DEATH OF LIEUTENANT NUGENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8440, 6 April 1889, Page 2

DEATH OF LIEUTENANT NUGENT.

Details of Lieutenant Nugent's death near the Ruby Mines are forwarded by a correspondent at Rangoon to the Auckland Star. He went with 16 men of the Leicestershire Regiment in pursuit of a daeoit band, which had looted a village. The dacoits were found strongly stockaded, and Lieutenant Nugent stormed the position, when he and six of bis men were wounded and one was killed. Lieutenant Nugent was afterwards wounded a second time, this wound being fatal. Sergtant Beers, who took the command, succeeded in bringing in the wounded men and the lieutenant's body to Momeit. A correspondent informs us that this officer was born in Auokland, being the ■on of Major C. L. Nugent, of the 58th Regiment. His mother was the daughter of Major-General Gh D. Pitt, commanding the forces in New Zealand, who was the first and only Lieutenant Governor of the province of New Ulster, the colony at the time being divided into the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster. The marriage took place in St. Paul's, Prinoee■treet, the ceremony being performed by the late Rev. Mr. Ohurton, the incumbent, who was also the military chaplain. Of those present on the occasion but few remain, bnt amongst them are Sir George Grey and Sir Frederick Whitaker. Major Nugent was for a lengthened period Native Secretary of the colony, and much respected by the natives. He and Captain Henderson (the officer commanding the Royal Artillery) were the first officers who marched overland from Wellington to Auckland. They suffered considerably—were robbed and detained ; and at one time the late Tamati Waka Neme had assembled a force some 300 men, under his fighting General Repa, to go to their relief, when he received the intelligence of their arrival in this city. When they arrived in Auckland, their only covering being parts of an old blanket. So much for the good old .times. Lieutenant-General Nugent'n eldest Bon —a Captain of Royal Engineers and an officer of the highest promise —was blown up in Cabool a few years ago. Such are the vicissitudes of a soldier's life ; but hard on one family.

Corporal W. Rundle, Taranaki Voluntteers, baa received a New Zealand war medal. An Aucklander writing from Samoa BttTß ; —"First impressions of Apia, (the icene of the disaster of March 16th) ore decidedly unfavourable. There is no safety in the harbonr, whioh is an open roadstead, and in the calmest of weather vessels are rolling with their beltings under. Indeed, skippers cannot breathe freely nntil they see the surf-beaten reefs astern of them, with a good spanking breeze to carry them clear away to sea. Tbo town, looking from the «00, forms a semi-circle, flhoal water running out for about half a mile .from the shore, at whicn distance yeßsels have to anchor, the natives charging from Is to 2b to get ashore, and the same for the return trip." We are not surprised at the importers of the colony bring provoked at the continued irritating alteration being made in tho Customs regulations. Formerly the Government allowed 4 per cent, for breakage. This was withdrawn by the present Government, with instructions tbat the actual breakage should be ascertained. This order involved unpacking and repacking, which devolved on the importers. They asked tho Government, by deputation, on Friday, that this particular charge should be borne by the Government. The Premier promised to make inquiries upon (be subject,