LECTURE ON "AFRICA"

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 413, 23 October 1889, Page 5

LECTURE ON "AFRICA"

Auckland, October 19. The Rev. J. S. Hill delivered an interest ing and instructive lecture on "Africa" last, night in the V.M.C.A. lecture hall. Sir William Fox presided. The lecture was illustrated by a series of limelight views, Mr C. E. Button manipulating the apparatus. Thelecturerina chatty manner described the natural features of the Dark Continent, and, referred to native customs, village life, the rum trade, the traffic in slaves, and mission life. He mentioned that in the Sierra Leone churchyard there were over fifty missionaries buried. lie considered that Africa was the coming continent for immigration. Hitherto little had been known of this great country, but recently the interior had been reached by means of its four great livers, the Niger, Nile, Congo, and the Zambezi, also by- the minor rivers, amongst which was the Orange .River, celebrated for the diamonds discovered in its vicinity. Mr Hill 'statie'd that he was the first missionajy appointeobfor the Victoria Nyanza station by the Church Missionary Society. As, however, he knew nothing of navigation; Lieutenant Smith offered himself for the duty,- wasaccepced, and was shot dead by mistake for another man, while crossing the lake in the little vessel. The-views.were very interesting, including various scenes ' in " African village life, heads of the people, 1 tools, musical instruments, implements of war, rounding up cattle, fording rivers, and many other pleasing scenes. At the close of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Hill. >iJ