A "TRAVELS" ADDRESS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1911, Page 3

A "TRAVELS" ADDRESS

BY A SHANNON MINISTER

(Reported by Our Shannon Representative.) The Rov. J. .Maeken&ie, under the auspices of the Shannon Literary and Debating Society, Inst night, £avo an address ou "My -travels. Mir Selby occupied tlile chair, and introduced the speaker in a Ivutmorous speech. The rev. gentleman, on rising, was accorded a hearty round of applause. He sketched the route lie bad. fo - lowed, and the, countries lie visited, viz., Australia, Fiji, Britisli Columbia. Canada. America, hnglaml, Scotland. The vegetation, peoples and the commercial pursuits in each country were vividly described. Iho description of Fiji was of a very ;n----texesting character. The American charges were the subject of comment" otic light meal casting sin shillings. Vancouver and its parks, .with fine trees, were elaborately dealt with. T-he trip across Canada and all the sights on the way. including the Rocky Mouitains, Cascade, etc.. were brightly outlined by the speaker. The prairie towns and the •of unbroken flat and the lovely appearance .appealed to the imagination of the audience us the desolation of desolation. A number ot Canadian towns were passed through, including Toronto, which he consulered a very beautiful town. Niagara which has been so 'often described, and its electric power stations were dwelt upon. The different ivationaliteis eongrri*ating at a hotel table in America showed how oommnpolitan was that country. _ .. The Sunday Schools' Convention jit '"Washington and a n-mnber "of the individuals of different nationalities who attended in their capacity as delegates were described in detail. Amongst these were even a Koran, a Zulu and a Brazilian. _ The systematic manner in which \meriean cities were laid out was favourably commented on. One ot the stores, which covered 45 acres, was a subject of wonder by the audience: but when the speaker drily said this was lieina: acTtletl to. the audience was really tickled. Hie description of Sunday school life and Church life in an American village was humorously described. Ihe names of the villagers were very amusing. , f The divorce laws and social lite ot \meriea were the subject of animadversion. Tn the prohibition States he never saw anv sign ot drunkenness. The " b10w.112 ot the American was toMched upon in nn amusing manner. The trip across from America to Eglaiul was an interesting trip. Liverpool -ami all its squalid poverty were tully pourtrayed. London and' its world Were touched on ; some on the sights and places of interest were touched on. In Scotland, Edinburgh. Stirling Lithgow and other places were visited. Cambridge University was described at length. The -poorness of the outlook for the people struck the speaker verv much, and he described many of the dwellings ami the homes and the ?mallness of the and it appeared to him there was no room for hope to anything better. He illustrated the doings of thie ladies at elections. The address was very instructive and at times humorous nature, and the speaker was listened to thromhont with rapt attention. A hearty vote, of thanks to the speaker was parried by acclamation and prolonged applause