THE REPEOPLING OF PALESTINE. Jerusalem is to be 'Boomed'—An American's Recelonisation Plans.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 307, 13 October 1888, Page 3

THE REPEOPLING OF PALESTINE. Jerusalem is to be ' Boomed '—An American's Recelonisation Plans.

TiiEitK arrived in London a few days ago a gentleman wcIL known in his own country — that is the United States — as the ' originator of the movement tor the redemption of Palestine' Ontheesc of Ins depaiture from New York the inevitable reporter called upon him, and thio is what he telegraphed to his paper, the * Chicago Globe ' : — • Dr. Sivartha ha& worked out caret ul plans tor the rebuilding of Jerusalem, with ils temples, public buildings, gates, and walls in harmony with the prophetic description of the Bible. The Jews proper will only form about one sixth ot the new population, the rest being English and Ameiican, and as soon as a sufficient mini ber of people aie theic to torm the nucleus ot a new nation, Dr. Sivartha expects th-it the Powers of Europe will unite in declaiing Palestine independent and national.' It bhould bs said that this Di. Sivartha's real name is Arthur Meiton, and that he is sometimes styled ' Rev.' and sometimes 'Dr.' Sivartha is a pseudonym by which he is known to the reading public of America. He is a doctor by piofesbion and a minister by election, and

His Ho'oby for Years has been this question of tho rebuilding ar^ the vepeopling of Jerubalem and the tloiy Land. For many years Chicago has been his> home, and the Chicagoans natmally follow the movements ot their iellow citizens \\ibh a good deal of interest, if alno — and paidonably — with some scepticism. For when a gentleman of 60 goes forth, without any backing, except that of his piivate friends, numerous though they may bo, on vhab appears to be a wild project to 10build an ancient city, and to repeoplo and recultivate a whole country, a little scepticism is allowable. If he were — what ho is not — a millionaire, it might be dilierent ; although a millionaire might throw all his dollars into such a speculation and not leave much mark. However, such is the case. Dr. Merton remains in London for a month or two, to look about and see what he can see and do, and then he goes straight for J erusalem, where he intends to settle and begin the work which he conceives it is his mission to fulfil. As stated by the reporter who interviewed him betore he sailed, the doctor has ' worked, oub careful plans for rebuilding' the city. The writer was allowed the privilege of examining one or two of his designs, which, while leaving something to bo desired to an unimaginative and unarchibectural mind, appear, certainly, to be

Picturesque Enough. But, apart from this detail, there can be Htfcle doubt fchab fche enterprising G'hioagoan lias given a great deal of attention to the subject of Palestine, both in regard to its past and in regard to its possible future. Jrle appears to have made a careful survey of the country, as far as that is possible from available maps, and from the works of the latest travellers and explorers. He will tell you in the course of a few minutes' conversation what are the natural products of the country, and what the climate ii 1 * calculated to produce — in other words, the products that might possibly be acclimatised there. He will tell you how much of tho country might be mado, it it is not now, available for the cultivation of wheat or other grain, how many bushels it should yield per acre, and its probable worth in ,the market. He has * calculated whab might be made of its

pasture lands and of its mineral wealth, lie has made an estimate of what it should produce annually in the way of camels, asses, sheep, goats, and doubtless, as a Chieagoan, of pigs also. In short, Dr. Merton had come to the conclusion — and this is the practical pomt — thai there is no reason why, provided capitalists can be induced to invest a little money in developing the resources of the country, Palestine should not become a thriving hive of industry, yielding everywhere a safe and bounteous return for the labour bestowed upon it, and finally take its place once more

Among the Nations of the Earth. ' When onco a few have been induced to embark in the enterprise he thinks the problem would be solved. For so soon as it has been shown thai capital may be expended in safety, and that it will yield a fair return, thousands will be ready to go and settle there, if only because of the wondrous history of the country and the tragic and yet glorious ptory connected therewith. His faith is based upon England and America. He hopes that from among ther tens of thousands of wealthy Christian men and women a few hundreds may bo induced to £o and take up their abode in Jerusalem and the country round about, and invest some of their surplus capital in real estate. That once done, he believes the rest is simple, and that, in the prevailing 1 slang of the Bourse and the bucket-shop, a tew years may &cc a veiitable ' boom ' in the ancient city. Or. Merton strikes the beholder at once as being

A Man of Mark. He is tall and spare of form, has a broad, expansive brow and mild though piercing eyes, and dresses in a costume of sober brown, of an antique Quaker-like cut and fashion. He is by no means energetic in his speech, but when he gets on to his favouiito subject, there is a tone of enthusiasm in it that readily makes you ' catch on ' to his subject, and partake somewhat of his inteicst therein. It striken most people who listen to him that he is either going to do a ' big thing — 77107 c Amei icano, or else fail in a big thing — also more Americano. The mixture of shrewdness and piety in the scheme is likewise quite American. The hardened cynic finds himself open to doubt whether there is in the ' originator of the movement tor the redemption of Jerusalem ' more of the Don Quixote, the William Pcnn, or the Phineas T — ; but time will tell.