Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 352, 22 February 1866, Page 1

Death oe a Soldier. —Sergeanf-Major James Grenuan died early yesterday morning, at the station in Great King street, of which be had for soma months been the officer in charge. He

"'as one .f tho best-known members of the fdrea; and wo are sure that he was well thought of aud liked by people of all classes who had any knowledge of him; while in force he was higiily esteemed. Ho had been a soldier; and, as a sergeant of the famous Connought Hungers (the 88;h ilegimeut), ho served in the Crimea until the attack on the Great liedau. Then he was wounded most severely, a bullet striking him on tho right breast, and after injuring the lung, passing out at the back. Tills wound, ir, is believed, was the indirect cause of his fatal ailment, which was of a nature to puzzle his medical attendants. The deceased possessed, and often wore, tho Crimean medal proper, with several clasps; the ribbon and she star of she Legion of Honor; and the medal and cross of the Order of tho Mejidie. These medals were evidences not to be questioned that the wearer hud been a bravo aud good soldier; but, save that the deceased wore his medals proudly and well, his services were almost unknown to ins comrades here. He Was of a peculiarly self-possessed, quiet temperament; and those who know him longest aud most intimately were most impressed with ids simple loyal-hearted nature. He shuned speaking of his services. Tint we believe that there is iu this colony a gentleman, formerly a captain of the BSth, who has often spoken of tiie deceased’s bravery aud fidelity. He was out one clay, iu the Crimea, under this captain, who got wounded fell, and and was not missed for a white; but when Sergeant Grennan discovered that his captain had fallen, ha turned, aud despite Kussiau bullets which flew thickly, he seurhed out the captain, and hoisting him upon his shoulder, lie bore uim tenderly and long until a placo of safety was readied. On another occasion, Grennuu was posting sentinels, and was moving on, at lentb, witn las last man. Tho two were surprised, and the private was shot dead in the onset. Grennan was overpowered, and was marched off towards tiro llussian lines, by his five captors. Hut he did not pass within those lines. Unaided, ho left three of ids captors dead or helpless; and the other two ho collared and dragged within the .French lines - This feat was witnessed by a large number or the French, who turned outand warmly greeted the gallant sergeant. This event had, perhaps, something to do with the bestowal of Legion of Honor; Greuuau being one of 20 men out o tho whole British army, on whome alone that decoration was bestowed. Tho patent from tho Cininceikrie of the Order, appointing Grennan to be “clisvuiier or knight” ot the same, is dated, “paris, 2ist dune, 1856;” and Colonel Trevor Brown, of the SBlh, forwarded it iua Idler which shows, from the kiudiy language in which it is couched, how well the rccipent was esteemed by his superior ofiicers. Grennan was in Victoria when the rush to Gabriel’s Gully took place, and was, we believe, an odicer at Pentridge. lief left that post, and came nero to try his fortune us a digger; but in November 1861, he joined the police force. He soon rose to the of rank sergeant; ana in September, ISG3, he was appointed sergt.niajor aud drill instructor, which oiiices he cento iioicl. In IBG2. he was detailed to attend at tho meetings of the Provincial Council, aud was called seargeui-afc-urujs; to which oSieo he was appointed iu 18-.14, when a necessity arose for snail an act on the part of the Speaker, Major Richardson. Greunan still ac:ed as sergeant-at-arms on the opening of the lust session (-November 15th) ; but a day or to afterwards he became unwell, and he was from that time confined to his bed or his room. Grennan is the 2nd of the 20 reciuents of the Legion of Honor, fur services in the Crimea, who lias died as a member of the Otago Police Force —the first being Sergeant-major Garvey, who was lost in tho snow, white on duty, aud whom Grenmin succeeded. The deceased was an Irisluuan, aud was about 3s years old. The funeral will take place on Monday; and wo doubt not that genuine respect will cause many to follow to the grave ilio corpse of this true soldier, “Military honors” have been wed earned by James Greanau. —Otago Daily Times, January 20. IMaxti of Mits Caaisno:t.—The sympathy of the country will bo painfully moved by the announcement of the death, of Mrs Cameron, the mother of Consul Cameron. Her health has been undermined, and she has at last sunk under the suspense and misery sho so long endured in consequence of the cruel impiisonmeut and torture of her son. —Pali Mail Gazette.

