News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 28 June 1873, Page 2

News of the Day.

I ■■ ! BOARD OF WORKS. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board of Works was held last evening. All tho members present. Mr. Hooper proposed that the willows on the banks of the Brook-street stream be cut, and the wattling made good. Agreed to. The Chairman reported that he had waited on the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand with reference to the interest on the Board's overdraft, and that the Manager had declined to consider anything but a written communication. The Manager had further stated that no overdrafts whatever, not even that of the Provincial Government, were at a less rate than 8 per cent. The Surveyor was instructed to write to the Manager upon the subject. The Surveyor reported that he had both written to and seen Dr. Williams in reference to his proposed appointment as temporary medical officer to the Board ; that professional engagements had prevented Dr. Williams being present ut the meeting of ihe Board that evening, but that he would wait upon the Board on some other occasion. The Surveyor was instructed to call a special meeting of the Board at Mr. Fell's offices at bucu a time as might bo arranged with Dr. Williams. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, dated 14th June, stating that it would probably be necessary beforo long to open the streets to lay gaspipes. A letter from Messis. Morrison and Sclanders was read, stating that Hope-street having been used as a public way for eleven years, and rates collected from it, no money having been ever expended on it by the Board, they thought their oiler of £5 towards making it up a liberal one. Mr. Burn proposed, that if Messrs. Morrison and Solunders would pay half the coat of the culvert (£6 Is. 3d.), the Board should uiake up the street. Mr. Webb Btrongly opposed the motion, which was carried, Mr. Webb being tho only dissentient voice. Cheques were signed to tho amount of £38 195. 2d., and the Board adjourned.

