AN OLD SALT

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 6

AN OLD SALT

Tho death of old- Admiral Walcott opportunely illustrates tho dangors of Parliamentary labours to men of his age (seventy-eight.) Ho had wisely intended to retire after next election, and would probably havo been alive now if he had abstained from re-entering Parliament in 1865. The old admiral served at tho bombardment of Ooppenhagen, and was enthusiastically fond of his profession . He has often spoken in tho Houso of Commons, with a toar in his eyo and a quivering voice*of hia applications to tho Admiralty for a, ship, and of his "hope deferred" and wasted life on account of want of interest. Ho was a fine sailor of- tho old school — kind, warm-hearted, blunt, and brave. One speech of his, a good many yuars ago, elicited a cry of " Order !" from a lato Speaker, but was characteristic of tho man. Tho lato Admiral Napier — " old Charley," as he was familiarly called — in order to ventilate some subject of naval reform, had made a motion, but could not find a seconder. For a moment thcro was silence, when Admiral Walcott, who sat on the opposito side of tho Houso, started up and said — " By , Mr. Speaker, it shall ncvor bo said that 1 saw an old brother tar in distress and refused to throw him a tow-rope. I second the motion of tho hon. and gallant Admiral." The Speaker looked grave, but tho House applauded, and members havo liked Admiral Walcott tho better ever since.