DEATH OF CHAELES WILSON, Esq.

Colonist, Volume XVIII, Issue 2105, 27 July 1876, Page 5 (Supplement)

DEATH OF CHAELES WILSON, Esq.

Thkee are very few of our citizens who hare more completely kept aloof from public affairs than the gentleman whoae death it is our melancholy duty to record ; and yet there cannot be one whose loaa would bo more generally and sincerely mourned. Mr Charles Wilson's life before he came to this Colony was one of varied and extensive usefulness. Educated at the Military School, Woolwich, he received at an early ago a commission in the Koyal Artillery, and served some time in that distinguished corps, in the course of duty being quartered in the West Indies. There can be no question but a man so remarkable for energy and courage would have attained high rank in his profession, but the somewhat dreary life in garrison did not provide enough employment for one of his active temperament. When he entered the service, it so happened that no commissions were available in the more strictly scientific branch—the Engineers, into which he desired to enter, and which his mathematical attainments eminently fitted him to adorn. An opening being presented for joining the survey department of the Civil Ssrvice of Ceylon, he severed his connection with the army and spent above twenty years in that Colony, where he became Assistant Surveyor-General. During a great part of this long residence in a tropical climate the reputation of his early studies caused him to be employed on the trigonometrical survey, whereon no small hardships had to be endured. On his retirement, he resolved, after a trip to England, to visit his brother, Commander, better known here asLieut.Wilaon, E.N., who lived at the foot of Eightyeight Valley. On reaching Nelson the first news he heard from the Pilot, Mr Cross, was that hia brother had died just about the time of his own departure from home. Since then—now above eleven years—Mr Wilson has continued in Nelson. His loss will be severely felt by the deserving poor, many of whom in sickness or other misfortune have had cause to bless his helping hand. None kaew how much good he did, —rarely was it known, beyond the recipient, to whom it was done. To "do good by stealth and bluih to find it fame" was never •pokon more truly than of him. For som« months he has suffered from an extremely painful and incurable disease, and on Monday evening, July' 3, his warfare was accomplished. , Char in mind to within a few minutes of the last, he calmly passed away. Mr Wilson belonged to an old North Country family, many members of which have been distinguished in the service oftheir country. His father, who only died » few yeara since, had attained the rank of Admiral, and for some time his grandfather wh Chief-Justice of the Common Plow.

Waimea Road Boabd.—Messrs W. White, A. Harley, and J. Win have: been eleoled to fill the vacancies in the Waimea Road Board.

Sububban Nobth Road Boabd.—Messrs J. Oldham, W. Westley, and W- Alborough were elected to fill the vacancies in the above Board.

We )earn from the Westporb papers that the Wealth of Nations claim yielded 3620zs lOdwts of amalgam for the week ending the 15th instant.—The la^t crushing of the Golden Fleece Extended yielded 504 ounces.—Unusually rich stone is now being mined from the Phcenix claim.—A man named Butlin Porter, lias been killed by a fall of earth at No Town. OUR Goldmelds.—The Wealth of Nations mine, Inangahua, yielded during the m«mfcb of June, 387 ounces 17 dwta. of retorted gold.—The Golden Fleece Extended has yielded 266 ounces of melted gold from 180 tons of stone, being at the rate of loz 9dwts 12grs per ton. —The Hopeful Company crushed about 480 tons of stone for 878 ounces 18 dwts of melted gold, an averago of loz 16dwts 14»rs per ton.—The Keep-it-Dark mine has crushed 391 tons of quartz for only 162 ouncos 11 dwts. All these mines are in the Inangahua district.—A vigorous search is being made for a man named Silus Livesay (mown as Lanky), who has been missing from his hut, near Reofton, for some days. It is supposed that being overtaken by sudden illness, Livesay went* off the track and there died. He was last scon a mile and a half from his hut.—The Westport papers report that Mr J. B. Fisher, solicitor, is seriously indisposed.—A Reefton sharebroker threatens a B.eefton storekeeper with an action for £2000 damages, for slander. — Rumor says a Bank has foreolosed on a Charleston mining claim, the Herald says twenty men, will be thrown out of employment, and are likely to lose their arrears of wages. —Mr M. H. Haydenwas buried,at Cobden. The Argus says as Mr Hayden was a Freemason no member of the Catholic Church could perform'the rites. A young lad, the nephew of the deceased, read some abort prayers at the grave.

It is believed that the Government will increase fhe vote to the late Dr Featherston'a family to £5000. •.

■ The Trremakau Rush.—A correspondent sends us {Qrcy Miver Argus) July 7, the following account of the Terflmakau rush:—" There are about 700 people on the ground, and about 180 miners on gold. The lead is three claims wide ; the sinking from one sod deep to 100 ft, and the washdirfc is from sft. to 10ft deep. , The prospects average from one to nine grains to the dish. The lead runs1 parallel with the beach line—nearly north and south. If; is getting deeper as it goes south,: principally owing to the surface rising. All the claims on gold: as yet can be worked by tunnel, the length of which will be from 150 feet to 700 feet. Close on the southernmost shaft on gold there is a break in the terraoe, on the south side of wbich; no shaft has bottomed as yet, but is not far off the depth. Should they strike gold, this has every chance of being : one of the best rushes that has been on the Coast for some years. There will be remunerative.employment for many hundreds of. miners for years to come., The miners are very confident of the place.

