CAPTAIN BARRY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2363, 13 October 1880, Page 2

CAPTAIN BARRY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Last night at the Academy of Music, Captain Jackson Barry gave, or rather attempted to give his lecture on fifty, two years’ colonial experience. There was a fairly numerous audience. Mr William Wilson having been voted to the chair stepped upon the stage, and, in a few mellifluous sentences, introduced Captain Jackson Barry. The Captain on rising to begin his lecture, was received with cheers and a remark from an excited gentleman in the circle, “Letsh (hie) hear the Queensh letter.” After some little time Captain Barry got well under weigh with his early life and experiences, At the end of the whale story some of the audience began to throw a number of eggs. The first of these narrowly escaped the Captain, lodging behind* against the scene, with an ominous sound. Then came a dropping shower of eggs, but the Captain true to his colours, did not flinch. The chairman however, deeming discretion the better part of valour, veiled his blushes discreetly behind a pot plant which was on the table.

Captain Barry, boiling over with righteous indignation, gesticulated liercoly at the audience, and finally made his exit at the wing, making gestures of contempt.

The Chairman then said that for thirteen years he had always been listened to with profound attention at public meetings in Christchurch, because he was one of the most fluent speakers in the colony. [The gentleman in the circle : “ Readish the Queen’s lettersh.”] Was it the pleasure of the audience that Captain Barry should be heard ? [Cries of “ Yes, yes.”] The Captain then returned, and said that he considered it a disgrace to Canterbury that a grey-haired man should be treated the way he had been. Speaking of what he had done for the working classes, “I have persuaded no one,” said the Captain, “to break hup their ’omes on one hundred and twenty platforms in that country. There’s not one of yon, hold or young, as will say houtsido this ’all, Captain Barry I

tbrowed a hegg at yer. I stopped a hegg a coming from one of the would be leading men, and believe you me I’ll ’avc yon hup for it.” [The gentleman in the circle—“ Read ush the Quecnsh letters!),”] This haudience ia not worthy reading it to even. You have had your sport, now I’ll ’ave mine. Good night.” So saying, the Captain struck a melodramatic attitude at the first entrance on the prompt side and went off, exclaiming, in deep tragedy tones worthy of Mr C. Burford, “ You are hall a lot of curs.” The green curtain was then lowered and the proceedings terminated.— “ Press.”