Obituary.

Wheeler.—On 27th May, at Worcester-st., Linwood, Christchurch, William Wheeler, for many years printer of the Lyttelton Times, in his 57th year.

Blundell.—On 18th June, at Nelson, after a fortnight's illness, Francis James Blundell, for twenty-two years editor of the Evening Mail, aged 57. Deceased was a son of the late Capt. Blundell, of the 11th Light Dragoons. He was a prominent member of the Church of England, and was churchwarden of the Cathedral of Nelson for many years. He was highly respected, and the news of his death cast quite a gloom over the city. The flags were half-mast high. At a meeting of the City Council on the 19th inst., expressions of deep regret were made by the Chairman and Councillors, and a letter of condolence was sent to the friends of deceased.

Pressensé.—In April, M. Edmond de Pressensé, d.d., Pastor of the Free Church in Paris, aged 68, one of the most distinguished leaders of French Protestantism, and a prolific author, his historic works being of great value. Most of them have been translated into English. His eloquence was as notable as his literary gifts; he held a distinguished position in society; was a life member of the Senate, and a member of the Institute. Through his interesting letters in the Christian World, extending over many years, he became better known to the English public generally than any other French theological writer.

Halswelle.— Mr Keeley Halswelle, R.I., A.R.S.A., died suddenly in Paris, on the 11th April. On the 23rd of the same month he would have completed his 59th year. According to Mr Spielmann, in Black and White, he was apprenticed to Dickes the engraver, but ran away to Scotland before his time was out, and began his black-and-white work for the London Journal. Through the medium of the Illustrated News, in the early volumes of which are to be found great numbers of his sketches, he became widely known. As a painter, he first made his mark in figure work— « Non Angli sed Angeli » (1877), and « The Play Scene in Hamlet » (1878), being good examples. Of late years, he has devoted himself to landscape studies-effective river scenes, with reeds, and strong effects of light and shade in sky and water, which have been very popular.

Wallace.—Mr John Howard Wallace, the oldest settler in the City of Wellington, and one of the pioneers of British settlement in New Zealand, died on the 9th June, in his 75th year. He belonged to an old Scotch family, and was born at Liverpool on 11th Feb., 1816. He was educated at Birmingham, and articled there to James Drake, of Newst., bookseller and law-stationer. When his time expired, in 1839, he decided to emigrate, and on the 22nd January, 1840, he, with others, landed on the Petone beach from the ship Aurora. He was engaged in business till a few years ago, filled various public capacities, and was honored and respected in both public and private life. He was a diligent recorder of early New Zealand history, and some years ago published a chronological index of the history of the colony, which was stated to be preliminary to a fuller work. Of this latter, Mr H. Brett, an Auckland publisher, bought the copyright, and it now forms part of his Early History of New Zealand.

Russell.—Home papers record the death, on 30th April, in his 68th year, of the hon. H. R. Russell, an old New Zealand colonist, and a former member of the Legislative Council. Mr Russell took an active part in public life, and though for the past ten or twelve years he has lived in England, he always maintained an interest in New Zealand affairs. In 1874-6 Mr Russell had some association with journalism in connexion with the Anglo-Maori weekly Te Wananga, edited jointly by Mr R. A. A. Sherrin and the late Mr John White. Mr Russell's part was to dictate the policy and provide the sinews of war. So long as he paid salaries and expenses all went well, and the paper had a large and increasing subscription-list. After about two years, Mr Russell became tired of drawing cheques, and investigating the state of affairs, found over £1500 in unpaid subscriptions on the books, the receipts having amounted to a merely nominal sum. He gave orders to hunt the subscriptions up. A collector accordingly went through the island, and was hospitably entertained by the chiefs, but he did not gather enough money to cover his travelling expenses. Then Mr Russell used strong language, and stopped the supplies; and the Wananga—Kua mate ki te Po.

Stuart.—Since the issue of our last Circular there has passed away a punch-cutter named Andrew Stuart, at the advanced age of 86 years, from whose hands have emanated, under the artistic guidance of his employers, many of the most serviceable as well as beautiful designs to be found in printing-offices all the world over. Andrew Stuart was born in 1805, in Cantyre, Argyleshire, where he followed the occupation of farm laborer until about twenty years of age, when he went to Glasgow to learn edge-tool making. Part of his occupation was the cutting of branding-irons for marking herring-barrels, and a Mr Gray, stamp-engraver, having observed that some of this work was above average merit, apprenticed young Stuart to himself for seven years, during which time his excellent work came under the notice of the late Alexander Wilson, typefounder, who induced the young engraver to accompany him to London in 1834, to cut punches under his direction. Since that time Stuart continued to engrave punches for typefounding purposes up to near the date of his decease. One of the most notable and beautiful productions was the series of Scripts, No. 3, which we have reason to believe has never been surpassed, if equalled. He had a remarkable power with the graver, as well as a faculty of quickly receiving ideas and comprehending instructions. He was proud of calling himself a Highlander, and we once heard him say « Steel is like a bit of cheese in my haund. » —Caslon's Circular.