THE LATE MR WALTER WILLIAMSON.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2129, 24 August 1875, Page 3

THE LATE MR WALTER WILLIAMSON.

We regret to have to record tbat the .attack of apoplexy which visited Mr Walter "Williamson on Sunday morning resulted fatally at half-past 8. o'clock yesterday morning. From the first very jittle hopes of his recovery were enter* tained, and, notwithstanding all the medical skill of Dr Lethbridgc, and the unremitting attention of Mr Curtis and Mr Denby, and other friends of the deceased gentleman, he never rallied: nor recovered consciousness up to tho timo of his death. Mr Williamson has been for many years of his life a prospector. His strong constitute and active habits enabled him to undergo the (rials and hardships of such a life with apparently little effect, and up to within a fortnight of his death he scarcely know what illness was. It will be in the'recollection of our readers that about a fortnight ago Mr Williamson was found on the Tairua track at the Puriri side of Smith's store, where ho lay all night exposed to a heavy downpour of rain and a bitter cold storm. ]t was generally supposed at the time that ho had lost his knowledge of the track in the dart, and was therefore unable to reach Smith's store, but wo believe it is moro probable that he was then visitea by an attack similar to' that which occurred on Sunday morning, although probably in a milder form, but it is evident that whether from the exposuro which ho then suffered, or the enervating effects bf hi 3 malady, he has never boen in his customary health since. As a prospector Mr Williamson was indefatigable. Ho was one of tho first, if not the first, to announce tho existence of gold at the Thames. He was undoubtedly one of tho pioneers of Ibis field, and.- was one of those wlw pegged out tho Golden Crown claim. Unfortunately for himsolf, he sold hi 3 share before gold was struck in it, and he ever afterregretted his hasty action. He remained for several years on the Thames, until his old sympathies tfero awakened by tho gold discoveries in Queensland, to which colony he • went. He travelled over a large section of that country, but on the announcement of the opening of tho Ohinemuri country, he returned from Australia. He was amongst the first of those who went to the . Tairua rush, where lie' pegged out tho Piiketui, the claim adjoining the prospectors' and at the time ho took ill he had projected another prospecting tour, which he was unable to accomplish, and he only returned to tho Thames to recruit his health, in order to start in again with his old vigour. Mr Williamson was for a long time connected with tho Auckland Press, in the capacity of correspondent. His stylo was plain and accurate, hia descriptions of mining country, &o.', vigorous and marked, and from his practical experience ho was able to form clear opinions and draw reasonablo deductions, which made his serrices in this capacity valuable. Whilo in Australia he was connected with ono of the Sydney papers, in the capacity of goldfields correspondent in Queensland. There were few men in tho community more generally esteemed and respected than Walter Williamson. His genial humour and gontlemanly manners made him a (Welcome associate in all circles, and wo believe we aro not going too far in stating that he had not an enemy in tho district. His funeral will take place to-day at 1.30 p.m. The deceased was 49 years of age.

SCOTLAND AND HER SONS. Such was the title of a lecture delivered j in the Good Templars' Hall, Rollestonstreet, last night, by the Rev. W. Tinsley, of Auckland, There was a very good attendance. Mr S. E. Richards presided, and he briefly introduced the lecturer. Tho lecture was in point of fact a graphic epitome of the history of Scotland from its earliest days, in which tho salient points were brought into prominence, and the characters of some of the great names of Scottish history were dwelt upon in a manner which proved that the lecturer Kad not only made himself acquainted with his subject, but that, in fact, he felt a spirit of enthusiastic admiration for the great names on which he dwelt. If e briefly referred to the early history of Scotland, and referred to the proofs of Romanized civilisation whioh existed in pottery, &c., which had been discovered. He alluded to the growth of tho Scottish nation as one of tho most remarkable facts in history. One nation existed with its capital at Dunbarton, while the western portion was peopled by tho Irish Celts now represented by the Highlanders. _ He said in early history the name Scotia belonged to Ireland. It was not the Scotland of tho present day. In the early portion of the sixth century a small colony of Scots emigrated frota Ireland and settled in Argyle. This colony grew, and gradually absorbed all the other nations, and in the eighth cen> tury the groat and warlike nation of the Picts dropped out of history in the most mysterious manner, and in the middle of the ninth century Kenneth reigned over all Scotland. This absorption was attributed by the historian Barton to tho high civilisation of the Scottish colony, and to tho fact that they possessed the blessing of Christianity. By the namo Scotia lost its hold on Ireland, and was given to the country which now boars the name. The lecturer humorously reminded his audience that Scotland and Ireland were sisters, and that Mac was cousin to Pat. He then rapidly glanced at the political history of Scotland up to the time that John JBaloil and Bruco became claimants for tho Scottish crown, and the appeal to Edward I. of England to settle the dispute by becoming arbitrator, an office which he consented to accept on being recoguised as Lord of Scotland. Tho remit was that Baloil was crowned in 1292, but he was soon painfully reminded of his vassalage, and threw off his allegiance to Edward, and declared war. At the battle of Dunbar the Scots wero routed, and the kingdom was ransacked by Edward's forces, who removed all the documents which could bo found, as well as the Crown of Scotland, and the stone of destiny, his object being to obliterate every evidence of Scottish independence. At this juncture William Wallace stepped on the stage, Ho camc to the front opportunely, and disappointed the English Edward, who gloated over the abject position of Scotland. • The lecturer graphically described the career of Wallace, his brilliant successes, and the defeat of tho English at the Battle of Sterling, "where with inferior numbers he struck a blow which freed Scotland for a time, but tho jealousy of the Scottish uobles produced bitter fruits. In the ensuing year Edward gathered an immense army, and met Wallace at Falkirk. Here Wallace was made tho victim of cruel treachery, when the whole of his cavalry, i which was under the command of the nobles, rodo off without striking a blow,

and altbough tho infantry fought with unflinching bravery, they were defeated, and Wallace (hen lived an outlaw with a price upon his head, until at last no was betrayed by a man who had been his friend, Sir John Monteitb, and taken to London; where, on the 23rd August,-1305, ho was executed with great barbarity. The lecturer then, with the same enthusiasm, referred to the chequered but brilliant career of Kobert Bruce, which culminated in the Battle of Bannockburn, vphero the Scots, with a force of from 30,000 to 40,000, defeated'the English army of 100,000, when tho blow was struck, which brought independence to Scotland, and placed Bruce on tho throno. The lecturer then, in a higher mood, referred to tho manners and tho social position of the Scottish people in the earlier and middle ages; also, to their superstitions, especially regarding witchcraft. He then referred to the ecclesiastical history of Scotland,,especially from the time th« Beformation commenced, and Patrick Hamilton, tho first Scottish martyr, was exocutcd. Ho passed a high eulogium on tho Covenanters, and on John Knox, the great Beformcr. In conclusion, he referred to the union between England and Scotland, and in a brilliant peroration pointed out the great advantages which England acquired,referring to the : introduction of the steam engine, and alluded to the fact that there was not a science nor'an art in jwliich tho Scottish people were not pre-eminent. . Tho lecturer was loudly applauded frequently . during the delivery of tho lecture, which occupied over an hour and a-half. Tho lecturer then expressed his gratitude to tho Good Templars for the use of their ball] and to the audionco for their attention and attendance, and the proceedings were concluded by singing the Doxology.