West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1866.

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

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1866.

v" Westland has cost Canterbury many of her best men," was the melancholy expression used by Mr Browning at the meeting held last night. The history of the exploration of all the colonies is full of the records of suffering and loss. Leichardt, and Burke, and Wills stand foremost in the list of heros who have fallen victims to a great but hazardous enterprise. Unfortunately the West Coast of New Zealand can make its full contribution to the roll of martyrs. The particulars given by Mr Browning of the adventures and the untimely fate of three of the gentlemen whose memory it is proposed to honor, was listened to with deep interest. But they fell victims to exhaustion and accident, after rendering great service in opening up the but lately unknown country of Westland. It was reserved for poor George Dobson to meet with a more bitter and tragic fate. There was something singularly touching in the testimony borne to his character, and the grief manifested at his loss, by those who had had the opportunity of watching the commencement of a career which, but a few brief weeks ago, seemed so full of promise ; who knew him ; who had worked with him in the same service ; and who had learnt to esteem and love him as a personal friend. Deep commiseration for the murdered youth, and earnest sympathy with his bereaved family, was the pervading feeling of the meeting. "He was a good fellow ; a fine manly fellow ; he had two sisters who were devoted to him," were the broken sentences of Mr Rochfort. And he had a father, who had twice come from Christchurch to join in the search for his remains, and who, on Sunday last, had such melancholy satisfaction as it could afford him to stand, not over the grave in which his murderers had laid him, but the one to which kindly and tender hands, with the solemn rites of Christian burial, consigned him. His work is done. It is now for the people to testify by some lasting memorial, how deeply they deplore his loss. %

The conception was a happy one to erect a joint monument to Mr Dobson and the other unfortunate explorers who have lost their livesjn the public service. It was said gracefully on the part of his friends, that it would be most gratifying to them to have his name associated with the others who | had fallen victims, though under different circumstances, in the came work to which he has devoted himself — ' ' a good man amongst good men." An address of condolence to his family was resolved upon, as a mark of sympathy that might bring with it some consolation. But it was judiciously determined to make the public memorial a general one, and with equal judgment, we think, it was decided that the monument should be erected in Hokitika, the capital town of the dis« trict. The desire was expressed that no limit should be placed upon the contribution^ of those who wished to give marked expression to their friendship and sorrow for Mr Dobson. But it was no less generally desired that the committee should accept the smallest subscriptions that might be tendered, in order to render the testimonial the offering of a whole people rather than of a few. W^ need say nothing in advocacy of this most becoming movement. Avd we trust that such a monument will be put up, as will bear eloquent witness to the desire of the Westland community to do honor to the memory of those who serve their country x faithfully, and who perish in its service.