THE LATE JOSEPH SMALL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 229, 4 March 1875, Page 3

THE LATE JOSEPH SMALL.

The following account of the last days of Joseph Small is from the Hong Kong Tim.s of December 17th: —" With much regret we announce the death of Mr Joseph Small at sea on board the s.s Brisbane on the evening of the 15th instant. Not many months since he left this colony for Dunedin with a heap of purchases in the shape of Chinese and Japanese curios, expressing his intention to return to Hong Kong, with a view of giving a repetition of his popular entertainment, which doubtless numerous colonists remember. He took passage from Sydney on the 7th November in the Tom Morton, having been previously under the doctor's hands for some time. Three days after departure he was taken sick, and was bad until reaching Somerset. He then became worse, and for seventeen days lived on sago alone. He was such a favorite that the steward and gentlemen passengers sat up with him night after night. On reaching Batavia a doctor prescribed for him, thinking that he was suffering from an abscess on the liver. He rallied before arrival at Singapore, and then shipped in the Brisbane for here. While on shore at Singapore he suffered much from dropsy. The day after leaving Singapore this disappeared and he seemed to rally, and continued in better health until within fifteen minutes of his death, which was a very quiet one. The doctor of the Brisbane attributes death to ' disease of the heart and enlargement of the liver.' The body was committed to the deep on Tuesday evening, at 5.15, with the usual ceremony, it being deemed impossible to await arrival for interment at Hong Kong. Before arriving at Batavia deceased was aware of his dangerous state, and gave instructions to Mr Macfarlane, chief steward, to hand to his executor in Melbourne all effects. We are sorry to add that a wife and family will experience a bereaval. Those who recollect ' Poor Joe Small,' whose fame as a public entertainer, humorist, friendly companion, and no mean poet, was well known in these parts, the colonies, and New Zealand, will doubtless often give a thought to the excellent departed. Until his last his constant talk was of his friends at Houg Kong and j his desire to set foot amongst us once more,"