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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 17 July 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

Death of Dn. Moxteith. —Many of our readers will learn without surprise that Dr.' Monteith died this morning. Tor the last year he had been totally laid by, and from nearly the commencement of his illness his mind became so seriously alfectcd as to render the presence of an attendant constantly necessary. Dr. Monteith was a very old Colonist, one of the pioneers, having arrived here in the Duke of Roxburgh in February IS4I as a passenger, Dr. Ilealy being the Surgeon Superintendent. In the early days, when the number of medical men were out of'all proportion to the requirements of the settlements, Dr. Monteith kept the Freemasons’ Tavern, but resumed his profession some fifteen years ago, and for many years enjoyed a very large and lucrative profession. On the death of Dr. Dorset in 1856, he was appointed Provincal Surgeon, which office he resigned in October last, the duties having for many months prior to the date of resignation been performed by Dr. France. Dr. Monteith was also, at ono time, Medical Attendant to the Lunatic Asylum As an old and well known Colonist, and intimately connected by his profession with a very large number of tho families of Wellington, tho announcemnt of Dr. Monteith’s death will be read with much concern, although the melancholy position in which both his body and mind have been placed, must cause it to bo looked upon as a release from an unmitigated and hopeless suffering.— Wellington Independent , J uly 1. Co.uausioxeus for Fiji.— His Excellency the Governor having appointed Lieut. Col. Kempt, Mr. Rollcston (Acting Commissary General), aud Mr. E. M. I saacs, commissioners for the purpose ol investigating certain charges preferred against Mr. Pritchard, her Majesty’s Consul at the Fijis, these gentlemen will start for tho scene of their labors on Monday next in 11. M. steamer Miranda. Mr. William Korton, barrister, has received the appointment of Secretary to tho Commissioners, and will accompany them in that capacity. There appears to be considerable uncertainty as to the length of time that the commissioners will be absent from Sydney, and also as to the extent of the powers with which they are vested. We believe that ono of the principal charges brought against Mr. Pritchard is, his having represented to the British Government that certain chiefs were willing to cede their land to the British Crown, ho having at the time no authority whatever for making that assertion.— Sgdneg Morning Herald , June 14. “My Fist Weighs Exactly a Pouxd.”— Being on business in a country shop in Herefordshire, I heard a clownish-looking fellow say to tho shopkeeper, who could not find his weights, “ Here, never mind, my fist weighs exactly a pound.” Having heard the saying many times before, I felt desirous of knowing what gave rise to it, and I asked an old man (who was sitting quietly in one corner waiting his turn to be served, aud who evidently had lived longer than the “ three score and ten” allotted to man) if he could tell me tho origin of it. Tho stance of his narrative is as follows :—“About a vifly year ago old Betty Saunders kep(t) shop in this village, and one day I wur sent for summit for my mother, and old Betty could’nt vind (find) her weights like tho mon here (pointing to tho shopkeeper), so one on cm in the shop sings out, like the chap just did now—“ Here, never mind, my fist weighs exactly a pound.’— ‘ Do un (it) ’ says Betty, ‘let’s sec;’ so the bacon (about lAHis/) was put in one side of the scale, and the fist in the other, but in course it was just balance and no more ; but just as tho fellow turned to leave, the missing weight wur found. ‘Stop!’ shouts old Betty, ‘let’s try now;’ but him "war too dip (deep) for her, instead of putting the bacon in one scale and the weight in the other, him put the weight in ono scale and his fist in the other, when in course it just balanced again. ‘ Well done,’ cries old Betty ; ‘ and there’s a couple o’ red yerrings for thee honesty’.’’— Charles Hook, Jan. — Notes and Queries. Murmur at nothing : if our ills be reparable, it is foolish, if without remedy it is vain. There is no one so innocent as not to be evilly spoken of; none so wicked as to merit entire condemnation. “ What is the feminine of Hero ?” ssked a pedagogue of a yound hopeful. “Shc-ro!” was the prompt answer, which took the dominie all aback. There is none so bad as to do the twentieth part of the evil he might, nor any so good as to do the tenth part of the good it is in his power to do. — Lavater.