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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Wilkins, John

Wilkins, John, Surgeon and Oculist, Shortland Street, Auckland. Telephone 703 Private residence, Lower Symonds Street. Dr. Wilkins was born in England, and educated at Enfield, Middlesex, at King's College, and at the King's College Hospital, London, where he studied for the medical profession. He passed his first M.B. examination at London University, and afterwards took his M.R.C.S. (England); subsequently he was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in recognition of his great proficiency as a surgeon, being proposed by the late Sir William Ferguson, Bart. He was selected out of twenty-six applicants to take medical charge of a ship, in which several Government officials, with their families, were proceeding from London to Adelaide. During this voyage he wrote a pamphlet on emigration and its management, and sent it to the Commissioners in London. The Commissioners were so pleased with the pamphlet that they induced Dr. Wilkins to go as surgeon-superintendent to Melbourne, where he was appointed assistant Colonial Surgeon at a salary of £750 a year, and was also made a justice of the peace for the colony of Victoria, district coroner, and surgeon-major of the volunteer forces, etc., etc. He was also allowed private practice, which so rapidly increased that in 1866 he resigned all his appointments for a two years' trip to Europe to recover his health, impaired by overwork. After his return to Australia, he found that the climate of Melbourne was too warm for him. He therefore moved to new Zealand, and resided first at Dunedin, page 286 and then at Christchurch for a short time. Neither of these towns agreed with his health and he then tried Auckland, the climate of which he found to be admirably suited to him in that respect. Dr. Wilkins has acquired a large general practice in Auckland, and he has an extensive practice also as a consulting and operating surgeon. He is an enthusiast in his profession, and thinks no one is worth consulting who is not perfectly conversant with all branches, both medical and surgical, and he contends that this thoroughness can be acquired by perse verance. He has written a large number of pamphlets, which have been highly commended in Australasia by the profession and the Press. Dr. Wilkins holds the appointment of surgeon to the Permanent Force of the Auckland district.

Dr. J. Wilkins.

Dr. J. Wilkins.