CHARLES TRAILL OF ULVA. (Southland Times.)

Our obituary of yesterday contained a notico of the death on 26th November oi Mr Charles Traill of Ulva, Stewart Island The deceased gentleman ocoupied Uttic space in the publio eye, but was reallj ono of the moat remarkable men in ou community, and his removal claims mon than » passing record, Charles Trail was born in Orkney in the year 1826, anc was in the 66th year of his age. Ilii father was Mr Traill, of Woodwick, Ork ney. The family of the Traills is on olt and distinguished one, and it may bo re mombored, whs referred to recently bj tho Scotsman in connection with the death of Mr James Russell Lowell, wht oamo of that stock through his mother, Tho subject of our notice flras born n: Orkney, and educated, in part at least, in Edinbuigh, whoro he attended the University for two years ; and whoro also ho was apprenticed for a time to n lawyer. Wearied no doubt of a life alien to his tusti-6, Charles Truill started for Australia in 1840, whero ho commenced lUeep-fwrmmg. lie \eft Auslrttlia for California in 1850, after the gold discovoiy in that region had been made, and in the course of three years passed through somo experiences thrilling enough to appear in tho pages of a romance. In California unfortunately ho was attacked by fovur and aguo which undermined his health and waited upon him to the list. After a visit to Britain ho left for Now Zealand, ai living thero in 1856. Mr Traill stttled in Oamaiu and there established the niercautilo (inn of Traill, Roxby and Co., of which Mr James Ashcroft of Dunedin wns a partner. Tho firm for a tune did a large business but was ultimately dissolved. While residont in Oamaru Mr Traill paid a visit to Foveaux Straits, and there, while dredging for Hhclls, m-tdo a discovery of oyster beds. What he saw of Stewart Island during that visit induced him eventually to re pair thither with a view of prosecuting tho fish-curing industry in which he thought thero lay greater possibilities than have ever yet been realised by any of its followers. Ho arrived in that Island in 1871. Tho fish-curing business did not answer his expectations ; but ho had purchased land in the beautiful island which ho nomed Ulva, in Puterson Inlet, and sottled down finally as a utorokeoper and postmaster of tho district. Fitted for far higher things, Mr Traill passed the last 21 years of his lifo in the unmarked seclusion of that little island, but not without making his influence felt amongst numbers when in a primitive state and needing just such guidance as he was able to give. Shortly after his arrival in Ulva Mr Traill married Miss Bucholz, a lady whose efforts on behalf of the natives nt The Neck and in the island of Bravo are still held in affectionate remembrance. Mrs Traill died in 1876. The portion of Ulva selected by Mr Traill embraces three beautiful bays, two of them affording perfect shelter for sailing craft. The business of tho owner's life became tho beautifying of his property, already most singularly favored by nature. After years of labor and tho exercise of consummate taste, the spot grew to be one of romantic beauty— a veritable piece of fairyland, which attracted numerous visi* tors and wbb acknowledged by nil voices to be flic sight of the island. It is woll known with what luxuriance flowers and shrubs flourish in tho moisture and genial atmosphere of that favored portion of Foveaux Straits. There the Nikau palm whs been bide by side with tho wbutus and tho fuchsia, tho latter presenting a mass of blossoms, and tho rich green on its loaves begotten only of such propitious surroundings ; and throughout the grounds were scattered, along with the most exquisite heaths, specimens of rare plants carefully collected from the North Island and the Chathams. While Mr Traill was possessed of considerable and diversified scientific know lodge, his two passions wcro botany and natural history. His position wns acknowledged as that of the foremost ouchologist in New Zealand, and the collection of shells which he possessed and has left behind is undeistood to bo of great valuo. At his own cost lie peopled Ulva with English singing birds, which added tho last charm to his delightful retreat. We havo spoken of tho strong influence that Mr Traill exercised over tho Islundors, and this arose from his singularly good qualities of head and heait. Deeply endued with Christian principle, and concealing from no one his high profession, Mr Traill was remarkable for unbending iutcgiity and the most scrupulous sense of honor. He carried tho latter indeed to a point that bordered on quixotry or extravagance — a faulc, however, that may be pardoned in an ago in which it runs little risk of finding mttny imitators. In business matters he w is a pattern of exactness — in household economy a model of system and noatnesa —in thoso last characteristics, indeed, running into un excess that was cither tho envy or amusement of his friends, Mr Traill hud rigid viows of tho necessity of keeping from the natives, and indeed from all tho islandors, tho temptations of ctrong drink ; and in his business declined to touch with his Hr tie. finger tratlic in any articles that wero not for tho good of thoso who citmo about him. We have not yet noticod his romarkablo skill as a a boatman, gained, doubtless, in the stormy waters of tho Pentland Firth, and this enabled him in the days of 'his strength to bo n visitor in nil parts of tho island, watching over those who wore shut out from communication and sympathy, and offering them the best of his assistance and advico, Thero is no sphere so narrow but that tho best men can find in it scope for effort in tho groat work of humanity, For thrco years Mr Charles Traill was laid asido from tho full activities of his former life, but ho clung to his work while ib was possible for him to porform it even in part. He boro for tho period mentioned the inroads of a fatal disease with a fortitude and uncomplainingnoHs that were nothing less than heroic. He has gone to his rest, and has luft behind him a record tlmL most mon may envy. Mr Traill is «urvivod by adaughtur, grown up to woman's estate, and his faiuly is further lepresentcd on tho island by two brothers who havo long boon resident there.

A unicyclo (says tho Wainiato Times), ia tho latest local invention. Mr P. Hcndtiroon, of tho Waihao, and captain of tho YY&imato Cycling Club, is, we understand, About to tako out a patent for an onginal invention called a unicyclo. As tho name implies, the machine is one-wheeled ; it carries two persons, and is easily driven at an average speed of 40 milei an hour, though, it is HtKted, a speed of GO miles can bo attained, Niniau Hyslop and Co. 'a "Imperial'* Teas whon ouco tried will be always used' (They ftro strong and flavory,