SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

SOCIAL AND%ENERAL.

a mmmm Tkxbx has been an almost total absence s of any political excitement during the last month. The public have been directing their attention -to agricultural Ahowß, racing, and amusements of a similar aharacter. There have been no political speeches worth mentioning, and the news-: - papers have been confining their attention; chiefly to social and commercial questions, i The only matter of a political character I - -which has been receiving any notice has "been that of freetrade and. protection. Letters innumerable, articles, and communications of various sorts have appeared, leading to the impression that «genuine interest is being awakened in ,4bisimportant pquestion,nand that, in the absence of any other absorbing ■problem, tius subject may be weed to the: position of a great party question at the next general elections. If Ministers could fee assured that any very considerable sec- -- Mm of the community would be prepared t* follow them, no doubt an attempt would be made to make freetrade and protection »test question »t the polling booths. But it is just possible that long before that time arrives they will have realised that the people of New Zealand will not submit to naye-the great industries of the country! tampered,'. and kept down for the benefit 4f a few' manufacturers who are anxious to ' grow wealthy, without any exertion on their part, at the expense of the agricultural «ad laboring community. It does not by 'any means follow, therefore, because there ia a strong disposition to hoist the protectionist flag on the part of the Government, that they-wffl, when the time arrives, decide to stake their existence on carrying a protectionist policy.

Tan great event of the past month in Canterbury has been the holding of the! annual Show under the auspices of the Canterbury Ajrrteuitural and Pastoral Association. This exhibition is every year growing more and more into importance, consequent on the development of agricultural pursuite. It b felt that the proßperity ?f the country is intimately bound up with, the auccesß of those industries, and it is becoming increasingly evident that their mtc«BEB 'depends largely on " bringing, acjence, and experience to bear upon them. This year's <hfw Blnatrated in. af striking enanner the progress-which has been made; in improving the quality of our stock, and infringing to bear upon the dairy and similar industries. A moment's conmderationu sufficient to show that the -.jnJces which the farmers will realise for their products depend upon the demand -fur their commodities in. the world's markets, and it is, therefore, of the very ntmost importance that everything should he done to make these industries as profit-' able aa possible. ■-• . -*"-:

.Dbbhk} the past month the country has: been witnessing the putting into .operation; of Ijocal Government measures passed s last session. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Aofeitis claimed, has given us a 'real measure of-local eetf-govarnment, and it ia curious to .notice tint the public accept it with anything but unmixea They see clearly enough that it involves taxation in a shape which brings home to every ratepayer the fact that he ia paying.; Hitherto the' hofipitela" and charitable* Institutions hive been, with a few exceps tions, a direct charge' upon' the Consolidated Fund.. The; new Act maintains that, system in part, inasmuch aa Government grant subsidises in proportion to the rates-levied by the local boards. But Ascertain amount of local' revenue has. to be "found. ; The alteration is a desirable one, and is likely to lead to d very stringent supervision of the expendit*iff^|ha r -*prfe oJF lie representatives of | 41ra ratepayers. '"'"".' " "*' ;

Isrviewof the fall; in prices of wool and froaen meat, the wwjl growers and others i»ve been directing attention to the question of freights. After some negotiation and the"Shipping'Companies have liberally agreed to reduce their charges.; A£ first there, was a disposition to carry (he war; against the Shipping Companies :to the bitter end. .-. But wiser counsels pre-: vailed; not, probably, that it would hay made much difference if it had beendeterained to fight the battle out. The Ship-! ping Companies, it is well known, are,' taking everything into account, meeting .the producers, of the colony in a most liberal manner, and any attempt to force* "«nncompetition which would have been winous to all concerned, must have had ! only one result. Tt is nevertheless satis-: factory to record that there is no disposi-' tkn to push the Shipping Companies unfairly,' and tiiaithe public here' fully; recognise that theee Companies have conferred an enormous boon upon tiie colony! in giving ns a direct line of magnificent steamers. ,

Wb regret to have to announce that Si* Joints Voani. met with a severe accident * few weeks ago.. He was in the act of leaving his hotel, and was being assisted along j Che passage, when one of the crutches he -mam using slipped, causing him to JUL: Q* examination it was found that the ■man bone of the~ieg was fractured near the waJtto. : '-^-<^:s,jasfa t been con*ned to his hotel nW Btnee* but he is pro- ■ greasing towards recovery in a satisfactory ■nannar. Be is expected to be about again in the course of a week.

