The Officers Of H.M.S. Fly

Index
 


By letters recently received from England, ire have learned some particulars respecting the disposal of some of the officers of H.M.S. Fly. which will be no doubt most interesting to the friends of those gentlemen in the colony. Of Captain Blackwood's present employment we know nothing. Lieutenant Shadwell, First Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Ince, who superintended the erection of the Safety Tower in Torres Straits, are both promoted to the rank of Commander. The latter was to have come out as Lieutenant on board H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Captain Owen Stanley, shortly expected here, but was superseded on his promotion. Mr. M'Gillivray will come out in her as naturalist. Mr. Evans, the late Master of the Fly, is employed in the Isle of Man on the coast survey he is in the enjoyment of very handsome pay and is shortly about to be married. Mr. Jukes, naturalist, has joined the geological survey of Great Britain and Ireland and at the date of his last despatches was busily engaged in the neighbourhood of Bala, in Merionethshire. This gentleman mentions to his correspondents some facts respecting the geological survey, which serve to show what importance is now attached to that undertaking. The Director-in-Chief is Sir H. De La Beche, having under him local directors, with a large staff of officers, surveyors, palaeontologists, collectors, chemists, analyzers, &c. The revenue of the establishment is �10,000 sterling per annum, being a Parliamentary grant. The present office is at Craig's court, Charing cross, but a new office and museum are building in Piccadilly.

The Ordnance maps are being rapidly coloured ; and sections are making of great accuracy in all directions. Memoirs are also published as the survey goes on.

Mr. Jukes was deputed to write the account of the voyages of the Fly ; but he says, he is obliged to give up publishing his journal, " as every book mentioning Australia lately has fallen dead from the press." Even the British Association showed no inclination to hear any details, as " nobody cares about Australia now."

SG & SGTL ; Vol 4 ; Page .

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