The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-10-20 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ZEALAND.—The Munkin arrived at Sydney on the 27th of May from Auckland, whence she sailed on the 14th of that month. Previous to the sailing of the Munkin from that port, intelligence had been received of a murder having been committed by the natives in the district of Wanganui. The scene of the crime was the country section belonging to Mr Gilfillan, who, with his daughter, a girl of 15 years old, of all his family, alone escaped, and they were both badly wounded. Besides sacrificing Mrs Gilfillan and three of her children, the natives had burnt their house to the ground. Five of the party were shortly afterwards captured, and were committed on the charge. From what had transpired, little doubt remained of their guilt; and, as the district of Wanganui continued under martial law, a military commission was to be held on the 22d of April for their trial. [We are afraid that the above refers to the family of Mr John Gilfillan, lately Professor of Drawing in the Andersonian Institution in this city, who resigned his appointment in the summer of 1841, and emigrated to New Zealand as a settler. In Glasgow his position was an honourable and respectable one; but, being a man of enterprise and energy, he abandoncd it, in the hope of earning a better inheritance for his young and numerous family in this much-lauded colony in the Southern Seas. Mrs Gilfillan, who, with her little ones, has met so deplorable a fate, was a native of this city—accomplished and educated. Mr Gilfillan was a fair lt.ndscape painter, and some of his sea pieces have been much admired.]  NEW AND Novitt, Latirsost.—On Saturday last we witnessed the launch of an iron schooner, of 180 tons bather', from the New Quay at Hyde Park. It was the third that had been launched the same week. It was built by Mr William Napier, lien., conveyed from the yard in Washington Street to the quay, sod their launched broadside-ways over the breast into the river. It was named the " Colsuem" by Miss M.Phee. The plan proved in every respect very successful and went off In grand style. Their are other five in course of construction by the same builder, to be the property of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company.  WorriNo.-rThe Anderaonian University has had the honour of claiming as its Professors some of the ablest and the best in their respective professions, In Natural Philosophy it has had a Garnett, a Birkbeck, a Ure, and a Wilson ; in Chemistry it has had Ure, Gregory, Graham, and Penny; and in the Medical Science it has evolved the reigning talent of the age. In the Arts it has not been less successful. It has had its Wilson—a gentleman, who although quite unobtrusive in private life, has gained for himself laurels which are not likely to fade, and in various sciences has secured an undying fame. Among the other accomplishments taught at this University is that next to reading, the art of writing; and if ever writing was an art it is so in the hands of Professor Long. It is a mistaken idea that a good writer cannot make a good writer, bat we beg to Bay, that so far as we are cognisant of Mr Long's powers, he can do more—be can make the worst writer the best in a very short time—his own writing being almost inimitable.— Constitutional.