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Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 451, 28 February 1857, Page 5

: Important Discovery.—-The Detection of , Murder.—A series of experiments have recently ;been madeby sDr. Pollock, an oculist of this city,. (says the " Chicago Press," of the 17th October,) to test the truth of an article published some time" since by a celebrated physician in England, which alleged' that'thelast scene viewed by a dying'man would remain impiessed upon the retina as does ,the impression upon a dagxierreotype plate. In each experiment that Dr. Pollock has made he has found that an examination of the retina of an eye with a microscope Teveals a wonderful as well as a beautiful sight, and that in almost every instance there was a clear, distinct, and marked impression. We put. these facts upon recordin tlie.hope of awakening an' interest in the subject, ithat others' may be induced to enter upon -these interesting experiments and the cause of science advanced. The recent examination of the eye of J. H.Beardsley, who was murdered in Auburn, conducted By Dr.' 'Sanford, corresponds with those elsewhere. The following; is the published account of the. examination :—At first we suggested the saturation of the eye in a weak solution of atror phine, which evidently producedan enlarged state of the pupil. On .observing this,!we touched the end of the optic nerve with the extract, when,the eye instantly became protuberant. We now applied a powerful lens, and discovered in the pupil the rude, worn away figure of a man,with a light coat, beside.whom was a round stone, standing or suspended in the air, with a small handle stuck as it were in the earth.' The remainder was debris, evidently lost from the destruction of the optic and its separation from the mother brain. Had we performed this operation when the eye was entire m the socket, with all its. powerful connection .with the brain, there is not the least doubt but that we should have detected the last idea and impression made online mind and eye of the unfortunate man. The thing would evidently be entire, and perhaps We should have had the contour, or better still, the exact figure of tlie murdeier. The last impression before death' is always more terrible on the brain, from fear, than from any other cause, and figures impressed on the pupil more distinct,.which we attribute to the largeness of the optic nerve and its free communication.with the brain.. • Spar.—The Prince of Wales, Captain'Nolan, from New Zealand, landed on Monday, at Portsmouth, for the use of the Government,

two spar's of Kauri pine of the most extraordinary proportions overwrought to this country, viz., 100 feet. in length and S4& inches diameter, without a knot! They wil] most likely becomemasts forthe Queen's state yacht.— Maritime Register ,' Nov. 8.