THE LATE MR. HENRY REDWOOD. On Tuesday last, a large circle of sorrowing friends surrounded tho grave to which they were consigning tho mortal remains of ono of our earliest and best Nelson settlers : a man who, after some thirty years of his life devoted chiefly to agricultural and pastoral -pursuits in this colony, yielded up his spirit at tho ripe ago of seventy-nine. The death of a man like Mr. Henry Rodwood, senior, was felt to be no common event. As a leading man among tho settlers of Nelson, his name was widely known, in connection more especially with thoso pursuits to which ho was dovoted. It was felt that a melancholy blank had been made in our Bocial and industrial circle. There were those present who mournod the loss of a near and dear relation. There were others present, who felt that they had lost a trusty friond and counsellor. There was a general sorrow thftt a good and worthy man was gono from among us: and a goneral 'desire to show the utmost respect for a long life; passed in truth and honour in useful industry, und the faithful discharge of every duty, whether of society or of tho family circle, belonging to the station to which it had pleased God to call him. Tho late Mr. Henry Redwood emigrated with his family from England, in June, 1812. The ship they catno to tho colony in was tho " GeorgoFyfe." At the time they sailed, it was not known in England where tho Nelson settlement was to be, and the ship wont to Wellington to receiv.e instructions from the Principal Agent. After seeing the town of Wellington nearly burned to the ground, the George Fyfe came on to Blind Bay : and at Nelson, Mr. Redwood learned thut land had been selected for him in the district of Waimea West. With characteristic energy, lie determined at once to occupy tho land, and having hired a lighter, proceeded to take bis family and their effects up to tho highest navigablo point on tho Waimea river, called in these early days " the port." Great was Mr. Redwood's surprise to find on tho wild spot on which he was disembarking, a bullock-dray awaiting him, to transport his luggage to its destination, and from his rich Doric, he 60011 iuado out that tho driver was a Scotchman. " Well," said Mr. Redwood, " I really believe i£ an islund were to spring out of tbe sea in tho course of the night, there would bo a Scotchman on it before tho morning." " Ayo, aye," followed lho Scotchman, who was no other than the lato Mr. John Kerr, "and I'm thinking there wad bo twa Englishmen close ahint him." The place which had beon selected for Mr. Kedwood was the bite of the handsome house which ho subsequently built, called Stafford Place. It was not long beforo a comfortable farm-house, with cob walls, arose ; and in a short time a spot which had been n perfect wilderness began to exhibit all the appearance of a comfortable English homo. From that time until seized by tho illness which terminated fatally, Mr. Redwood led a life of unremitting industry — extending his cultivation*, improving his methods of tillage, and adding to bis Hocks of sheep and the amount of ground over which they ran. Iv tho greatly increased value of his property Mr. Redwood received the reward whirl) commonly attends industry when directed by intelligence ; and before his death, he who had been a tenant-farmer in England under the family of the Clifford Constable?, found himself " seized," as tho luwyeis say, of a greater number of acres of land than were owned in England by the wealthy squires to whom ho used to pay his rent. Henry Redwood was one of that class of men who are almost peculiar to England. They are the models of the John Bull who, iv the pages of Punch, reproves William Ewart Gladstone, or the other servants of the country, when they have done wrong; or who with matty a grotesque contortion of visiigw is obliged to cat humble pie over the Alabama verdict. Tillers of tho soil accustomed to a healthy life iv the open air, well nourished with plenty of animal food and copions malt litjuor, they are generally men of largo and powerful organization, Morally, they are distinguished by industry, patience, courage, and Belfrelianco ; but above all, by honebty and plain Bterling couimon-Beneo. A class of men of this sort form a magnificent buck-bono for a country. Under a landlord who understands his duties and best interests, they enjoy a tenure of the lund thoy till with a security little inferior lo that of a freehold. It has been Baid by French and American political economists, that society in England is like a cone standing upon its apex. But practice and usage give the lie to the theory. Tho tenunt-iarmers of England, as a rule, remain undisturbed in the occupation of the land. They are well off, and they know it. They are accordingly conservative in their tendencies, and afford 11 poor fietll for the exorcise of tho abilities of the trading politician. The caso of Mr. Redwood was an exception to what we have just Btatod as the general rule. He left England, we believe, because tho rent of his farm had been raised, and as ho conceived, in breach of a promise mado to him. But however this may have been, it was a Btrong remedy for a man at his tiuio of life, with habits and tastes formed during almost a life time. Amid the hardships of early settlement, wo believe that Mr. Redwood used to look back with regret upon tho comforts of tho English farm house, to inies the market dinners with his neighbours, and above all regret the absence of tho huntsman's horn, and the music of tho stag hounds in full cry aoroas Cannock Chase. But these were temporary regrets. They never interfered with his putting his hand energetically to woik at the task which was assigned to him; and tho interest which he took in 'his now work, the pleasure with which ho contemplated his improvements aud the growth of his property, reconciled him before long to tho country which he had adopted as his home at a period of life when many men are beginning to select their chair by the fireside. But ho was a man of great vigour, both of body and mind, and cupublo of doing more than most men could. Ono after another tho original land-marks of the Nolson settlement of the New Zealand Company are fast disappearing. The "old familiar laces of a quartor of a century ugo — the faces of men whom a common enterprise, and tho endurance of hardships and dangers encountered in common, had cemented into something like brotherhood, aro now more rarely ' seen. But it may bo allowed to an old colonist to look back with" partiality upon these early times, or to drop a tear over the grave o£ an old and trusted friend, who has borne with Jjini during many years the heat and toil of the day. Since the early times upon which we look back, wonderful progress has been made ; aud in all probability the next quarter of v century will witness progress in an accele<rated ratio. But men of tho stamp of the late Mr. Henry Redwood will ever form tho truest ami stife6t basis for tho prosperity of any country. It is impossible to conceive a society permanently successful in which truth and honour and manly independence should not bo hold in reverence, or that man not honoured whose lifo has proved that ho has always sought to do his duty to his God and to his neighbour. Henry Redwood has been laid in his grave, after a long life passed honourably, faithfully, and without blemish. The inheritance of character which ho. leaves behind him is a thing of the highest social value. Wo shull not look upon his face again ; but tho memory of his truthfulness and good sense, of his industry and discharge of every duty, will long remain as a beacon to our community.