NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 916, 1 June 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Governor's Ball. —We understand that the ball in honor of his Excellency's visit will take place in the Provincial Council Chamber next Monday week. The Gaiety Company.—Mr Hall and his company, judging from the success attendant upon their efforts to amuse, appear likely to become great favorites in Timaru. Mr Hall intends visiting Waimate on the occasion of the steeplechases, and thence proceeds to Oamaru.

Railway Extension.—The Dunedin Star reports that it is proposed (o connect the Shag Point coal-pits with the main northern railway and Mr Dartnell, resident engineer in the Pahnerston district, has been instructed to make the necessary survey. Accident. —An accident occurred to a party returning from the Racecourse yesterday. It appears that the forewheel of a buggy came off, and the vehicle capsized, throwing its occupants on to the road. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but the buggy came unmistakeably to grief. The, horses were stopped very cleverly by Mr Dunn.

The Wreck of the General Grant We are informed that in consequence of the information obtained by Captain McClatchie at the Bluff, the s.s. Gazelle is to be sent back without delay to the Auckland Islands, and that Captain McClatchie intends forming a company on a small scale, for the purpose of recovering the gold in the wrecked ship General Grant.

The Gaiety.—There was not a very large attendance at the exhibition of the Mirror of the World last evening, but those present seemed thoroughly to enjoy the views shown. The first portion comprised views of Scotland, being a continuation of the series exhibited on the previous evening. To-night a number of views of different parts of the world will be exhibited, including America, France, Russia, Italy, &c, together with some new ones of statuary. To-morrow an afternoon exhibition will be given, commencing at 2.30 p.m. The usual evening performance will also take place. City Mttd Carts.—One of three new mud carls lately built for the City Council was at work vesterdav and to-day and found to answer excellently. These carts have been constructed after a design by Mr Walkden, City Surveyor. They will carry sixty cubic feet of scrapings, and are made to tip the mud when solid, but when in a liquid state it runs out from a door at the back. The sides of the carts are turned in at the top to prevent splashing while they are being drawn through the streets. Chamber op Commerce. The usual quarterly meeting of the Chamber was held yesterday. The scarcity of trucks in Lyttelton, and the consequent impeding of the discharge of vessels, [formed the subject of some discussion. It was resolved to again call the attention of the Government to the detention caused by the want of sufficient trucks. The chairman, vice-chairman, and Mr Inglis were elected trustees of the site of the new chamber, recently purchased. The site fronts on Cashel street, on the property of Mi- W. Wilson, and is next to Taylor and Co.'s establishment. The new rules, it was decided, should be circulated for* month and then discussed.

The Late Dk. Featiiekston. The unveiling of the bust of the late Dr. Featherston in Wellington was a ceremony in which much public and loyal interest was taken. The proceedings on the occasion are thus summarily stated in the Post: —"His Excellency made an appropriate speech on the occasion, but as he had never enjoyed the personal aquaintance of the deceased, it was impossible ho could refer with genuine appreciation to the special qualities which distinguished his character. There were, however, other speakers present whoso utterances were the fruits of long and intimate acquaintance with the good and great man who has passed away. Mr Jonas Woodward alluded in terms of genuine feeling to the leading events in the career of the deceased—to his march with General Chute from Wanganui to Taranaki, leading the Native Contingent; to his bravery in the field ; to his sagacity in council, and to the entire unselfishness and disinterestedness which characterised his whole life. Perhaps, however, the most simple and touching tribute paid on the occasion was that of Wi Tako, the native chief, whoso friendship towards Dr Featherston so materially contributed towards the maintenance of peace on the West Coast of this province during more than one critical period. " I have seen none to equal Dr Featherston," said Wi Tako, and hundreds will echo the sentiment. Then his old associate in politics, Sir William Fitzherbert, spoke with great feeling and impressiveness of Dr Featherston as one who lived not only in the memory, but deep down in the hearts of the peeple. It is well that the memory of so brave, so true, and so able a man as the late Dr Featherston should be perpetuated by the erection of a bust, in that city which was the chief scene of his career of usefulness. But while the honor is a fitting and appropriate one, it must at the same time be added that to hundreds of New Zealand colonists no such memorial was necessary to keep their remembrance of Dr Featherston green. In the case of such men the name of Isaac Earl Featherston is engraven on their hearts."

