DR. FEATHERSTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 9

DR. FEATHERSTON.

§R. ISAAC EARL FEATIIERSTON was born in Durham | March, 1813. Choosing the profession of Medicine, he studied at Edinburgh, taking his degiee in 1836. Accompanied by his wife, he left England in the Olympus in December, 1 840, and arrived at Wellington the following April. Here he practised his profession, until his appointment as first Superintendent of the Wellington Province in 1852 compelled him to withdraw from it. From the first he took an active and prominent part in any public movement of the young settlement. Especially did he interest himself with pen and spirit in securing selfgovernment for the colony, and when this was secured his efforts were rewarded by his fellow-citizens in being elected their first Superintendent. This honourable position he held for eighteen years, and until 1871, when he was appointed to the newly-formed office of Agent-General for the colony an office rendered necessary by Mr. Vogel's Public Works and Immigration Act. He discharged the duties of this post with great skill and advantage until his death, which took place at Brighton, June 19, 1876. Like his friend Mr. Fox, he always denounced the policy which, in his opinion, gave rise to the Maori War, which he contended could have been prevented by conciliatory measures. Still, he took a prominent part in this sad contest between the two races. Knowing that General Chute had great difficulty in managing the Native contingent,

he volunteered his services, and thenceforward took part in the campaign on the West Coast in 1866, and this with the best results. The gallantry and courage he displayed, and the favourable influence he exercised over the Natives, proved of the greatest value, and for the services he then rendered he received the well-deserved Victoria Cross. Dr. Featherston was of very marked character — earnest, impetuous, energetic, and almost imperious, brooking no contradiction. He was high-minded, accomplished, an impressive speaker, straightforward, and was always actuated by the single desire to promote the public good. Few men were held in higher estimation and possessed more thoroughly the confidence of the people than himself.