of his seclusion at last. The Hon Native Minister then addressed the natives. Tamati Nito next spoke. Aperona followed King and the Waikatos on their way to Paraiaka, where a great native meeting is to be held on the 17th of March. Work at Kawakawa (Bay of Islands) ceal mines is at a standstill, aud 70 miners arc cut off from their professional avocations. Fortunately the new work in their neighbourhood prevented them from being idle. It was reckoned at the commencement of the present year that IGO persons in Auckland were following the business of a share-broker. Hawke's Bay is receiving shipments of female immigrants. The " Herald " states that " from whatever cause it may arise, it is a matter of certainty that a considerable number of those recently sent to this province have not turned out as satisfactorily as might have been anticipated, considering the care with which they were selected and the recommendation which preceded their arrival." There is not much mining news of importance in the Wakamarina. Quail's party are progressing satisfactorily, their claim still yielding good returns. The Hit or Miss, with all other river

claims, are again suspended in consequence of the recent heavy rain. Tbe Hard Times, over which a great amount of capital and labor has been expended, turned out " a complete duffer," not paying even a tithe of the expense incurred. The Nelson Dredging Company, in the Wakamariua, are progressing steadily and surely ; not throwing the work together hastily, but making good use of the material.