IN MEMORIAM.

West Coast Times, Issue 252, 13 July 1866, Page 2

IN MEMORIAM.

A most influentially attended meeting was held last nignt, at Soloman's Cafe de Paris, for the purpose of taking preliminary steps towards the erection of a monument to the memory of Messrs Whitcombe, i Howitt, Townsend, and G. Dobson.

Mr Bright, M.P.C., on the motion of Mr Eaton, having been voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by referring to the advertisement which had convened the meeting. He said they had met there with feelings of the most profound regret at the fate of one who had been so suddenly cut off by the hands of villains, and whose loss was a heavy one to the community. He, the chairman, had not the pleasure of knowing him personally, but had been given to understand that in every relation of life he had merited the esteem of all those who did. The speaker felt certain that the bereaved relatives of the unfortunate gentleman would receive the deepest sympathy from this community, and considered that it would be a graceful tribute to his memory, and to the memory of those gentlemen whose names were associated with his (but of whom very few there had any knowledge), if the object of the meeting was carried out. He (the chairman) did not think that the business which called them together that night would be forwarded by long speeches ; prompt measures were, however, necessary. He should therefore read two letters which had just been handed to him. The first was from Mr South, who excused himself from attending on the plea of pressing business, but would be happy to subscribe his mite towards so good a purpose. The second letter was from Mr Lionel Harding, excusing his absence also. The writer, however, tendered a couple of guineas as his subscription, and furthermore offered that, during the ensuing recess of the Theatre, hia wife, Miss Rosa Cooper, and himself would give an entertainment in aid of the funds.

Mr Browning was induced .to rise from a remark made by the Chairman relative to Messrs Townsend, Whitcombe, and Howitt, who had been known to a few only who were then in Westland. He wished to explain who they were, and in what manner they had met their fate, but could not abstain from a few remarks on Mr G. Dobson as well. Mx Dobson began his career in 1859, in Canterbury, and belonged to the same department as himself, which was the one over which Mr Dobson, sen., presided. His son gave early promise of no mean ability, and subsequently was connected with some of the largest engineering undertakings in the Province, He was the man who had explored the present West Coast road, which was proving such a benefit to the communities on both sides of the range. Mr G. Dobson was a good colonial man, Jiaving left England when very young, and was thoroughly accustomed to bush life, and took a delight in his profession. His loss was, therefore, the more severe, as such men could ill be spared. He very much resembled his father, as he possessed a quiet determination of character, for which the latter was noted, and which had on more than one occasion carried him safely through great difficulties. The West Coast had drained Canterbury of some of her best men, who had lost their lives in attempting to explore its recesses. In 1859 the coast was but little known, although a rush was setting steadily in, in the direction of the Br miner ; and a small staff of surveyors were sent to pioneer the way. . Whitcombe, who was a pupil of the celebrated Brunei, was one of them, and succeeded in penetrating the snowy ranges, and striking the Hokitika

river, down which, accompanied by a Swiss named Lubing, he proceeded. The sea was reached, and the beach' followed up towards the Grey, but in attempting to cross the Teremakau in a ' rotten, old canoe, they were both washed out to sea. Whitcombe soon lost his hold and was dro.wned, but the Swiss managed to cling to the canoe, and, after five hours buffetting with the surf, was <«ast ashore on the beach only to fiud the dead body of his unfortunate companion there before him. Townsend was a J 30 in the survey department, and was also drowned at the mouth of either the Teremakau or Grey river. Mr Howitt was drowned in Lake Brunner. He was well known in Victoria, being either the son or nephew of Dr. Howitt, and brother to Alfred Howitt the Gipps Land explorer and who afterwards was despatched to recover the remains of Burke and Wills. Such were the men to do honor to whose memory they were that evening assembled, and he felt certain that nothing need be said to arouse public sympathy which would be spontaneously rendered as soon as the object of the present meeting was made known.

