While investigating the distfile fetch problem with the util-linux port, I noticed that a couple of the mirrors seem to be misbehaving in ways unrelated to the missing file:
DEBUG: Fetching distfile failed: Unknown SSL protocol error in connection to jnb.za.distfiles.macports.org:-9824 DEBUG: Fetching distfile failed: Failed connect to nou.nc.distfiles.macports.org:80; Operation now in progress The other mirrors report the expected 404. Fred Wright