English Opinions of New Zealand. A writer in Yorkshire journal, is very strong on the advantages of emigration to tins colony, which he says is “ a heaven for the hard working honest srtizsn, but a hell to the drunkard and mo idler.”

j The Wellington Press and Ms Stafford.— The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, under date sth February, has the following:—“The state of political feeling is totally changed since Mr Weld’s retirement, and the speech just delivered by Mr Stafford is a perfect god-send to the newspapers and that portion of the public who have followed their lead in opposition to Mr Stafford. The Advertiser this'morning comes out strong in Mr Stafford’s favor, partially attributable, perhaps, to its new editor—a gentleman lately engaged from Auckland. Tha speech of Mr Stafford scarcely contains anything so startlingly new as to offer a reasonable excuse for such a sudden change of opinion, yet as putting tangibly before the colony the authoritative statement that much cf Mr Weld’s policy is incorporated with the policy pursued ar.d pursuing by Mr Stafford, it gives fair ground for being on with the new love now that the old love is irrevocably lost, for the present at least. There appears now to be no doubt that throughout the Colony Mr Stafford will reeive general support, and that he will meet Parliament with a power at his back sufficient to justify him in proposing thoroughly the policy ho thinks the state of the colony requires. The only fear i-, that as over-strong ministries are apt to be some-what despotic, the oyerstrength aatiepated for Mr Stafford may not ba without a counter-balancing evil. I need not recapitulate any of the salient points of Mr Stafford’s address, but I may as well mention that Mr Sewell, whoso financial speech of hut session Mr Stafford so unmercifully cuts up, is about returning to England, and has intimated to his New Plymouth constituency his retirement from public life. What a change has come over the political situation during the short space of three months! In October, Mr Weld left the Assembly with the written pledge of numerous members to follow his lead, and place him again in office ; and, of all his friends, none could ho be supposed to depend more than on Mr Sewell. Now Mr Weld has retired, Mr Sewell has followed suit, and the party is literally blown to the winds. If this reads any lesson at all to the Colony it is this—that constituencies should select men in whose judgment they have confidence, and leave them entirely free to act according as the circumstances of the future may require. To bind down representatives with all sorts of pledges can only result in injury to the constituencies themselves.”

A Fortunate Speculation. —A short time since a largo ship laden vith codon was wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and when the agent ofthe

underwriters visited the wreck he found that tha cotton was unpacked, and floating upon the waves of the rugged shores opposite Eosscarberry. Tha sea was whitened for miles with 500 tons of cotton, which it was determined to offer for sale by auction. The highest bidder proved to be a Liverpool speculator, who was sufficiently venturesome to offer £250, or 10s per ton for tha whole quantity. At this figure it was knocked down to him, and he at once set to work to secure the cotton which had been thus cast upon the waters. The sea brought it to the shore as fast as it could be picked up, and soon 50 acres of land were covered with the produce of the cargo, nearly 100 men and women were employed in turning it about, after the manner of making hay, until it was dry. It was then piled up in enormous ricks, and ultimately shipped for Liverpool. In this way nearly the whole was saved, and the cotton bought at 10s a ton, was sold for 5d per lb, or about £59 per ton. The lucky speculator, after paying all expences, realised a profit of £do,ooo upon his original of £250. — Liverpool Mercury. Journalise! and its Etiquette — ln discussions in which rival journals espouse different sides wc occasionally fin.l a little hard hitting ; but it is very rarely that a writer goes beyond the bounds of etiquette. Invective may ba so written as to lash like a whip, without descending to vulgarity, and this particular style of writing can only be acquired by study. The American journals appear not to know the art without being abusive, and and attack each other in the most reprehensible style. For instance, (he Now York Tribune of lire 10th. November, in certain remaks on the inveracity of a contemporary says: —“The World has been repeatedly cautioned to guard against its constitutional addiction to lying. Its late falsehood would disgrace a felon in the dock. Its impudence is redeemed ay no scintilla of ingenuity. Its author’s cars should be nailed to the pillory with the vu.-.tiest sort of a tenpenny.” No Divorce. —Tno following caution to emigrants tor New Zealand appears in a Lon ion paper: —“There is no worse place in the world for discontented couples than New Zealand. All husbands and wives who think of gbing there must take care first fully to make up their minds toh old together for better or worse. For horrible to tell, there is actually no provision for divorce in either of the islanus,” The Gigantic Moa. —The following loHer appears in a recent number of the ‘ Wellington Independent,’ addressed to the editor of that journal ; —“ Sir, —A valued friend informs me of a remarkable specimen of the remains of some unknown animal having been discovered on the West Coast. The entire head and a great part of the body haa been found, and my friend has little doubt of its identity with the Moa. Ha describes the Head which is entire as that of a bird, having the eyes in their orbits, and also the lower jaw ; there appears no vestige of teeth in either jaw. As my friend informs me of his intention of securing tha specimen and sending it to me by the first fay oracle opportunity, 1 shall not fait in furnishing you with all particulars connected with this exceedingly interesting discovery,—-I am, Ac., Frederics Joss Kuos.”