THE LATE DR MANNING.

Clutha Leader, Volume XII, Issue 596, 18 December 1885, Page 6

THE LATE DR MANNING.

Dr Manning, whose decease had its record in our obituary of. last week, arrived in Otago as surgeon of the John Wickliffe, the vessel that brought the first emigrants to this part of New Zealand in 1848. As fellow passengers, and subject to his care as the vessel's surgeon, he had Captain Cargill and his family, the late Mr Cutten, and many others who have been more or less instrumental in building up the Otago settlement. _ Before coming to New Zealand, Dr Manning had practised for some time in London as assistant to one of the leading city practitioners. He had also served with the army in China, and a few of the surgical instruments he brought with him to this country, bearing indications that they were intended for operations on the battlefield. On establishing himself in Dunedin,- he soon gained the confidence of the residents as a good physician and an able surgeon. All difficult cases were put into his hands, and it not infrequently happened that where other medical men failed, Dr Manning proved successful when called upon to undertake the case. After a two yeais' residence in Dunedin, he was engaged by their friends to take charge of several parties whose health and state of mind rendered it necessary that they should be taken back to Britain, there to be under the charge of their families, and to find the cure which the then circumstances of the Colony would not allow them to receive here. This duty Dr Manning successfully accomplished, having had the satisfaction of committing his patients safely into the hands of their friends in the Home Country. Like most others who have tasted of a Colonial life, Dr Manning was unwilling to remain at home, and sought an opportunity of returning to New Zealand. This soon presented itself in an offer made to him to accompany as surgeon a batch of emigrants destined for Nelson. He embraced the opportunity. The emigrants were safely landed at their destination, and Dr Manning thereafter returned to Dunedin and resumed his practise there, his return being t welcomed by all classes. Shortly after he married, the lady of his choice, who still survives, having come to Dunedin in the interval of hia leaving London for Nelson aud his arrival in Dunedin. The stone house originally erected as the schoolmaster's residence,and which was for some years the abode of the late Mr Livingstone, first rector of Dunedin High School, was occupied by them for some time. Circumstances at length iuduced Dr Manning to give up his city practise and retire to the country. This took place towards the close of 1856, when Dr and Mrs Manning took up their residence in Warepa, where the Doctor entered upon the practise of his profession. . That practise extended as far as Tokomairiro on the one hand and the Mataura on the other. It embraced also the Tapanui district. For several jears he was the only medical man on whom this wide area of country had to depend for help in time of sickness and for aid in case of accident. In general Dr Manning proved himself as successful in the country as in the town, and won for himself the gratitude of many a sufferer to whom he lent timely relief. In a largo degree he secured the confidence of his patients, not a few of whom would have recourse to him in late times rather than avail themselves of other medical men nearer hand, whom the increase of population had led to locate themselves within the wide field in which, as' we have already said, Dr Manning waa the only medical practitioner. Then when the infirmity of age, and the feebleness which ill health produces, prevented Dr Manning frorn visiting, patients would repairto.hia house to seek his advice or to place themselves there under his attendance. Had circumstances and his own inclination allowed Dr Manning to keep himself abreast of the progress which medical science in all its branches had been making since Dr Manning received his deploma there can be no doubt that he would have equalled, if not surpassed the most successful medical man in the Colony. As it was, and while to a large extent following methods and using instruments that younger men warran-tably consider old fashioned, a measure of success resulted in the cases attended by him, and those of the most serious character, not less than is found to accompany the efforts of those who have had the full advantage of the more advanced medical school of the present. Faults no doubt Dr Manning had, but he was ever attentive and kind, and ever most gentlemanly in his bearing, and as a consequence his presence was ever hailed with pleasure whether he came as a friend or in his professional capacity. His decease will leave a blank in the affections of many, and the name of Dr Manning will recur, to not a few, not only as that of one of the "old identities," whose ranks are day by day thinning, but of a helper and a friend, around which will hang many a pleasing memory of advice received, and of j assistance and relief rendered.