Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Saturday 17 September 1881, page 3


COMMODORE WILSON.

Few captains on the active list of the Royal Navy (says the Argus) can show so long a record of war and meritorious services as Commodore J. C. Wilson, who is now on the eve of relinquishing his command of the Australian station, after having accomplished the allotted period of service, which is limited to three years. Commodore Wilson joined the navy as a cadet in 1847. As mate of the Algiers he was present at the operations in the Baltic in 1854, and subsequently in the Sea of Azoff where in the attack on Taganrog he commanded the first launch of the Algiers. For his gallant conduct on this occasion he was mentioned in the despatches. As actinglieutenant of the Spiteful, he was present at the attack and capture of Kinburn, and received the Crimean and Turkish medals with clasps. As acting gunnery lieutenant of the Chesapeake in 1859, he was engaged in blowing up and cutting the booms under the Peiho forts, and was also in the Opossum during the action with the forts and subsequent landing, and was several times honour-ably mentioned in despatches. As acting-commander of the Fury, he took part in the China war of 1860, and for his services on that occasion received the China medal and clasp. For three years Captain Wilson was employed as commander of the Gorgon, in the suppression of the slave trade

on the east coast of Africa. He was commander of

the Bombay when she was destroyed by fire, in December, 1864, and was specially promoted for his gallant conduct on that occasion, He served for three years asllagcaptaiu to Admiral Lord Dalhousie, and IS months as flag-captain to Admiral the Hon. C. G. B. Elliot. Captain Wilson then served for three years as inspector of training ships, and was severely scalded when on duty on board the Thunderer, when a boiler burst and caused the deaths of 45

officers and men, in July, 1875. In 1878 Captain Wilson was appointed commodore on the Australian station, and was nominated as aide-de-camp to the Queen. The Australian command furnishes very little scope for distinguished service, but the position is one which has always been filled by an officer who has previously made his mark in the service, and among the list of Commodore Wilson's predecessors are the names of Admiral Sir William Loring; Vice-Admiral Sir Fred. Beauchamp Seymour, Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean ; Rear-Admiral Frederick Stirling, commander-in-chief in the Pacific ; Rear-Admiral Anthony Hiley Hoskins, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. In addition may be mentioned the names of the deceased officers ¡ RearAdmiral Sir Wm. Wiseman, who commanded the Australian squadron during the period of the New Zealand war, and who rendered signal service with his blue jackets ashore ; Vice-Admiral Rowley Lambert, Commodore Burnett, who was lost in the Orpheus when that vessel was wrecked at Manakau Heads 20 years ago and last, though not least, Commodore Goodenough, who was killed by the natives at the island of Santa Cruz, and whose honoured remains now lie buried not far from the shores of Port Jackson. Commodore Wilson is so near to attaining flag rank that his promotion as Rear-Admiral will probably be received before the time arrives for him to haul down his broad pennant on board the Wolverene.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Bendigo Independent says Midwinter keeps up his reputa-tion as a good cricketer at home, as is seen by the appearance of his name in the matches in which the County of Gloucestershire is engaged. In the match of Lancashire v. Gloucestershire he failed to score in thefirstinnings, but got 50in the second, the highest score made by anyone on his side. He bowled successfully too, viz , 25 maidens, 37 runs, 3 wickets, and counted Hornby, who was caught off him, amongst his victims. In this match W. G. Grace, whose old brilliancy seems to have departed, made 14 and one. It would appear as if the champion's love of the game had proved stronger than his resolve, which we heard about a season or two

ago.

It is an evidence (says the Insurance and Banting Record) of the abundance of money seeking invest-ment, that a considerable proportion of the increase in deposits of the Melbourne Savings Bank is in sums of £200 each or over. The total amount increased (30th June, 1884) was £287,054, and of this

£175,7eÍWloojitodepoaitorip|£W»aoh, I