NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2736, 28 December 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(Pee Press Association.) Lost in the WildsWellington, Dec. 28. The steamer Stella, whieh arrived last evening from a cruise to the Southern lighthouses and the Sounds, reports that Sergt-Major Healey, and Mr Allan, Returning Officer at Jackson’s Bay, left that place for Hokitika about a fortnight ago, and have not since been heard of. A search party has been out four days without finding any trace of them.

Later. ' Government have not received any intelligence of the missing Returning Officer for Jackson’s Bay, beyond a communication from Mr Giles, Chief Returning Officer at Hokitika, stating that he had not received the returns from Jackson’s Bay, and asking that the declaration of the poll might be postponed for a few days. Former Native WarsGovernment have under consideration the appointment of a Commission to consider the land claims of Volunteers who took part in the wars in New Zealand. Wilful Waste. Pxjngabehu, Dec. 27. The destruction of Native crops continues, potatoes, taros, corn, kumaras, are all pulled up. The disgust of the Constabulary at the work in hand increases. In the face of all this the Natives of Parihaka presented three bags of potatoes to the men yesterday. Christmas at ParihakaChristmas was chiefly celebrated here by all the men having a holiday. Many of the tents were decorated and at night illuminated, which presented a very pleasing effect. The men behaved themselves very well, and not a single case of insubordination or drunkenness has been reported. Two hundred men went out yesterday and destroyed about 150 acres of Maori crops, and about the same number of men have gone out again this morning. It is stated that Government have confiscated 60,000 acres of land as an indemnity for the cost of suppressing the recent hostile proceedings.