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 protectorate on August 28th, 1885. In November, whilst proceeding in the steamer Governor Blackall to inspect the boundary of the British territory at Mitre Rock, General Scratchley was taken ill with what proved to be New Guinea fever. As the attack seemed to be mild, he insisted on continuing his voyage to Mitre Rock, which was reached on Nov. 25th; but after remaining there for a short time he became so much worse that it was determined to return direct to Cooktown, where the Governor Blackall arrived on Dec. 1st. Early that morning he seemed better, but towards noon he became completely prostrated by the intense heat, and for some hours was scarcely conscious. All speed was therefore made to reach Townsville, en route for Sydney and cooler latitudes; but Sir Peter Scratchley gradually sank, and died at sea on the morning of Dec. 2nd, 1885. Sir Peter Scratchley (who was created K.C.M.G. in 1885) married, in 1862, Laura Lilias, daughter of Sylvester J. Browne, of co. Sligo. In 1887 a volume on "Australian Defences and New Guinea," compiled from Sir Peter Scratchley's papers, was published under the editorship of Mr. C. Kinloch Cooke, with a prefatory memoir.

Seafield, Earl of (James Grant Ogilvie), Viscount Reidhaven and Baron Ogilvy of Deskford and Cullen in Scotland, Baron Strathspey of Strathspey in the counties of Inverness and Moray in the United Kingdom, and a baronet; is the eldest son of Francis William, 10th earl, and Ann Trevor Corry, daughter of Major George Evans, and was born in Oamaru, N.Z., on April 18th, 1876. He succeeded his father in 1888.

Searle, Henry Ernest, champion sculler of the world, was born at Grafton, N.S.W., on July 14th, 1866. He won a race at Chatsworth when eighteen, but his first public performance of any importance was at Grafton in 1888, when he won a two-mile race against Hearn, of New Zealand, and Christian Neilson, of his own colony. The same year he made his first appearance on the champion course at Parramatta, N.S.W., when he defeated both Wulf and Stanbury, the latter in 19 minutes 53 seconds. He repeated his conquest of Christian Neilson over the same course in Sept. 1888; and having challenged Kemp, who had succeeded Beach as champion of the world, beat him easily on Oct. 27th of the same year in 22 minutes 44 seconds. Hanlan having declined to tempt fortune by entering the lists against him, he went to England on May 9th, 1889, and met O'Connor, the champion oarsman of America, on the Thames championship course on Sept. 9th, and vanquished him easily in 22 minutes 42 seconds. After being generally lionised, he set out on his return voyage to Sydney. On the passage he sickened of typhoid fever, and died at Williamstown, Vict., on Dec. 10th, 1889. The reception which would have been extended to him personally was given to his remains on their arrival in Sydney, his funeral being one of the largest and most influentially attended ever witnessed in the colony.

Seddon, Hon. Richard John, M.H.R., Minister of Mines, New Zealand, son of Thomas Seddon and Jane (Lindsay) his wife, was born at Eccleston, near St. Helens, Lancashire, and emigrated to Melbourne, Vict., in 1863, being married at Williamstown, in that colony, on Jan. 13th, 1869, to Miss Louisa Jane Spotswood. Having removed to New Zealand, Mr. Seddon became a member of the Westland Provincial Council, and was Chairman of Committees of that body. He was also Chairman of the Westland County Council, and first Mayor of Kumara, to which post he was re-elected for a second term. Mr. Seddon was returned to the House of Representatives for Hokitika in 1879, and represented Kumara from 1881 to 1890, when he was returned for Westland, for which he still sits. Mr. Seddon, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and an associate of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, accepted office in the Ministry in Jan. 1891 as Minister of Mines.

See, Hon. John, M.L.A., Colonial Treasurer, New South Wales, son of John See, was born at Yelling, in Huntingdonshire, in 1845, and arrived in New South Wales with his parents in 1853. He is a shipowner, and a member of the firm of John See & Co., formerly Nipper & See. In 1880 he entered the Legislative Assembly as member for Grafton, for which he still sits; and was Postmaster-General in the Ministry from Oct. to Dec. 1885. Mr. See was married at Randwick, N.S.W., in Feb. 1875, to Miss Charlotte Mary 406