Company state that on the first trip their new steamer proceed tiiron«h to Sau Fran- <•£*», without transhipping at Honolulu, •a originally intended. A (graduates of Canterbury <*>Uege. was held at i*e College on 21st WoTember, at noon, for the purpose « electing members of the Board cf Oovernora in place of Mr C. C. Bowen, reSs?2* }*» Archdeacon Harris S£J? «jH r ?«fe M-" T. 8. Foster was Totedtotiiechair Thechairmanhavingread meeting, Messrs SnFefto»». W. Chrystaß, and J. V. B<J»oa,o| Jfc Chilton,ponded by Mr Cohen, it was resolved to recommend ■** «-0 'J***? of Governors the advisability for tiie future ©f appointing a day of nomination previous to the day of election. A vote of thankß to the chair closed the prooeedingß. *

Canterbury Jockey auVsmeetißir W i¥«j|needay, Ifcm 25, it was resolved 2%* uthonse the Committee to com£fl «w inside fencing of the raceAn improvement which ta4»en contemplated by the Club for tSS?2T?" W * e » ejected, it wiU pre2E&E& U JT*^iß tOT y occurrencesTes of the gß*cy colt. The CluVs profit on the weoent meeting was stated by Mr S*ead to 4av© amounted to J81440 3s IfcL

The Secretary of the Christehurch. taclgßatisation Society lias taken 10,000 MOWlt trout to be -Hber&ted in "valparaand streams sear the Heathstpck Nation. Mr J. D. Lanca has contributed k cheque for £20 to the Society, for he efforts made to supply the rivers with [ah. '£&-«,'

At the Court of Appeal jttdgmenlrhas been delivered in Fowler and Co. v Wißdn and Co. In this case, in tile Supreme Court, John Fowler and Co., the well-known agricultural implement and machinery makers, of Leeds, were plaintiffs, and Robert Wilkin and Co., merchants, of Christehurch, defendants. The action was for the taking of account, and the recovery of certain sums of money, alleged to have been paid to the defendants for certain goods as agents for the plaintiffs. Judgment'was' given for defendants, and the plaintiffs appealed. The judgment of the Court below was upheld, with coßts on the higher Ecale.

The usual moathly. meeting of the Bobert Burns Masonic Lodge, 604, 8.C.? was held on Nov. 17, when there was a good attendance of brethren and visitors. After the dispatch of the usual lodge business the election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, and resulted as follows :-R.W.M., Bro. J. T. Park; S.W., Bio. W. Jackson. J.W., Bro. P. Hill; Treasurer, Bro. R. M. Fulton; Secretary, Bro. J. E. Hartle (re-elected); Senior Deacon, Bro. Guntrip; Junior Deacon, -Bro. R. McPherson; Inner Guard,"Bro. E. H. Cooper; Tyler, Bro. W. Toms i | Director of Ceremonies, Bro. C. W. Pttgh ; Chaplain, Bro. W. J. Fergusson j Btewarde; Bros Gourlay, P.M., and Christie (reelected); Auditors, Bros. Gourlay, P.M., and Cooper. The balance sheet showed a balance to credit for the year, including the payment of some outstanding liabilities. Votes of thanks were passed to the Secretary, Bro. Hartle, for his zeal and energy in the discharge of his duties, and to the Treasurer and Stewards. The installation was fixed for Deo. 15th.

: The installation of the officers of the Phoenix Masonic Lodge, Akaroa, for.theensuing year, took place on November 18th. A number of the Brethren from other: localities were visitors. The; Grand Lodge officers present were—Bros. H, Thomson, DG.M., C. P. Hulbert, D.G.S.W., C; E. Briggs, Acting D.G-JJWii W. R. MitcheH, D.G.S., and W. H. Messenger, Acting D.G.S.B. The following "are the. officersof the Phoenix Lodge for the ensuing; year:—Bro. R. Latter, W.M;; Bro.H.C. Jacobßon, S.W.; Bro. J. Welsh, J.W.; Bro. J. D. Garwood, Treasurer; Bro. R., Noonan, Secretary; Bro. M. Daly, S.D.; Bro. W. T. Masefield, J.D-; Bro. F« Pottf,. I.G. Bro. Beran acted aa organist during the ceremony. The installation was cele-, brated by a ball held in the Oddfellows' Hall, which was very well attended by* Masons and their- friends. A 'reaflyj splendid Bnpper was provided by Noonan, and that Bro. and his exceUent helpmate well deserved the special thattkßaccorded to them' for the great excellence: of everything provided. Dancing was; kept up till night had waned, and all! present seemed much pleased with their? reception and the efforts made to please: them.- - .■"'.* ;

