Social and Domestic.

Southland Times, Issue 909, 2 March 1868, Page 2

Social and Domestic.

♦ We would remind intending purchasers of the' very important sale of land and other property, in the Riverton district, to be held to-day in the Southland Club Hotel. Amongst the lots to be submitted by Mr Surman, the auctioneer, is the very beautifully- situated and compact estate of Waldeck, the property of J. P, Taylor, Esq. This estate has been yery much improved and ornamented, and comprises every requisite to render it a most desirable residence. There are also several other very eligible properties, improved and unimproved, to be offered, the particular position of which can be ascertained from the maps on view at the Club. Considering that there is every probability of land advancing considerably in value within a very few years, spirited competition is likely to ensue for the more choice lots. Parties in want of good furniture or other articles of household plenishing are reminded of MrH. E. Osborne's sale at Mr Puettelkow*s to-morrow, a which a very large and varied assort ment of goods and chattels will be offered, as may be seen from advertisement elsewhere. The farewell benefit given to Mr Puettelkow on his retirement from the managership of the Theatre Royal, came off with' considerable success en the evening of Friday last. The inclement state of the weather at the time rendered the audience less numerous than it would otherwise have been, which was certainly to be regretted, as the performances were carried out with much spirit, and to the credit of the amateurs, who had little or no time for preparation. Signor Vertelli went through some very clever evolutions on the horizontal bar, not the least wonderful of which was the play : ng of one or two operatic selections on the flute and violin, while in the rather awkward position of dandling from the bar. The entertainment was brought to a close with a " grand tableau," in which Mr Puettelkow made his final bow to an Invercargill audience. The "Daily Times" says. —We have mentioned the arrival in Otago of Mr Christian Friedrich Schafev, who is famous as a pedestrian tourist through many lands. On Friday evening, the Dunedin. Choral Union (Germania) held a festival meeting at the European Hotel, in order to welcome Mr Schafer, an invitation to be present being given to the German residents generally. There was a well-attended meeting, and Mr Schafer read a brief account of his travels. It was also resolved to commence a subscription towards Mr Schafer's expenses ; for the great enterprise of going through all the countries of the world was commenced without private resources. Mr Schafer is a native of Hesse Caseel. Ho was born in Carlshafen, on the 23rd November, 1836 ; and his father was a hotelkeeper. When eight years old, he was run over by a coach of some kind ; and he was io injured in the back, that he is permanently a cripple, and he is now only 4ft Bin or 4ft 9in high. When he became old enough to work, he was taken into a lawyer's office ; and while there, he resolved to do that of. which he had before conceived the idea — to travel over the world, walking, as a rule, where walking was possible, and always keeping in mind, one great object, that of writing a book of travel which should be unique in so far as being only a record of his personal adventures and observations. But from the first, Mr Schafer has done more. He has carried with him a book, which is now, perhaps, unequalled as a collection of autographs, and of official seals. He has everywhere sought, and has rarely failed to obtain, introduction to ruling men, to lesser authorities, and to men of eminence in different ways ; and his book contains thousands of signatures, and very numerous recommendations. He has also, we believe, collected 6000 photographs of notable people, not a few of them having been sent long distances after him. The autographs, &c, Mr Schafer contemplates having lithographed, when he produces his book of travel ; but the originals, with the photographs, will probably find a resting place in some German Museum. It was in 1852, that Mr Schafer commenced his journeyings ; and he devoted seven years to the different German States'. Between 1859 and 1863, he travelled through Denmark, Holland, Belgium, England, France, Spain, Italy, the northern part of Africa, Palestine (including Jerusalem), Turkey, Greece, and Russia, and back into G-eimany. Thence he sailed to America. He visited 24 States; and. in crossings of the continent from east to west, he journeyed 16,000 miJes, of which distance about two-thirds was done on foot. He walked over the Rocky Mountains, suffering very great hardships amongst the Indian tribes ; and in 1866, he arrived in California. Thence he went to Japan and to China ; he visited the islands of Batavia, Sumatra, and others in the great eastern group ; and thence he reached Sydney. From Sydney, he proceeded to Melbourne and to Adelaide; then to Tasmania, visiting . Hobart Town and Launceston. He returned to Melbourns, and came fro. New Zealand in the Omeo. While she lay at the Bluff, he went on to Invercargill ; and he arrived here in the Omeo on Monday last. On Saturday, he was introduced to His Honor the Superintendent. To-morrow, or as soon as possible, Mr Schafer will go, by way of Christchurch, to Hokitika; thence to Nelson, and the North Island. From New Zealand, he proposes to start for the Mauritius, and thence to visit Madagascar, the East Indies, Siberia, and to make bis way through the northern portions oi Asia and Europe. This, he calculates, will occupy about three years. Mr Schafer estimates that, during his 16 years' travek, he has gon/e ovor about 150,000 miles, taking the distance from country to country, and from city to city, in a straight line. He states that of the 150,000 miles, he has walked ouite 100.000.