MR. J. H. POPE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 230, 17 January 1877, Page 2

MR. J. H. POPE.

The Ballarat Representative tells a sad tale respecting Mr. Pope, late rector of tlie Ballarat College. Mr. Pope, it seems, was induced to throw up lucrative New Zealand engagements and emoluments and to go to tlie Ballarat College, and very shortly after his arrival the public learnt that Mr. Thomas, his coadjutor, had left the college, taking with him the bulk of the pupils and opening a private academy. It is said that Mr. Pope found his position so very different from what he had expected, that the circumstances began to prey adversely upon his mind. Tlie result was, whether accelerated or not by causes apart from scholastic experiences here, that the new rector's mind gave way, and he was compelled to seek the refuge afforded near the metropolis to persons similarly afflicted. After a residence at Kew for some time, his mental health was restored, and he returned to Ballarat ; but a few weeks ago his mind again gave way, and Mr. Pope is now at Kew, his medical attendants reporting very discouragingly as to his chances of regaining permanently the possession of his faculties. So sad a history would be sufficiently distressing if Mr. Pope were a singleman, but he has a wife, who, besides having a family of seven children, is soon to become a mother again, and she is at present almost stripped of resources. Considerable sympathy is naturally felt as well for Mr. Pope as for his worse; than widowed wife and fatherless children, and this is intensified by the allegations made to the effect that, unintentionally, no doubt, Mr. Pope was altogether deceived by expectations held out to him. The Dunedin Star adds that letters received by the mail on Monday last do not represent Mr. Pope's condition to be so bad as the above account would lead us to believe, and hold out hopes of his recovery.