Mr Neil Black, who .has for many years been occupied in this city as a commiaaionagent, broker' died oa* November 13 di, at the age of forty-nine ! years. Since the Caledonian Society has been formed he has bees its Secretary, and; recently he entered into public affairs by. becoming a member of the Waimakariri River Board, a vacancy of which is now! caused by his decease. Mr Black has been, cut off very suddenly, as it was onlyontlei Monday that he was about apparently inthe best of health. On the 15th his remains! his remains were interred in "the Church? of England Cemetery, and were followed; io the grave by tie City Reed Band' and a contingent of the Canterbury' Reserve Corps, of which the deceased: was a member. A very large number of' mtisens. made np the cortege. At thej Cemetery.the Rev. A. C. Wright read the! burial service.—On Sunday, Nov. 16, tie' -funeral- took place of Mr F. C. Poippa- an old officer in the Ancient Order of Foresters. His remains, which were' interred in the Scotch Cemetery, . were: followed by about fifty Foresters -and : "many friends, and after the Presbyterian service had been read that of the Orderwas read by Bro. H. Crooks, who is a Past District officer/as was tile deceased. Bros.; Crooks, Fine, Hobbs and T. Gapes, who were Past District officers, were the pallbearers, and the bearers were four of the men from the establishment at which the: deceased had recently been at work.

0nN0v.22 thefuneraltookplaceof Private;' John Cuttin, who, it will be remembered, died from the effects ef a fit while he ■Jfas At parade on Thursday, 19th. He was a ! member of the Sydenham Rifle Volunteers' and of St. Patrick's branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. The whole of the Volunteer Companies; met at the show grounds, Colombo street. ?to. follow the remains of the deceased, whose coffin was conveyed on a guncarriage of the E Battery of Artillery, and: was preceded by the H.A.CJB., the firing, party (thirteen) taken from the ranks of the Sydenham Rifles, and the Garrison' Band, which played the "Dead March." Accompanying the coffin were the pallbearers, who had been selected from deceased's Friendly Society and Rifle. Company, and they were Buc;eeded by the Volunteers, Major Newaß And Captain Francis bringing up the rear. In this order the cortege marched slowly to the Roman-Catholic Church in Barbadoes btreet, .where the Rev. Father Ginaty. conducted tiie funeral service. After which the deceased was taken to the Catholic portion of the new Cemetery, and his remains interred there, the Rev. Father Ginaty again officiating. There were nearly 600 Volunteers present, made .up from the following; companies: -—Sydenham Rifles, City Guards, Irish, Scottish, Woolston, Kaiapoi, Reserve, Richmond, Christ-, church. Engineers, E. Battery, N. Battery, and Lyttelton Naval With tiie exception of the Sydenham. Riftes* the Volunteers broke off at the' East Belt. At the Cemetery three' volleys were fired over the grave of the deceased.. A deal of interest was* centred in the funeral, and large numbers of people went to the church and the Cemetery, and hundreds watched the - procession pass down tiie various streets. A great many missed the- spectacle, as they, misled by the advertisement, remained in the vicinity of the old cemttery.

Saturday, November 7th was quite an eventful one in the history of Cashel street with regard to the advance of modern civilisation in the matter of lighting. On that night two large establishments were lighted throughout with the Golchex light.' The establishments alluded to were tiie Passs office and Messrs Ballantyne and Co.snew premises, At the latter the window in which the goods are displayed has been fitted with ground glass globes, which give a beautiful soft light, and throughout the establishment the light generally was the theme of Universal admiration. At the Paxss office an installation of eighty incandescent lights Ea«« been put in, and oh Saturday "night a trial was made of it, which was exceedingly successful The light giv«n is beautifully bright and soft, without the intense heat which so large a number of gas lights give off. A goodly number of -visitors were present on tiie occasion, and all were unanimous in expressing their appreciation of the light. Mr Cederholme is to be congratulated upon having achieved so much success, considering the short time he has had ta complete the installation.

