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MLEMOIR OF A DEPARTIED COLONIST. ____ _..?---__. _ One by one the old veteranus are passing away, and their untold labors in the cause of the colony which they were the means of build ing up generally go with them to the grave. In a recent issue we referred to the death of Mr. W. Nicholas, of Colic East, one of the earliest pioneers of this district, whose connection therewith extended over a period of fifty years. The following additional particulars have been kindly sup plied us by MIr. B. N. Butcher, who was intimately acquainted with the deceased. The story, as related in Mr. Butcher's own words, is to the following effect:--Mr. Nicholas, in company with five others, came to Colac in 1841, under engagement to shear for Messrs. Dean, at Dean's Creek; H. Murray, Barongarook; and - Dewney, on the site where Mr. John Calvert's station is situated. After finishing the shearing he ac cepted a contract from Mr. Deane to make.a large number of hurdles and split slabs. He continued working in: the forest for years, shearing, though, when the season was in. hMr. Nicholas was a first-class hand at that kind of work, and a harder all round workman. I never met. I have known him to work 15 hours a day for months together. I recol lect?irhen the excitement for eight hours was at its height, speaking to him:about it, and he was quite'sur pri sed, the answer he gave me being, "That three-parts of these fellows don't.know what a day's work is. If they came to me for a few weeks four hours per diem would be enough for them. Mr. Nicholas married in 1845, and contir'ued laboring in the forest -for some years after. He then bought a team of bullocks, and with them commenced carting produce to Geelong and Ballarat, returning with stores, &e. By his marriage Mr..Nicholas had four sons and :two daughters. The sons are-all working about Colac, and a finer lof of young men are not to be found in the colony -steady, industrious and respectable. It would be well. for Colac if there were. many more of theii' stinip to be met -with. The old man did -not bring them up in 'idlness, with the result they are all first-classworkmen; add for fencing, especially, the name of: Nicholas is quite .enough. -. He was rather rough in his manner, bit a kinder-hearted man, or a : truer friend, never existed. Standing at the head. of the grave at his funeral the thought flashe through my mind of the kindness he had shown, and the patience exhibited, when learning me to split in the forest 47 years ago. And I am not ashamed to confess that I shed tears to his memory that day. That. every blessiiig may attend the family is the concluding-wish of their father's old friend.

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