THE OBSERVER CARTOON.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 82, 8 April 1882, Page 52

THE OBSERVER CARTOON.

No. 15.— G-ilbeboy Wells Gbikfin, U.S. Consul. Mb Gtlldebot Wells Obifmit, United States Consul for New Zealand, "was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1840. Hating received a liberal education and graduated in the Law Department of the Louisville University, he began the practice of law, which he shortly afterwards relinquished for literary pursuits, becoming associated with Colonel Charles S. Todd in the editorial conduct of the Louisville Commercial and Industrial Gazette, one of the most influential papers in the state. Mr Griffin wrote and published several literary works of great merit, which secured an extensive sale. In 1871 he was appointed U.S. Consul at Copenhagen, Denmark, where he wrote and published a book entitled " My Danish Days," and in 1874, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, of Copenhagen, a very high distinction, which has been conferred also upon the poet '. Longfellow, and Bancroft, the historian. In 1875 Mr Griffin received the degree of Doctor of Philology, conferred upon him by Forest Academy, Anchorage, Kentucky, and in the same year was nominated for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the same State. In 1877 he was appointed U.S. Consul at Samoa, where he succeeded in maintaining order, and received the thanks and congratulations of the President for his services. In 1879 he was promoted to the Consulate of Auckland, where he naa continued to exert himself to extend the commerce between America amd this Colony. His courteous and gentlemanly demeanour have made him generally populai*, and a welcome visitor in the best society.