The annual meeting of the PldlosopMoal Institute was held on Friday 6th ntt-i and was presided over by Dr. Symes, who at the close read a paper on the "Erie of Phosphorus in Nature." The annual report and the balance-sheet, which were adopted, were of asatisf aotory nature. The latter showed a credit balance of .£4O la 6d, and a reserve fund of £56 9s 7d. election of officers resulted as follows .—- President, Mr. A. Dobson; Vice-Preai-dente. Dr. Syiaes and Mr G. Hogben; Hon. Treasurer, Mr H. R. Webb; Hon. Secretary. Mr C. Chilton; Auditor, Mr R. Blakiaten; and Council, Messrs R. W.Fereday, T.Crook,C E.Bevau-Brown, 6>. ±J-Seager, and Professors F. W.Hutton ndHaalam.

&*s& •^^^ eetin *f °* tne new Hos P ital I of Ashburton was held -. (SuThprimH If ovember sth, at the Borough lEfcuacilpaambers. Present Messrs W. ]&} Walter WJbairman of the County CcviW), E.B. ecißter, G. Leadley (also members Of MM'Ccuutj Council), and the following members of the Borough Council s -*His Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Bird, Harrison, J. Orr, Tucker, Thomas,;? and D. Wflfiamson. Mr W.C.Walker was elected "eii&'mat of the Board. The Chairman suggested that the work of the Board be managed by a Committee of three members of the Ccuaty Council, and two members of the Borough CouuciL The suggestion was approved. Messrs W. a Walker, Julian Jackson, and, D. McLean were appointed from the Ccuaty Council, and his Worship the- Mayor and. Mr A:'Harrison was appointed 'from the. Borough Couucil. His Worship the Mayor was elected Treasurer to the. Board. The time and place" of" wiU be arranged by the Committee. The Canterbury Foundry, in this city, we are glad to notice, i 3 at the present timefull of activity and bußtle. Two large cranes, for the contractor of the Greymouth harbor works, are in progress. A vißit to the fitting shop, where the castings and forging for these cranes are being produced, should convince anyone that our local industries are not likely^to suffer from lack-of enterprise. The <sole bed for one crane weighs npwarc*B of thirteen tons: This ahowa what can be produced in the matter of forging; witiua New Zealand. The mast weighs three tons, and the bottom part a 18in in diameter.- This establishment is also busily engaged in the mannfactnre' of a large cranei for the Uapier Harbor Boaid, chiefly constructedVof wrought iron tind steel- The firm have also made a commencement on the contract for the Waiau bridge, and are doing preliminary work in connection with the Beaumont bridge Contract. lb is anticipated that these two workß will give a considerable amount of employment to skilled labor. It may the same firm have competed all the iron work for the Hurunui bridge, one of the largest structures, of the kind made in the co!ony. Hitherto the materials for:. such -works have always been imported, and it is encouraging to learn that the prices for the material supplied fbi this bridge were satisfactory-to the Government when compared' with home rates. ~- During our visit we had the pleasure of inspecting some excellently executed photographs of two steel-marine boilers, supplied by the firm for the Lyttelton Harbor Board's steam tug Lyttelton. Tenders were invited in the colony for these boilers, andprices were also got from Home, and after comparing them, the Board decided to accept the. local tender. These boilers are now at work on board the tug, and are giving every satisfaction. They are made of the very best material, and upon the-latest'»ndmo3t approved model, and are- fitted with FWs patent corrugated flues. Iriadditien to the work we have just mentioned, the firm have a large quantity of other work in hand, and generally the Canterbury Foundry is at the present time a scene of activity and life Mr Tendall has appointed as his assistant organist at- the Cathedral 'Mr fl H. Normington, who -for the past five years haß been private organist to the Marquis of Bredalbatte at Tajfebuth Caßtle in Scotland. Mr Normington, was an articled pupil of "Mr Tendall's at the Duke of Buccleuch's Private Chapel in. Dalkeith, and commences his duties in Christehurch at once. ... . The "New Zealand Herald," in a recent issue, has. the following instructive remarks upon the speech of the Chairman of the Bank of New Zealand at' the last half-yearly-meeting of that institution :—The remarks of the Chairman of the Bank of New Z?aland at the halfyearly meeting of shareholders yesterday, while hopeful and even confident in tone, .were of a noticeably sober cast. That they Bhould be so will surprise no one. The extreme depression eo_ persistently prevailing over large sections of the colony, which w «sre once, the . inpst progressive and prosperous. portions of it, cannot but tell adversely upon the operations of an institution- so identified with the colony*and so liberal in -simport of ife «nterprises. That the Chairman Bhould nevertheless speak hopefully of the future is also natural,* ■because there is nothing more dearly established by commercial history than the succession of adverse: periods to prosperous, and vies vert*. And even if, as some hold, a permanently lower range of prices has-eet in, that necessarily implies a correspondingly lowered cost of production, and not a lowered profit in trade, or: lew reward to industry. If the lowered scale of prices is due to appreciation of gold, 'the effect must be equal on all other commodities ; so that if the producer of any one commodity gets less for it, measured by gold, tiie monetary standard, the appa- - rent loss is recouped to him by the equally lowered price at which he can buy all the commodities he requires for consumption. Hardship is for a time inflicted on certain classes whether prices are rising or falling, but once'stability is reached, the conduiona speedily adjust themselves; and it must be admitted that abundance, and consequent cheapness of the necessaries and comforts ..Of life, is better for the world at large than high prices; which mean relative scarcity. The statement made by the General Manager, showing the great development of the Bank's business in Australia, cannot but be gratifying to shareholders, while the large proportion of its assets held outside of New Zealand, and independent of fluctuations in its prosperity, muat be reassuring to them.

