CAPTAIN BARRY ON HIS RAMBLES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2348, 25 September 1880, Page 2

CAPTAIN BARRY ON HIS RAMBLES.

Since the indefatigable Capt. Parry disappeared from Timaru in an egg shower on Wednesday evening, he lias added considerably to his adventures. On Thursday, as we stated, he was busy at the Geraldine racecourse, buttonholing the sporting visitors, and selling tickets for his lecture that evening, at 2s. Later, on the purchasers felt themselves considerably “ sold ” when they discovered the lecture was to bo held at a schoolbousu one and a half miles off. Determined, however, that the lecture should come off they forcibly took possession of the bellman’s property, rang lustily through I he town, and proceeded in the direction of the school. After some searching - the captain was

found comfortably seated in an adjacent hotel, and with a. little persuasion and the exhibition of tickets, he was constrained to 'attempt his lecture. Mr Ham ;rsley ’presided, and between eggthrowing and interruptions, Captain Barry had a bad time of it for about an hour.

Last evening in accordance with announcement the venerable Ciptain lectured in the Volunteer Hall, Teinnka, Mr B iyd Thompson presided and the proceedings were very orderly till the loud shrill blast of an old coaching Imro, three and a half feet in length, outside the building announced the descent o! a now adliction. Another blast at the door and a company of strangers from Timaru representing the learned and monied professions dressed in costumes that might have done for a masquerade, marched in single lilo through the centre of the hall, and took their seats by themselves. As the lecturer’s eye lighted on some of the leading stars of the longjrobc in Tiuiaru, disguised in (he spoils of a recent supper, his voice began to falter, and his pule countenance grew visibly paler. The ghost of the murdered Banqno could have created no greater sensation than did three stalwart “ Choctaws ’ dres-ed with antimacassars for turbans, sashes of tablecloth, and bouquets as large as caulillowers tied to their coatg and [leading a mutely procession of other absurdly ornamented banquetcers“ fresh” from the races. The Captain, in a tremulous tone, addressing them, offered to read the Queen's letter. “ it’s a thundering imposition,” cried one “the letter’s only an acknowledgment of some of your books from the Queen’s private secretary.” Cries of “Turn him out,” and “Turn out the Timaru rowdies,” echoed through the room. A scene of uproar and confusion arose, a Teinnka man olferiug to turn out the intruders “ at 2s per head,’’while a Tiuiaru visitor ad vised him to settle with the undertaker before he tried the experiment. Order partially restored, the lecturer began explaining how he saw the Ticliborne Claimant at “ Fort Said ” (Port sea), when a voice called out “ Port Said is in Egypt old man ! You’re out of your reckoning Captain.” The lecturer became excited, grasped his papers nervously, and threw them down again, while renewed cries of “Turn them out! they didn't pay for admission,” rang from the Temuka side of the building. The Chairman rose to order. He deprecated the conduct of the Temuka residents as unkind. He maintained that the Timaru visitors had a right if they liked to question Captain Barry’s veracity. Captain Barry—Gentlemen, this is too had. Fin an old colonist, and a man of heducation. I was heducatcd at Paramatta school. A voice from a masquerader—-That’s another big one. It was the Paramatta gaol. (Laughter.) The lecture proceeded amidst occasional interruptions, till the captain got as far as Lord Roscbcrry’s estate, whim the breath was taken from him by an emphatic protest that at the lime referred to Lord Roscbcrry had not purchased the estate in question. “ Turn (hat man out !” cried the captain, and yells of “ make them pay ” “lock the doors, Ac,’’ followed. Au attempt was made to lock the doors,but they wore immediately thrust open. Finally the disorder culminated in jostling ; the captain picked up his travelling bag ; the chairman left (lie chair, and Capt. Barry, perched on tho shoulders of the crowd, disappeared in the direction of Coira’s Hotel. On (ho way his line satin hat disappeared from his head, and was trodden under foot. Temuka was now fairly in a stale of excitement,but (healarm was temporary, for shortly afterwards the horn sounded “gone away,” ami In i Timaru contingent, in King’s drag, driven by the host of the Crosvcnor, and piloted by the renowned General Mcßratucy, disappeared through the Temuka. river, leaving peace and quietude behind them.