Decease of a Literary Gentleman.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1539, 6 January 1874, Page 70

Decease of a Literary Gentleman.

A late Marlborough Press writes:—ln our obituary column to-day will be found recorded the death of Mr Francis O'Sullivan. The deceased gentleman was at one. time a contributor to this journal, and his writings displayed the possession of power in the author that had not time to make the mark it would have done had his lifo extended only to the ordinary duration. A keen observer, with liberal views, backed up by knowledge obtained from a studious course of reading, the writings of Mr F. O'Sullivan obtained a wider distinction than to be read by only local readers, and had his life but been prolonged, they would have received a more universal recognition ; but, cut off as he has been in early manhood, his genius had scarcely time to ripen, and his efforts afford but scant indication of what he would have performed when his power became more matured. The deceased gentleman was well known both in this province and Nelson, where he was engaged as a schoolmaster for some time. The disease that at length caused his death compelled him to relinquish the position, and he came to this province and resided at Renwicktown in the hope of gaining strength to battle against the complaint to which ultimately be unfortunately succumbed. He was

much esteemed by the many friends he had made, and their regrets at his early death will not be lessened by the knowledge that he has left a young widow to lament her loss. Death of a Great Chief. The Taranaki News, 13th December, writes; The greatest chief in the Province, Arapata Watitiri, is dead. He was not a warrior, but from his qualities and his birth, he was much respected by the natives, and looked up to as the chief of Pukerangiora. He died on the sth instant at Pekatu, on the Manganui, a short distance above its junction with the Waitara. Watitiri was always a consistent opponent of European progress and civilization, and more than once has stopped visitors to Pukerangiora, and travellers from crossing his land. About thirty years ago he stopped a Mr David Scott, a pakeha Maori, from passing that way across to the Wanganui River ; and about twenty-five years ago he turned back Sir George Grey from his proposed visit to Pukerangiora, enforcing his return by shaking a tomahawk over his head; the tomahawk was subsequently given up as a peace offering for the insult to Sir George. He has since given a sword taken from our forces during the war, as a peace offering to Mr Commissioner Parris, for some interference in his movements ; so that the old gentleman seems to have gone very much on the principle of “ a blow, and a plaister” which was all very well if the blow was not so strong as to render a plaister superfluous. Watitiri was very aged, probably not far from one hundred years old, and maintained a wonderful vitality while he lived* His lamp seems to have suddenly been extinguished. He was not a communicative man, having a good deal of dignity and self-respect, which prevented him from stooping to that begging common to many so-called chiefs. He left no children, but his niece Mary Poka, who is also childless, and has for some time been recognized as Ariki, or chief of the tribe, will succeed to his position. The tribe were against us in the first war, but came out about 18G7; since which it has not taken any active course in opposition to us. The Income of Canterbury. Our neighbors in Canterbury (says tho Nelson Evening Mail) have been deliberating how they can best dispose of the enormous sum of £1,004,869 during the coming year. The comparative magnitude of this sura will be best estimated when it is remembered that the revenue for the Colony for the present year is only estimated at £1,180,500, while in the year 1870-1 the colonial revenue only amounted to £935,364. Thus, the single Province of Canterbury will this year have at its disposal a sum of money in excess of that which the Colony had two years ago. From our exchanges wc gather the resources from whence Canterbury derives this revenue to be as follows :—The ordinary revenue, including pasturage rents, is estimated at £188,450, and under this head there is an additional balance in hand of £26,726/ On the land fund there is a balance of £375,289, while the land sales are to yield £230,000 more within the year. The General Government has to refund to the province, on account of public works, £277,950. On the loan account there is a harbor works loan of £IOO,OOO, a credit balance of £11,263, and some receipts from sinking fund, and refunds to the amount of £25,200. Thus, on all tho accounts together, the province has in its coffers £413,268, and expects to receive, up to the 30th September, £591,601 more ; giving it a total revenue of £1,004,869. It is estimated that the ordinary expenditure will not exceed £192,895, so that there will, from the ordinary revenue alone, be a surplus of £22,280. This, too, after the vote for education has been increased'from £10,634 to £15,000, besides which provision is made for three professors at the College, at £6OO each, £550 for lecturers, and £320 for other expenses connected with that establishment. Altogether the Council has upwards of £680,000 unemployed, and available for appropriation. Let us see how they propose to expend it. £20,000 is set down for immigration, and £60,000 as grants to Road Boards. The huge sum of £340,975 is set down under the head of “Buildings and Works.” The principal items of this vote are, £42,500 for school buildings ; £20,000 for roads in the Ashburton district; £15,000 for water supply from Malvern to Rolleston ; and £158.000 for bridges over the gorges of the Waimakariri and Rakaia, tho Waipara, the Ashburton, and rivers in the South. £168,000 is set down for railway construction, £7,000 of which is appropriated for tho line between Timaru and Temuka, and £27,000 from Washdyke to tho point j