The programme, for the forthcoming sports of the. Caledonian Society,' which will take' place at Lancaster Park on Anniversary Day, the 16th of December, will be more than ordinarily attractive. In addition to the usual pipe music, Highland dancing, tossing the caber, and foot races of various kinds, a novelty is projected in the shape of a menagerie race. In this race, which will be run for the first time, the competitors will have to drive the various animals in front of them, and considerable amusement will no doubt be caused, not alone by the j&ixed collection of animals, which will probably be entered, but also by the natural enmity which exists between them, Buch, for instance, as a cat and a mouse, and so on. No doubt the race will attract a goodly number of spectators. - Arrangements will be made for frequent trams, and generally the Anniversary sports of the Society for 1885 promise to be-the most successful yet carried out under its auspices. ! .... Mr Charles Cook, the President' of the Christohurch ; Phonographic 'Association, formally opened the proceedings on Nov. SOtb, .by giving an address. . The Association has rented the Temperance Hall in Gloucester street, in which to hold its meetings, and it was in this. building that about twenty of the . members were gathered to formally inaugurate the Association. - The - President > thanked the members for tiie ( honor done to him, and having promised to do his best to advance phonography in general and the Society in particular, proceeded in a few remarks of an exceedingly happy kind to predict a successful career for the Association, culminating in its becoming the basis upon which to building a colonial institution. He referred to the alterations and improvements shorthand had undergone, gave a Bhort account of the patient and painstaking character of Mr Pitman, who he hoped all would emulate, expressed his opinion that in time shorthand would become universal, made a few pointed remarks on tiie' study, and acquisition of shorthand, its advantages and enjoyments, and advised tiie members to confine themselves for a time to the study of phonography pure and simple. Letters of apology were read from the Vice-Presidents, Mr Shaw and Mr Lush. The latter forwarded a letter, in which he' gave his views and a piece of advice to learners. Mr E. C. Fair read an article entitled "Phonographic Brotherhood," from the ": a . Phonetic Journal," which, like the President's address and the Vice-President's letter, was cordially received. A programme for the ensuing month was adopted, several dictation exercises were given, and the meeting closed, after the members had spent a pleasant and instructive evening.

The "Hobart Mercury" of Oct. 15th thus records the death of a journalist who for a short time resided in Canterbury:— I '-' Intimation waa received here yesterday j of the death of Mrß. Eyton, at Adelaide, he having been seiieed with a fit, in which he expired. Mr Eyton was well known in Hobart, and was for some little time a member of the literary staff of the f Mercury.' He had, previous to arriving in the colony, resided in New Zealand, and was well known there m connection with Press on the West Coast of the South Island, and Also in Canterbury and the northern districts."

