GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 946, 16 March 1872, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

A son of Mr Goodwin, a settler at Kaukapakapa, Auckland, has been drowned through playing on a log during a Fresh.

After many unsuccessful attempts in the province, an artesian well has been sunk at Clive, Napier, and a splendid flow of water obtained at a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The whaling vessel Milton reports, at Auckland, having boarded the barque Europa at sea. An atrocious murder had been committed on board the latter vessel by a Portuguese Beaman only sixteen years old, who killed one ot the boat steerers. The two had frequently quarrelled, and the steerer had several times chastised the boy. A quarrel occurred on the yards, where the steerer struck the boy with a marling spike ; both afterwards de* scended to the deck, when the boy got

a knife from the forecastle, and stabbed the steerer in the abdomen, injuiing the spine. The Bteerer afterwi rds died. The murderer has been brought to the Bay of Isl .nils, and handed over to the authorities for trial.

The Auckland Star says that it is worthy of note, that for two days not a single case of drunkenness has been brought before the Magistrates at the Police Court.

We (" Independent," March 9) regret to have to announce the death of Mr William Pagan, of the General Post-office Department. The death ■Was awfully sudden. During the morning the deceased gentlemau had walked round the Wellington Postoffice, and chatted freely with the olfieers of the department, afterwards enjoying a walk down the Queen's wharf. About three hours after this he was seized with a slight cough, winch brought blood in small quantity, and in less than four hours from his appearance on the wharf death took place. With respect to the protection of stacks from the weather, the " Argus " says: —Whether 1 hatch is scarce, or the cost of that kind of protection renders its use inexpedient, rick-sheets should be kept. Their first cost hardly exceeds that of good thatch, whilst they can be put into use every year without another farthing of outlav and may be further kept fit for use for a lony series of years. The loss of one stack of wheat, even at present rates, would amount to more than the value of many rick-sheets.