BUSY LIFE OF A DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL BOY.

Evening Star, Issue 7280, 3 August 1887, Page 3

BUSY LIFE OF A DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL BOY.

A short time ago we published an extract from a private letter from Honolulu written the day before the sailing thence for New Zealand of the last mail steamer from San Francisco. The letter gave some particulars of the revolution that had taken place in the Kingdom of Hawaii, and of the signing of the new Constitution by King Kalakaua. At that time we did not feel at liberty to give the name of the writer, but by permission we may state that we were indebted to Mr W. J. Forsyth for the information, who has added to the obligation by forwarding a copy of the 'Honolulu Daily Bulletin' and the ' New Constitution.' The interest in Otago will be increased in Mr Forsyth's personal share in these stirring events when it is known that he was a pupil at the Dunedin High School when the Rev. F. Simmons was Rector. Since then he has travelled much, and tho record of his journeyings is of itself interesting, a synopsis of which we give as gleaned from Ceylon, San Francisco, New Orleans, New York, and London papers. About nine years ago Mr Forsyth left Otago for Ceylon. He was not long on the plantation before his talent and aptitude attracted the notice of Dr Moens, who was commissioned by the Ceylon Government to report specially on the state of the plantations, and more particularly regarding a grub which was destroying the coffee plant. After this was accomplished he was engaged to go to Queensland. On arriving at Brisbane he found the Government had made arrangements for employing skilled coolie labor, and the project, whatever it may have been, fell through. Mr Forsyth was next sent on a tour of inspection, and to report when completed on the Fiji group. This concluded, he waa engaged by a company to visit and report concerning the islands of Samoa, Tonga, and Apai. The receipt of this report led to the German action in Samoa.

On leaving Samoa he went to San Francisco, where he became the guest of Professor Morgan, and delivered a scries of lectures in the Academy of Sciences on " The South Sea Islands: their climates, soil, capabilities, and natural productions." He was next engaged by the Republic of Guatemala and Madea to make a complete tour of the Republic to the Mexican boundary. This proved an arduous undertaking. In the course of it he was stricken with fever, and nursed by some Native Indians. He found these Natives living in a purely communistic condition. They are happy, prosperous, and contented, having all things in common; and so jealous are they lest the principles of their organisation should be infringed that not even a tree was allowed to be planted on land lest private ownership should be established. Mr Forsyth was next commissioned to collect five million plants and seeds, and to transact business for the Government in England, Germany, and Italy. His stay in England was short. Calling at Caldbeck, in Cumberland, where he was born, he proceeded to the Continent, and returned via the Suez Canal to Ceylon, visiting also the tea and coffee plantations in India, China, and Japan, completing the journey within twelve months.

Mr Forsyth was next appointed one of two Commissioners to Guatemala for the New Orleans Exhibition. Finishing that engagement, we find him, according to the Honolulu ' Bulletin,' among the Hawaiian Islands, and on the 4th July he was one of the favored few at the grand reception given by His Excellency the Resident Minister of the United States. Among those who paid their respects to the Minister on that occasion were the King, His Majesty's Ministers, the nobles, the Consuls General of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, China, and Japan. Referring to the object of Mr Forsyth's visit, the * Daily Bulletin' summary of July 5, under the heading " Cinchona " (June 7), says: "Mr W. J. Forsyth, of cinchona fame,- leaves to-day by Messrs Wilder's steamship Kinau for the island of Maui (one of the Sandwich group), and will visit the Rose Ranch Plantation of Mr Dowsett. Mr Dowsett has 100 trees of Cinchona, twelve years of age, and has cdnsented to have one cut down and barked for'the purpose of analysis. Mr Smith, of the firm of Benson, Smith, and Co., will analyse the bark, and buy on bis own analysis. Mr Forsyth will also make a special visit to the property of Messrs Brewer and Jones, and will furnish those gentlemen with a detailed report on the uplands of their estate. Messrs Wilder and Co. have given Mr Forsyth a free pass on their steamers and railways over the whole of the islands."

It is seldom such a record of travel falls to the lot of ono so young. It is one that will bo read with pleasure by his fellow, scholars at the High School, as well as by the-people' of Otago, who will Bee in this instance that the education provided with careful forethought has not been in vain,;