A meeting of the Kaiapoi Volunteer Bazaar Committee was held on November JStb, at the Farmers* Club Chamber, Lieut. Wilson presiding. Mr C. H. Wright presented a statement of accounts showing- the receipts from the recent bazaar were £269 145, which had been duly placed to the credit of the CompanySundry accounts were passed for payment, and the statement was unanimously adopted. A hearty H vote of thanks was passed to the ladies who had assisted, and it was decided'that on the completion of the drill hall they be invited to a ball or a social gathering, A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Wright for his honorary services as secretary, and for the energy he had shown in conducting the affairs of the Committee. The meeting then adjourned. _ At a meeting of the managins; Committee of the Company, Captain Whitefoord in the chair, it was decided to proceed with the erection of a butts, the work to be carried out under the supervision of Lieut. Wilson and ColorSergt. Blackwell. Accounts for work at the targets and purchase of band instruments were passed. A report on the purchase of helmets was ordered to be presented to the Company after next parade. Another of the old Ellesmere residents j departed this life on Monday, Nov. 23. Mr W. J. G. Bluett, auctioneer, commission agent, Ac, of Leeston, died at his residence about six o'clock on Monday, after a long illness, suffering from asthma and heart disease. A short tune ago Mr Bluett visited MelVrcurne, thinking the change would do him g~K>d, also for the purpose of seeking further medical advice, but instead of the change proving beneficial it hastened his death. The deceased gentleman's name has been closely allied with some of the principal works of the district and colony. He has proved in his business capacity a help to many struggling farmers, lending a helping hand where merit warranted it, in many cases proving detrimental to his own direct interests. His loss will be severely felt in the district, as up to a short time of his death he took an active part in all matters appertain-nf* to the welfare of the district generally. Mr Bluett was' the founder of the Canterbury Farmers' Club, which, was instrumental in the exportation of wheat to England in large shipments. Previously to this it was considered impossible to send wheat shipments without being kiln dried. He was a member for the district in the Provincial Council; he sat in the House of Representatives for Coleridge district. At different times the deceased gentleman was a member of the: local Road Board, Licensing Board and School Committees; he was also a noted breeder and importer of cattle, sheep and pigs, doing much to improve the different; breeds, so essential to the farmers in the early days i his stock being very successful at all the principal agricultural shows. Although he has been ill for some time, his end was not expected so soon. The news of' his death will be received by a large circle of friends with considerable regret and surprise. The "Southland Times," in a recent isßue, states that there died on Sunday morning- ail aged man, who was probably the longest resident European in the colony, in the person of John FarreU. He was a native of Yorkshire, and a shipwright by trade, and, aa a carpenter of a whaler, first came to the coast of New Zealand in 1824. In 1828 he arrived at Hawke's Bay with a vessel, and there, in company with another of the crew, he ran away from the ship because it was dangerously leaky. He made hia waylacroßß the North Island among Native tribes who had never'seen a white man before, and was kindly treated by them; in fact, he said that hospitality and good feeling were traits of Maori character until they were, pervaded by the : contending creeds'of Christianity.. :As was. customary with the Pakßhas of those day s, he married a Native woman, and became domiciled with her tribe. His .knowledge of mechanics made him quite an acquisition to his hapu, and his; services were frequently availed of to repair the firearms used by the Natives in their tribal wars. He settled in Wellington for some time, where -he ' carried on an an extensive trade' in pork-curing. From there he migrated to. Port Cooper (Lyttelton) between forty and fifty years ago/and was engaged in shipbuilding, and there he built the first boat that won a race. FarreU settled for some years at Keputai (Port Chalmers), where he went into business at a time when Custom House officials were unknown. His wife having died and his daughter having married a resident' of Invercargill, he returned North and was lost to sight for some time. He turnedup at Invercargill about twenty years ago and was then close on seventy years of age, but has been at work till within a few weeks ago. • He was eighty-six years of age at the tune of his death, and had been sixtyone years on the coast of the colony. Like many pakeha-Maoris, he oould tell, of landed possessions lightly valued and readily parted with that have since become immensely valuable. In addition to lands elsewhere, a portion of the'site of the town of Napier once belonged to him, and he parted with a picturesque island in the North to a Native woman, who had nursed him through a sickness, in return for her kindness. - The deceased leaves* an offspring of nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. His daughter, Mrs Small, died several years ago.