PROCTOR, THE ASTRONOMER.

Manawatu Herald, 16 November 1880, Page 2

PROCTOR, THE ASTRONOMER.

» (Wangranui Chronicle.) Bat if we were impertinent in speaking of what Mr Proctor receives for his lectures, what must be said of his own bad manners, when, having puffed and drummed through the town that he would lecture on suc'u a night, suddenly and without reasonable excuse or apology changed his mind, and disappointed, not only . the townspeople, but those who had come from the country to hear him ? He would not dare to play such a tiiek to a London audience, for in that case public opinion would hit him very hard, and curtail his emoluments. He would not dare to attempt it at Parihaka, for the prophet of that fanatical stronghold would not improbably put him and his unblushing agent into the pot, and thus afford them an opportunity of practically testing the truth of the proposition that there are "more worlds than one." Hore in Wanganui—midway between civilisation and savagism — people do not let such an occurrence break their rest or disturb the even tenor of their way. They have borne the loss of the lectures with equanimity, and congratulate themselves on the fact that, though Mr Proctor can deprive an uudience of a promised evening's amusement, his ill-temper and bad manners will not enable him to puck up the sun, moon, and stars in his show box, and cake them 1 with him on his departure from Wan-' ' ganui. lie does not pay the Pioperty Tax on them, though in one sense the> are at present his stock in-trade, and the amount of towing down and worshipping, which has been lavished on him for some months could hardly have been exceeded if he had actually manufactured and patented the heavenly hose, instead of having merely studied them more earnestly and succebsfully and through a larger telescope than the generality of mankind. We respect him for his talents and his labours, and we trust he may long live to do much more service in the cause of science. But she is a modc&t damsel, at\d we confess a strong dis- '• like to the practice which Mr Proctor has inaugurated, or at least carried to lengths never to our knowledge at- * tempted befoie, of heralding the approach of her votaries by a persistent course of drummingand puffing, which goes well with motley, but seems sadly out of place in connection with tho sago's gown.

Josh Hillings, writing ftom. instinct says: — •' To avoid alUtfenble ov law suits from lneirs and others, i have koncluded to administer mi own estate by spending it az i go along."