r iJervois as t Governor of New Zealand, and 1 that his commission will be sent by the San Francisco mail, which leaves London Thursday next, and is due here on the lOth January. »,',.!. At the Masterton Court to-day, Thomas \ Thompson and John Morgan were charged with having in their possession 40 gallons v of- whisky upon which the duty had not ; ; tbeen paid. They were remanded till to '-.■morrow.* sJ-K-The Admiralty authorities have deter i'iminded upon inviting tenders for the siip. ply of New Zealand salt beef to the Bri tish Navy, and are therefore calling for experimental shipments of 10001 b casks from each of the principal "'ports of this Colony. If the experiments "prove satisfactory as regards quality when „ compared with American meat, the Ad ?'njiralty will make a second trial on a large • scale, and will invite the supply of 126,0001 b annually. „!,..'. Chbistohttbch November 22nd. I s.vAt the <?ity Council Chambers at noon .liivday, the Mayor (Mr J. G-. Ruddenklau) xiwas presented with a magnificent teatimo .mial of silver plate in recognition of the "manner in which he had fulfilled the du ties of , his office during the Exhibition Ha was also presented with a gold ;lbcket : f6r the Mayoress. Both testimo- were the result of public subscrip tions. .',, -. , Four drunken shearers, on a spree, up the railway station at Waikari to-day, and created so much disturbance jftn^i annoyance that the police had to be sent for. Two were arrested, and the father two had escaped before the police t «rri.Ted. : oK /• ? • Kumara, November 23rd. •,niMr Seddon, M.H.E., addressed a large •jmeeting l of -the electors at Dillmanstown •last evening." A vote of thanks and confi Bdence was unanimously carried. W. Mor rif, on behalf ,of, the miners of Kumara and Staffordto,wn, took the opportunity of .presenting him with a gold watch as a 'mark' pi, their esteem and appreciation of ' -jusjßervice on .their behalf in Parliament. Nelson, November 27th. A fatal fire occurred yesterday after noon.- An old house on the hill above "Washington Valley caught fire in a man ner' unknown. 