The Supposed Native Eock Paintings. —A correspondent of the Cromwell Argun, who is contributing to that journal an account of early colonial reminiscences, describes the part lie took in some sealing expeditions on the West Coast. In the course of his narrative he makes the following curious suggestion as to the origin of the rock-paintings which formed the subject of a paper recently read before the Canterbury Philosophical Institute: —" Sitting round the camp fire, I listened to the stories of the Maoris, and amongst many others was a remarkable one that may, in some measure, account for the strange rockpaintings in different parts of the South Island. Many years ago a large ship was despatched from some part of the East Indies for the purpose of obtaining spars from the west coast of New Zealand. Meeting with bad weather on the coast, the ship was dismasted, but being in close proximity to the land, she managed to fetch into Dusky Sound. Here the crew, which consisted of nearly 100 Lascars and Coolies, mutinied and refused to keep the pumps going. In consecpience of this the ship was beached at the head of the soimd, and the crew landed on an island since called Anchor Island, a certain portion of provisions being landed with them. The white portion of the ship's company consisted of the captain, first and second mates, boatswain, and carpenter. These took up a separate camp on the mainland, and built themselves a craft out of the wreck. Having rigged and victualled her, they took their departure, promising to return with help shortly, leaving the unfortunate crew on the island in a state of mutiny amongst themselves and with only a small quantity of provisions. These done, they began to prey on each other. A few only escaped to the mainland, but what became of them no one knew. It is just possible that a portion may have reached a Maori settlement, and from thence the rock-painting may have possibly originated. I have no cause to doubt the truth of this story in the main points, the timbers of the ship and sundry other portions having often been seen by the present generation of Maoris. As far as I could learn, those left on the island ate each other, the whites never returning to rescue them from their terrible position."

The Chaih or Anatomy in Otago University.—There were about twenty-five candidates for the vacant chair of Anatomy and Physiology in the Otago University, including graduates of all the principal medical schools, not only in Scotland, but in England, and eight of them in particular had such excellent testimonials that it was very difficult to choose one from among them. However, the choice ultimately fell upon Mr Joliu Halliday Scott, M.B. and CM., who at present holds the office of Second Demonstrator of Anatomy—there are three altogether—in the University of Edinburgh, under Professor Turner. The Edinburgh correspondent of the Otago Times gives the following account of the new professor's qualifications. Mr Scott graduated in medicine at Edinburgh in 1871, after a distinguished curriculum, in the course of which he gained the Senior University medal for anatomy, a medal for surgery at the University, the first prize in the physiology class at the Edinburgh School of Medicine, and honours in several other classes. He commenced his professional career as medical officer to the Stirling Infirmary, but shortly resigned it for the more onerous post of house surgeon to Professor Spence in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. During the last three sessions lie has held the post of Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University as above stated, and it may be added that the Anatomical School of Edinburgh is the largest in the country. Mr Scott possesses much skill as a draughtsman, and the writers of the testimonials bear repeated witness to the enhanced value which the use of this talent gives to Mr Scott's demonstrations. Professor Spence, F.R.S., in a very full and flattering testimonial, says of him that lie "is peculiarly well fitted to form a school in the new University," while from his knowledge of Mr Scott's personal character Professor Spence feels sure fhaf; he " would secure the respect and psteem ajike of his colleagues and his pupils." Professor Grainger Stewart says he is "fully satisfied" that Mr Scott "would prove a very' valuable addition to the Faculty of the University of Otago, both as a teacher and a colleague." Professor Simpson speaks of his "good natural abilities," "diligent application," "rare artistic powers," "high principles, amiable disposition, and gentlemanly bearing." Dr. Chiene, Examiner in Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh, writes of Mr Scott as " knowing anatomy practically, with the power of applying his surgical knowledge to the details of anatomy, a good teacher, an excellent draughtsman, kindly, manly, and with pleasing manners."

Hobaet Pasha. —A correspondent lately wrote to to the Wellington Post, contradicting a statement originally published m the Auckland Star, that Hobart Pasha served on board H.M.S. Calliope in New Zealand, and was known as the " wild midshipman. Hie Star thinks it will be sufficient to stale, in reply to this contradiction, that the paragraph published in its columns was based upon information obtained from a letter written by a General now in England, but who had served in New Zealand, to a resident in Auckland, ihe General wrote that he had conversed with Hobart Pasha in England, and that during the interview reference was made to former times m tins colon V, and the General reminded his old friend of the time when he was known as the "wild midshipman," and they cracked a bottle over the joke.