OTAGO SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. (abridged)
The Secretary then read an Address to Mr. Robert Stewart, which had been prepared by a Sub-Committee, but not confirmed because of there not being sufficient members attending the meetings to form a quorum. Some discussion here took place, when it was agreed that the Address should be put as an original motion. It was then proposed by Mr. Todd, seconded by Mr. White, that the Address to Dr. Stewart, drawn up by the Sub-Committee, be adopted by the Society: —
We, the Members of the Otago Settlers' Association, having heard of the generous and praiseworthy determination on your part to give your very valuable attendance gratuitously at the Hospital recently erected in this place, notwithstanding the ungentlemanly threats used to divert you from so philanthrophic a purpose by another medical practitioner in the settlement; and being aware of your unremitting attention and promptitude to the claims of the helpless and destitute, not only giving your medical advice, but, in many cases, supplying the necessaries and comforts of life, we beg leave most respectfully to tender to you our unanimous vote of thanks.
Dr. Williams wished to know who was the other medical practitioner referred to.
Mr. Stevenson said it was Dr. Williams.
Dr. Williams wished also to know what were the threats alleged to have been made.
Mr. Stevenson stated, that as the facts were not directly communicated to him, he referred to several members present to whom the subject had been mentioned personally by Dr. Stewart.
Mr. Macandrew said — As Dr. Williams had requested that the facts should be stated, he felt no delicacy in the matter, and proceeded to state that it had been affirmed by Dr. Stewart, that on his visiting Dr. Williams the subject of attendance at the Hospital without salary was mentioned, when, upon Dr. Stewart saying that he would accept the appointment, and give his attendance gratis, Dr. Williams had threatened, that if he did so, and it should happen that a patient died in his absence, it would be his duty, as coroner, to bring in a verdict of manslaughter against Dr. Stewart.
Dr. Williams rose to explain the conversation which he had had with Dr. Stewart on the occasion referred to, and stated, that when Dr. Stewart said to him that he intended to give his services and attendance at the Hospital gratis, he asked him (as he was often absent in the country) who would attend the Hospital in his absence? Dr. Stewart replied — "you." Dr. Williams then said to him, that if he (Dr. Stewart) was receiving pay for his services at the Hospital he should be happy to attend for him; but if not, he (Dr. Williams) if sent for, would not attend, as he considered it derogatory to the medical profession to work for nothing; and that if a man were brought into the Hospital with a bleeding artery, and died in consequence of being unattended, that it would be his duty, as coroner, if an inquest were held, to direct the jury to return a verdict of manslaughter against Dr. Stewart. He further remarked that he did not come out to the colony to work for nothing; he had not overcharged any man, and could not see why he should be treated in such a manner.
Mr. Carnegie rose to propose an Amendment, that the words "notwithstanding the ungentlemanly threats used to divert you from so philanthropic a purpose by another medical practitioner in the settlement" be struck out of the resolution. He had no objection to an address to Dr. Stewart, but would not vote a censure upon any one.
Mr. Harris seconded the Amendment.
Mr. Cutten thought that the word "ungentlemanly" was rather strong. If Dr. Williams would explain the conversation away by referring it to the heat of the argument he would propose that the word "uncharitable" be substituted for "ungentlemanly." Dr. Williams had as much objection to the one as the other. After farther discussion the Amendment was put from the chair and lost, the original motion being carried.
Dr. Williams resigned his office as committee-man, and declined to remain a member of the Society. -Otago Witness, 18/10/1851.
DINNER TO ROBERT STEWART, Esq.
On Friday last a Dinner was given at the Royal Hotel to Robert Stewart, Esq., who has since proceeded to China. Upwards of 20 sat down to dinner. The dinner having only been suggested the night before, many were absent in consequence of the short notice.
The Chair was filled by Mr. James Macandrew, and the Vice-Chair by Mr. John Hyde Harris. After the cloth had been removed, "The Health of the Queen" was drank with all honours, the whole company uniting in singing the National Anthem. Then followed "Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the other members of the Royal family," the Chairman remarking that the moral and intellectual acquirements of the former, so rarely to be met with in Crown heads, entitled him to the regard of all good subjects.
The next toast was "The Health of His Excellency Sir George Grey, Governor-in-Chief."
The Chairman said that however much many around him might differ from His Excellency or be opposed to his policy, yet he believed they were all united in their attachment to the manners and customs of their native land, and .that they were determined to exhibit the loyalty of their fathers in this the land of their adoption; he therefore would call upon them to drink the health of the representative of Her Majesty.
Captain Cargill, as the only one present connected with Government, returned thanks. "The Health of His Excellency LieutenantGovernor Eyre" was also drank. Then followed the toast of the evening.
The Chairman said, that although there were many present who had known Dr. Stewart longer, and who were more intimately acquainted with him, yet there was no one who could appreciate more highly his quiet and gentlemanly bearing than himself. There was no one who entertained a higher sense of the unassuming philanthropy of Dr. Stewart than he did. At all hours and at all seasons he was ready to minister to the wants of the distressed, not only professionally, but with his purse when needed. The amount of professional service which he had rendered to those who were pinched in their circumstances, without fee or reward, was such as entitled him to our warmest regard. Often, in such cases, had he delicately declined his fee when tendered. There was one other circumstance with which many were well acquainted, which laid us under a deep debt of gratitude as a community; it was this: that when applied to, in common with other medical practitioners in the place, to attend gratuitously at the hospital now erecting, it was understood that Dr. Stewart was the only one who agreed to do so: thus, in as far as he was concerned, doing what in him lay to effect a saving of probably two or more hundred pounds a year to the community. The circumstances, too, under which Dr. Stewart had agreed to this, were highly honourable to him; sacrificing, as he did, professional good will to the general benefit of the community. In the midst of all this they had only one comfort left, and that was, that the Doctor's absence would only be for a short time, it being his intention to return again, after having fulfilled the business which calls him away.
