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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4807, 18 August 1876, Page 2

We have been favored with an extract from a letter dated 24th June, written by a friend of Dr. Featherston; which contains particulars which may interest his friends in the colony. “Dr. Feathers ton when in Germany the latter part ef 'last summer had a severe attack of illness, which ’ ended in congestion of the lungs, and it was with difficulty he reached Geneva, when he remained for some Jweeks under medical treatment. He returned to England ; in the autumn, and took a house at Brighton, travelling to London by rail and back again several days in the week. During the winter his health improved, and he gained several pounds in weight ; but as the spring advanced, : so fatal to many with its cold east (winds, his worst symptoms recurred, he was bonfined to his house at Brighton, and with alarming rapidity lost strength. Up to about thrbe weeks before his death, though greatly reduced and prostrated, he was able to see friends, and even to transact such official business as was absolutely necessary. For this purpose Mr. Cashel Hoey, his secretary, and other officers of his department, visited him till within about a week of his death. Many of his oldest personal friends, Sir Charles Clifford, Mr. Levin, Mr. and Mrs. Fox and others, who were in London, visited him till within three weeks of his death, when the exertion, became too great for him, and from that date none but members of his own family and his medical adviser (and Mr. C. Hoey on one of two occasions) visited his bedside. His death, which was peaceful and painless at the last, occurred at 3 o’clock on the morning of Monday the 19th, the result of exhaustion caused by the usual progress of pulmonary disease. It was the desire of several of his colonial friends who were in London to attend his funeral; but a memorandum had been left by him in which he directed that none but his daughters (who Were with him at Brighton) should be present on the occasion ; and though there were many who were anxious to offer the last testimony of respect and sympathy, the injunction of the deceased was considered too sacred to be infringed. Except, therefore, the members of (his own family, I understand that no one followed him to the grave.”

As bur readers are aware, Mr. Wakefield, when speaking in Parliament on Wednesday evening, made some very foolish remarks about Wellington; These remarks were reported pretty fully in the New Zealand Times, but were not commented on. They were reported lest it should be said that a Wellington newspaper was afraid to report what was said against the reputation of the city. They ware not commented on, because they were not, otherwise than for the above reason, worth reporting, and because their very untruth would prevent their doing the smallest injury. <Tho Mayor noticed them at yesterday's meetdng pjf the City Council, probably for the very same reason that we reported them, and had matters stopped with-the notice given by the ( Mayor, it would have been well. But Councillor Gillon was not content with this, and [ elected himself to draw up a formal protest to ■ Parliament on the subject. This is the sublimity of nonsense. Parliament took no notice of Mr. Wakefield's, remarks when they were made, and would as assuredly, take less notice of an unnecessary protest against them. The : dignity of this city, which has nothing to fear from gentlemen of the Wakefield stamp, is best consulted by not regarding every idle word spoken against it. However, as Coun- . cillor Gillon, whom no one accuses of dignity, seems anxious to get a little glory by refuting ; that which needs' no: refutation, it would be a pity to altogether disappoint him. ■ Bet him, 'on his own account,i challenge Mr. Wakefield ! to a debate on the subject. Mr. Wakefield will probably decline. The city will not eare, and the public will have a laugh.

During the progress of the Crimean war some little amusement'was caused by the profound opinions, and advice in the matter, given quite solemnly by small country newspapers. Thus,' one powerful organ in some remote English town had an article commencing: “ We warn the Emperor.of Russia"; and an Irish newspaper; after the battle of Inkerman, dictated a column: of advice to the Emperor, and began by saying: “Well, Nicholas, and what do you think of yourself now?” The fate of Turkey is at present quite exciting the New Zealand country Press, and an estimable, though diminutive, contemporary in the Wairarapa decided it' comfortably yesterday in a leader which opened with these words; “We are inclined to think that the days of the Ottoman Empire in Eurepe, if not also in Asia and Africa, are numbered.” This dictum settles the question, and no doubt, so soon as it is known in Europe that this opinion has been pronounced, Turkey will quietly fade out from amongst nations.

The East Coast Election Petition Committee has concluded taking evidence. His Excellency the Governor yesterday afternoon visited H.M.S. Nymphe. He was welcomed on hoard by a vice-regal salute being fired and the manning ofthe yards. ' The Oriental Telegram Agency advertise that, communication having been re-established, they are now prepared to transmit telegrams daily to England, Europe, India, and China.

A meeting of the Board. of Governors of the Wellington College will .be held on Monday, August 21, at 12 o’clock, at the office of the Education Board. '~

, Anyone with a taste for the curious in nature may gratify it by interviewing Mr. J. Pearce, of Pahautanui, who states that he has a “perfectly healthy pig, with six feet,” for sale. Here is a chance for the showmen.