£II,OOO for Sehvyn bridge; £40,(1.00 for rails and conversion of line ; and £46,500 for locomotives and rolling stock. The harbor works arc to absorb £174,100. Looking at all those figures, and remembering that the foundation of Canterbury's prosperity may be traced to tiie laud fund, we may rrive at sonic slight idea of- the debt of gratitude which the South should owe th North for the hencf-is derived under the lar d compact of 185(3. Charge against a Postmaster. The Grey Liver nrgus of the 12th December says ; —Mr Spiers, who for many years past has filled the office of Postmaster at Loss, was arrested on luesday, and in the absence of the Resident Magistrate, was brought before a Justice of the Peace charged with embezzlement. Evidence was taken, and the accused was bound over to appear on Monday next, two sureties of £250 being given, in addition to his own recognizance of an equal amount. A Poor Locality. Anotherfamine appears to have occurred at Martin’s Bay. The Lake Wakatipu Maii says that, the residents there “have for weeks past been subsisting solely upon potatoes and fish, and even this diet not plentiful.” Our contemporary adds:— 11 Last week, one of the oldest settlors at Martin’s Bay, Mr Robertson, was forced to come over to Queenstown to see about getting a supply of food for his family. Mr Robertson was accompanied by his daughter, a girl aged sixteen years, and the first of her sex who lias ever attempted the overland journey from the West Coast to Queenstown. Mr liobertsou reports that all hands at Jamcstpwn and Big Bay are contented and satisfied if they could only secure the great desideratum, regular supplies, and communication with the outer world.” Sporting in Dunedin. In noticing the nominations for the Dunedin Cup, the Westland Register say that it is likely to bring a larger field of horses together than has over met in New Zealand, and adds According to present prospects the value of the stake is estimated at from £GSO to £7OO. A few years ago Dunedin could scarcely got up a decent meeting, and it now clearly proves that by putting the right men in the right place, every community, as in Dunedin, can from among themselves ensure a sporting success. Something like a Majority. By an error in reading a telegram, a Wanganui paper reported Mr Curtis as having, in the late Nelson election, a majority of “ 2,30209.” Explanation : “ Majority, at 2.30, 269.” Immigrant Tailors. The Southland Times says :—“ Of the two-and-thirty tailors who recently arrived in Dunedin by the Zealaudia, two only await employment. Two were sent to Oamaru, two to Invercargill, and one to Tokoraairiro. Dunedin absorbed the remainder.” A Good Suggestion. The Tuapeka Times suggests that the Government might advantageously occupy the spare space between the fences on either side of the railway lines by planting forest trees, which would, after a comparatively brief space of time, supply the railway sleepers of the future. Barbarism on the Diggings. The Lake Wakatipu Mail 'says !i A baby show is to he a feature in the annual Caledonian games at Riverton. The barbarism of a cock-fight is also to be indulged in.” Wo wonder that the Scotchmen in the district do not resent the abuse of the term “ Caledonian games ” by its application to such low and degrading amusements as these.