THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED RELIC OF THE ORPHEUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5635, 8 December 1879, Page 3

THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED RELIC OF THE ORPHEUS.

1)k. W. G. Scott, of Onehunga, made an examination, of the remains found sum , time since at the Manukau Heads, near th-j scene of the wreck of H..M. s. Orpheus, aud which were brought to Onehunya by Sergeant Gre:ne. The doctor male a report on the subject, ami forwarded full particulars o c his examination to the captain of lI.M. s. Cormorant, now in port. In the hoj e that the result of the examination may lend to the identification of the dece >sed we pulli.-h the f llowing particulars, which have betn kindly supplied t-> us by Dr. t>oott : — "Fr. m an examin .tion of the skeleton found at the Manuksu Heads, I find that the probable age of the deceased was from 20 to -0 years, which is borne out by tlio fact that there were no wisdom teeth in the lower jaw. Height abmt 5 feet S inches. He wore elastic-side boots or shoe?, sz: seven. One ring of gold wonld indie ite th-.> position of sub-liiutenant. The upper teeth in trout are regular, and medium size. The first double tiotb on right-hand tile has been drawn. The lower teeth iu front are remarkably small and regular, while the back teeth have some spaces between them and are irregular, which may iudicate that some of the back milk teeth were shed later than usual, so displacing the permanent te th. Half of the aro stopped in the crown with silver, one in two places. The J3W3 met well, not overlapping. The other bones are regular, none broken. The chin is narrow, and rather pointed." git is a credit to the feeling of esprit ih corps of the British Navy that such a as that witnessed on November 24 cjuld be possible in the colonies, under the peculiar circumstances whi=n led up to the circumstance. A lew bones, .1 few buttons, a few remnants of past humanity were found at the Manukau heads, close to the scene of the wreck ot the ill-fated man-of-war Orpheus, lost ovdr 1G years ago. The "remains," and such they were- in reality, were brought to Auckland for interment, after their long resti' 2 in the bleak sands of the Manukau beic'.C \vitV.in sound and reach of the surf tthicii caused the loss of a splendid iliy and '.'a'lant crow. The evidences of iden-tih'c-.Tioa wtr-.', after that lapse of time, suiri J;- ;jt to show that the remains were those of m= of the unfortunate crew, and the indications showe 1 that he was an officer, prubaMy a sublieutenant. Puiticulirs and detail:) were forwarded to Captain Bruce, comm:.nder of H.M.s. Cormorant, now in harbour, and arrangements were male for a naval funeral. The remain?, wtiLh were enclosed in an ordinary cotfia, 311 a enveloped in the Union Jack, were brought from the Albert Barracks, and placed on a gun-carriage belonging to the Artillery Volunteer Company. A detach ment of 64 of a firing-party of marines and seamen of H. M. s. Cormonne, and an escort of 40 men attended, as well as the n:aji-r portion of the officers of the ship, including the captain. On emerging from the barracks the firingparty took the lead, and the Engineer Band, who, as soon as the corpse »a3 pliced, commenced to sound the solemn notes of the "Dead March in Saul," took position immediately before the carriage. The escort party followed, after whtch thr naval officers, Major Burns (Artillery), Dr. Haiues, Superintendent Thomson, and Sub-Inspector Pardy (police force), and a good number of civilians followedtotheChurch of England cemetery. The funeral service was read by the Right Eev. Bishop of Auckland, and the Rev. H. Glasson, St. Matthew's. The Bishop gave a most impressive aud interesting address at the grave. Then the customary three volle\s were fired, and those human remains, which have been waifs for so many years, have, we trust, found a resting-place. Captain Bruce, commander of H.M. s. Cormorant, has written to Major Burns expressing his acknowledgments, on behalf of the navy, for the kind feeling evinced by the Auckland Volunteers on the occasion of the funeral of the remains of one of the officers of H.M. s. Orpheu?, wrecked on the ManEkau bar many years ago. The letter is as follows : — Respecting interment of an officer of H.M. s. Orpheus: Cormorant, at Auckland, 25th November, IS7O. —Sir, I have the honour to thank you, on behalf of Her Majesty's navy, for the kind feeling which induced you to take part in th- funeral ceremony yesterday of the late officer of H.M. s. Orpheus, and also for the considerate courtesy which allowed the band of the Engineer Corps to assist in the funeral procession, to whom I am much indebted. Requesting you will be good enough to make the same known to them, I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, James Brlce, Commander. To Major Burns, Cuininanding Officer, Volunteer Corps."