The Chairman read a letter from Mr Keogh, requesting that the name of Mr Ollivier might be added to the list of those it was purposed to do honor to, as he had lost his life when exploring, and his remains were lying somewhere in the vicinity of Jackson's Bay. Mr Eaton explained that the gentleman alluded to was not in the public service when he died, and that was occasioned by natural causes, his constitution being sickly. He breathed his last on board a vessel in the bay. The speaker considered it unadvisable to include his name, which was tacitly assented to. Mr Cooper moved the first resolution — " That this meeting desires to express its sense of the heavy loss the community of Westland has sustained by the murder of Mr G. Dobson, and its deep sympathy with his bereaved relatives, and that an address of condolence be prepared and forwarded to them."

Mr Browning seconded the resolution, which on being put to the meeting by the chairman, was carried.

Mr Rochfort spoke at some length, most m eulogistically of the late Mr Dobson, whom he called a thorough up and down man and good fellow, honest as the day, and one whq always did his duty. It was dreadful to think he had been cut off in his prime by such wretches. The speaker felt sure it would be difficult to replace him, as he was first rate at marking a track over a new country, and was just attaining a good position when he met his fate. The speaker who appeared much affected, declared hi , readiness to do all in his powerto furthes

the ends of the meeting. r Mr Eaton moved that a monument should be erected to the memory of the four men over the three graves in the Greymouth cemetery. This gave rise to a discussion, during which it was moved that as the Government intended to erect a monument to the four men at Greymouth, the public should erect theirs at Hokikita. On the same grounds, it was also mooted that, as of the four, Mr Dobson was most known to the community of ■ Westland, and especially to that of Hokitika, where some of his most intimate acquaintances resided, a tablet, with his name alone inscribed upon it, should be erected in the Church of England, when that building was completed. Several gentlemen spoke on the subject. Mr Cooper considered that a universal tribute should be paid by the people of Westland.to the memory of all four men, whom he eulogised as heroa and who merited venerationi Captain Turnbull was of opinion that as the Government would erect a monument at Christchurch, and the Greymouth people intended to erect one there, Hokitika should also erect one, either in the Cemetery or some other conspicuous place. _ "Mr Browning agreed with Captain Turnbull, that an expression of sympathy should proceed from the Hokitika community. The Government would doubtless erect monuments at Christchurch and Greymouth. He objected to a tablet to the memory of Mr Dobson only, as he felt sure that it would be more solacing to the feelings of .the deceased gentleman's relatives to see his name associated with those of the brave men who had suffered before him. He (the speaker) hoped that the movement initiated that that evening would extend from end to end of the Coast, and the wider it extended the greater would be the comfort derived by Mr^Dobson's friends. Mr Eaton then moved the second resolntion—" That in the opinion of this meeting a monument should be erected in a conspicuous situation in Hokitika, to the memory of Messrs Townsend, Whitcombe, Howitt and Dobson."

Mr Shaw seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Shaw suggested that "the amount of each subscription should be limited, say to ss, so that every member of the community could contribute. He believed this would be the best plan, as more money would be raised, and the respeefpaid be more universal.

Another discussion on this subject ensued, which resulted in Mr Shaw's suggestionbeing withdrawn ; Mr Eaton remarking that there were many who, having been intimately connected with Mr Dobson during his lifetime, would be hardly satisfied by contributing so small a sum. Mr Shaw proposed the third resolution — " That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to collect subscriptions for the above object, with power to add to their number ; and that they call another meeting at an early date and report their proceedings to it: — Messrs Prosser, Cooper, Eaton, Shaw, Rochfort, Bright, Hoyt, Turnbull, Browning, Muller, White, and Hawkes." Mr Hoyt seconded the above, which was carried without dissent.

Mr Cooper moved the fourth resolution — "That Messrs Bright, Browning, and Eaton be requested to prepare the address of condolence to the late Mr Dobson's relatives, and submit it to the committee.'' Seconded by Mr Rocbfort, and carried. Mr Shaw proposed that Mr Sale be no A minated the treasurer to the committee, which was seconded by Mr Eaton and carried.

A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.

Ther& is a curious rumor in St. Petersburg that the project of marrying the Czarevitch to the Princess Dagmar of Denmark has now been abandoned. The young prince is said to have, conceived a violent attachment for the young Princess Mieszezerska, tho daughter of the celebrated -Russian poet-priest Eliaa.

treet, opposx