In the House yesterday afternoon Sir Donald McLean agreed to the amendment of Mr. Sheehan, and postponed the second reading of the Native. Lands Sales Bill until the 3rd September. The Bill will be circulated about Tuesday next. It has been proposed that the football match between Canterbury and Wellington shall be played at the Lower Hutt, and it is probable that Wanganui may be asked to send representatives to join the Wellington team. The Wellington and Wanganui match will probably come off in six weeks time. ! The shipping and commission agents of this city'have received an accession to their number who should' prove an acquisition. Mr. J. H. Heaton, known for many years in connection with i McMeckau, Blackwood, and Co.’s boats, and lately with the N.Z.S.S. Co., has commenced business as a shipping and commission agent in Eeatherston-street. At a special meeting of the Central "Volunteer Eire Brigade, held last evening, it was resolved that the opening of the new shed, upon which a considerable amount of money has been spent, shall be celebrated by a luncheon, to take place in the course of a week of ten days, when the brigade will take possession.

! A very sad accident occurred yesterday to a child of Mr. Underwood’s, baker, Courtenayplace. The child was thirteen months old, and had just' learnt to toddle. When in the back-yard yesterday she in some way got into a bath which contained water, and was drowned when discovered. An inquest will be held at two o’clock to-day. ■We are called upon to-day to chronicle the death of another old settler well known in Wellington, Mr. William Golder, late teacher at. Belmont. : This departed worthy excelled in the artistic branch of poetry, and though he could not lay claim to the possession of “the Vision and the faculty divine,” yet managed, in the struggles incident to colonial life, to produce no less than four volumes of rhyme ; —“New Zealand Minstrelsy,” “ The Pigeons’ Parliament,” “New Zealand Survey,” and “ The Philosophy of Love.” An effort was made to deter Mr. Rowe, one of the Thames members, from fulfilling his pledges to his constituents by voting against separation. One of the usual wire-pulled public meetings was got up, with an unsatisfactory result. The event of Wednesday night's division has shown that Mr. Rowe acted rightly in disregarding the threats of Sir George Grey and his following, for yesterday the chairman of the committee which conducted Mr. Howe’s election telegraphed to him :—“ As chairman of your committee, lam desired by a large number of the Thames electors to thank you for your action re separation.” And the Town Clerk of the Thames municipality has telegraphed to Mr. Rowe “ All thoughtful people here are much pleased with last night’s division, and to see your name on the right side of the division list,” . At the City Council meeting yesterday reference was made to Mr. Wakefield’s abuse of the people of Wellington in the House on Wednesday night. His Worship the Mayor introduced the subject, because he thought it his duty to protest against such an atrocious slander. Councillors generally expressed their hearty concurrence in the remarks of the Mayor, and indignation at the attack made by Mr. Wakefield on those who took part in the reception accorded to Sir Julius Vogel ou his arrival here, consisting as they did of all classes of the community.: ■ There was again a large audience at the Theatre Royal last night, to witness the third production of the very successful burlesque “ The King of the Peacocks.” It is very evident from the continued good houses and immense applause which greets this burlesque that it will have a long run. As has been said before, it is one of the very best ever produced in Wellington. Mrs. Bates as Argus is quite eclipsing herself in burlesque, and with such a strong Company to support her, the subordinate parts are always sure to go well. The farce of “ Lend me Five Shillings ” was repeated, and again Mr. Bates won great applause. The same programme will be repeated to-night.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday (before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.), the following business was transacted :—Henry Steiben pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing some property belonging to Messrs. Shannon and Co. from the steamer Tui, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Charles McCarthy was charged ■with obstructing a policeman in the execution of his duty. He had engaged Mr. Buckley to defend him, and asked for a remand for a week, which was; granted. Thomas Armstrong, brought up on a charge of having committed a breach of the Merchant Shipping Act, was remanded till to-day. These were the only cases on the sheet. A New Zealand Government Gazette was issued yesterday. It contains Proclamation establishing a municipality at New Plymouth ; notification of deposit of a memorial plan of certain lauds taken for purposes of the railway from Auckland to Mercer ; change of the purpose of a reserve in the town of Cambridge, Auckland ; notice of the reserve of thirty-two acres of land at Castle Point for public purposes, for the use of the General Government ; appointment of native trustees under the Maori Real Estate Management Act, 1867 ; appointment of dates for the election of councillors for the newly-constituted boroughs of Picton and New Plymouth ; despatch from the Secretary of State re the treaty between the United Kingdom and the i Republic of Honduras, as to the extradition of criminals ; notifications of the appointment of registrars of births, deaths, and marriages, and other appointments; railway traffic returns; notices to mariners ; Supreme Court and Land Transfer Act notices; and statements of affairs of a number of gold-mining companies.