The toast was drunk with nine times nine.
The healths of "Captain Cargill," the "Chairman," and "Vice-Chairman," were then successively proposed and drunk.
Captain Cargill proposed "The Health of Mr. John Jones;" remarking, that though met to do honour to a gentleman who had offered his gratuitous services to the public, he thought, in tracing the progress of the settlement, they were bound to return their thanks to a gentleman to whom the community were also indebted. From the commencement of the settlement and the landing of the first party, the public had always been supplied with the necessary articles of consumption at a moderate price: for whilst our neighbours, who were also importing food, were paying 1s. 4d. for the 4 lb. loaf, we had never paid more than 1s. Without entering into the why or wherefore of the price being higher elsewhere than here, every one must admit that the public were for a long time at the mercy of the gentleman whose health he had proposed. He was the only person having shipping, capital, and stock to supply the market, and might have exacted any prices he had pleased ; but, instead of doing so, he had uniformly treated the public with liberality. That he had been benefitted by the arrival of settlers was true; but for the very liberal arrangement he had made for the supply of butcher-meat, and to prevent the consumers being charged an extravagant price, entitled him to the gratitude of the public.
A variety of other toasts were drank, and some excellent songs sung.
We cannot close the report of this social meeting without mentioning that the dinner was excellent, and great credit is due to the new Host for the style in which it was got up, .notwithstanding the short notice he had received. The only fault we could find was that the attendants were not so perfect as we could have wished. -Otago Witness, 18/10/1851.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
To the Editor of the Otago Witness,
Sir, — Your remarks in the last number of the Witness insinuate that Dr. Williams is not a suitable person to fill the office of Superintendent. You, however, neglected to inform the electors as to his qualifications. I feel bound, therefore, to supply the omission.
I believe the Doctor is opposed to free labour. What say you? — would it not be better to import an annual supply of convicts, who would work for us without pay, and thus enable us to lead a life of idleness? The Doctor is also a "no pay, no work" gentleman; consequently, by transferring the salary of the police to the Superintendent, we may get rid of those gentlemen, who, although paid, do no work. The following remarks were made by the worthy Doctor at a meeting of the Settlers' Association, as reported in the Otago Witness of the 18th October, 1851: —
"Dr. Williams rose to explain the conversation which he had had with Dr. Stewart on the occasion referred to, and stated, that when Dr. Stewart said to him that he intended to give his services and attendance at the Hospital gratis, he asked him (as he was often absent in the country) who would attend the Hospital in his absence? Dr. Stewart replied, "You." Dr. Williams then said to him, that if he (Dr. Stewart) was receiving pay for his services at the Hospital, he should be happy to attend for him ; but if not, he (Dr. Williams), if sent for, would not attend, as he considered it derogatory to the medical profession to work for nothing; and that if a man were brought into the Hospital with a bleeding artery, and died in consequence of being unattended, that it would be his duty, as Coroner, if an inquest were held, to direct the jury to return a verdict of manslaughter against Dr. Stewart. He furrher remarked, that he did not come out to the colony to work for nothing," &c.
With a salary of £500 or £600 per annum as Superintendent, the Doctor will no doubt give up the idea of Colonial Surgeon; and thus leave an opening to another worthy member of the medical profession. Dr. Williams, as Superintendent, would no doubt also undertake the most important duties of barrister for revising the roll, and chief objector to claims.
I am justified in calculating on the Doctor here, from his proceedings on the memorable 21st September last (the .Registration Day); but I shall not bring forward any more of the traits in the Doctor's character to recommend him to the confidence of the electors.
— Yours, &c, An Elector. -Otago Witness, 5/2/1853.
SALES BY AUCTION
MESSRS. W. C. YOUNG & Co. have been favoured with instructions to Sell by Auction in the month of December proximo, by order of the Committee of the Estate and Effects of Robert Stewart, Esq., late of the Province of Otago, the following Valuable Property, viz.: —
ABOUT 35 HEAD of SUPERIOR HORNED CATTLE, now under the Management of Mr. George Turnbull of Dunira, North Taieri.
ALSO About 500 SHEEP, under the charge of Messrs. John and. Allan Boyd at Hindon Station, North-west Taieri.
ALSO About 100 ACRES OF VALUABLE LAND, with Abundance of TIMBER thereon, situated in the North Taieri District.
ALSO All that Substantially-built and Valuable RESIDENCE, with the GARDEN and APPURTENANCES, the whole comprising AN ACRE AND A QUARTER, situate in Stafford Street, Dunedin, and in the occupation of T. J. White, Esq.
ALSO A VALUABLE SUBURBAN SECTION OF LAND, situate near Dunedin, held under Lease by Mr. Archibald Anderson.
ALSO A VALUABLE SUBURBAN SECTION, situate in or near Blanket Bay, at present in the occupation of Mr. Gilfillan.
Place of Sale and further particulars will appear in a future advertisement. Dunedin, 12th Nov. 1856. -Otago Witness, 15/11/1856.
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