■ The funeral of the late M>. William C. Wilson (of the Neio Zealand Herald) was very largely- attended at Auckland, on July 7th. There were nine mourning coaches, which wore followed by about five hundred citizens, walking two deep, and after those came no less than twenty-six carriages. All classes, rich and poor, private and public, paid respect to the deceased gentleman. Tho Cross points to the coincidence ot Mr. Wilson (who was a<*ed 66 years) and Mr. C. Elliott (aged 65 years), both so long and early connected with the history of the Press in New Zealand, departing this life on the same date, July 5.

The Estimates make provision in the new Education Department for a chief inspector, at £600 ; one inspeotor, at £500; and four at £400. Also, three sub-inspectors, at £350 ; a chief clerk, at £270 ; and a clerk at £100. .

The barque Robina Dunlop, from London, arrived at Auckland on July sth. On the voyage out she encountered Ja very heavy hurricane, which carried away every sail. The vessel had to lay to without ft stitch of canvas except what was lashed to the mizzen-rigging.: The voyage occupied 108 days.

The barque Pyra, 588 tons, Captain Staplefcon, from London, arrived at Wellington on July 7th, after a passage of 123 days. She encountered very heavy weather on the voyage, and ou account of the damage sustained (says the Evening Post) a general average will be struck on the cargo. '

Mb. C. O. Montbose, foraerfy Managor of the Press Agency, ib said to have been appointed private secretary to Sir Donald M'Lean, the Native Minister.

Vital Statistics. —The following vital statistics are for the month of June, this year:— Deaths to 1000 Borough. Births. . Deaths." Population Nelson 18 ... 3 ... ■ -51 Auckland 48 ... 21 ... . T59 Thames 18 (J .. 7 ... -83 Wellington ... 78 ... 26 ... 2-28 Ohristchurch... 55 ... 22 .;. 2-03 Dunedin 83 ... 33 ... T67 Hokitika 8 ... 1 ... -28 Totals 308 ... I] 3 A Queer Specimen.—The Auckland 'Evening Star says:—"The great chief, Tamati Tangiteruru (Thomas who cried like an owl), the head of the Ngitipora tribe, who died at Shortland recently, was singularly deformed. He was born without legs, and used to be carried about in a dish. He was considered very wise, and was proportionately venerated. He ,had also acquired great skill in tattooing. A few yeara ago, he bought an invalid's perambulator, and used to be trundled about the streets of Auckland. A great tangi will be held at Whakatiwai, which will 'cost something like £300. The natives have sold pieces of land to defray the expense."

A movement has heen commenced amongst nautical men for the formation of a New Zealand Mariners' Society, which shall make provision for old and disabled seamen of all grades. The object is a most laudable oae and will no doubt be heartily responded to by those interested. —Wellington Argus.

We learn with deep regret that the Eight Rev. tho Bishop of Waiapu has been compelled by ill-health to resign his Bee. Bishop Williams originally came ; out to this country as a missionary in 1826, 50 years '■ ago, and was consecrated to the diocese of Waiapu in ! : 1859.— Poet, July 10.

It is the intention of the Government to have a Maori member in the Executive Council, but who will not bo a member of the Cabinet.

' Them are nearly one thousand Justices of the Peace !in the Colony of New Zealand. Of this number, i how many, are qualified by education and ability to i perform the functions required of them? Jt is ! obvious, as the Dunedin Star says, that " however : great their success in money making may have been, i their early lack of education has not been supplied by • mental acquirements in adult life."

l BikVAVX Matjnganoa, a leading chief of tbe NgaI timaru tribe, one of the principal owners of town I lands at Shortland, is dead. There will be a great i-Ungi. .;■.'. The income of the Auckland Harbor Board is abou I sixteen thousand pounds per annum. '< Good Sign.—A singular.fact in connection with : the present Parliament is a good deal talked of. Bellamy's is very poorly patronised in contrast with the past. — Southern Cross. \ Mb Geokge Dixon has called at this office and exhibited two cancers, one taken from the braast of ■ a female named Styles, of Nelson, and the other from ' the lip of a man. He states that the disease of cancer' has been oured by his wife's fpmily for a century back, the remedy having been communicated ito them by a French physician. The cancer is taken lout completely by the roots, without cutting; and in i two or throe dozen of cases that he has known in I Canada of persons operated upon, ithas never grawn i again.— Neto Zealand Times. \ Mb. Macandbbw and Mr. James.Fulton lias ibeen appointed to fill the two vacancies in the O:ajo j University Council caused by the resignation ofdir ii John Richardson and the Hon. Dr. Menzies. 1 The Otago members of the Houbo are Baid to be 'dead against the proposed vote to Superintendents. Six thousand'four hundred and seventy-two ounces of gold were shipped from Greymouth for Melbourne and London.