DEATH AND BURIAL OF AN OLD SETTLER.

. On the morning of the 13th instant, died one of the oldest as well as best-res-pected settlers in the colony of New Zealand, Sir Samuel Osborne Gibbes, Bart. It has been known that for upwards of twelve months the deceased baronet has been gradually declining in health, and therefore the sad eventf was not wholly unlooked for. -, Sir Osborne, entered the army in early youth, having served the prescribed time as a royal pege to George IV. His life since his retire ment from the service has been occupied with the management of large estates in the West Indies and elsewhere, and of later years he has resided in Australia and New Zealand. He died in his seventy-first year, leaving a large family, and a still larger circle of friends, of ail classes, from the elite of the land to the humblest peasant, with whom, especially, he was a great friend, to deplore his loss. The funeral was advertised locally to take place this morning, at 10 a.m. There were s»me two or three hundred people present, and at the appointed hour the following cortege left Osborne House for the Church : —Company of old soldiers j procossion of Freemasons; the body, with pall-bearers, on either side: chie£mourner and relatives; procession of friends. The church was distant about half-a-mile, during which distance there were reliefs of " old settlers " and Freemasons, who took turn about in carrying a friend and brother to his last home. I may here mention that Sir Osborne Gibbes. was one of the highest Masons in the colony. On arriving at the church, the procession was met by his Lordship the Bishop of Auckland, who in the usual manner^ led the procession into the church which was: densely crowded. Service over, he was borne by six " old soldiers" to the grave —the sword and Masonic regalia of deceased being on the coffin, the British ensign being the pall. The old soldiers took the right of the grave in open order, the Freemasons the left j and when the words "dust to dust" were uttered by the Bishop, the word of command —" Salute,"—was given, when with U precision that the difficulties and anxieties of a bush We had failed to efface, the old veterans, many of whom shewed medals of hard service on their breasts, came promptly to the greatful salute, and the Masons placed the right hand over the heart in sign of sorrow, all parties remaining thus until the close of the outdoor service, and the last friend had viewed the coffin in it s res ting-place. The present .Baronet, Sir Edward, is daily expected irom Wellington, arid much sorrow "is felt, for the fact of his unavoidable absence.—Herald's Correspondent;,