DONALD MACDONALD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 13 September 1900, Page 2

DONALD MACDONALD.

Donald Macdonald, tho popular Australian war correspondent, is upon a dying tour of New Zealand. lie will arrive by the Rotoiti, from Auckland, 1 and appear at the Theatre Royal tomorrow (Friday) evening, when iu view of the very great popularity and success achieved by Mr. Macdonald in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland, a crowded and enthusiastic audience is assurred. The opening lecture is entitled " Scenes and Sensations of Battle," and in commenting on same the Argus says:—" Tlie eflect noticeable on the audience during tho evening were remarkable. For instance, when Mr. Macdonnlcl told come story of a narrow escape, his touch was so true to nature that a distinct' whish ' ran through the audience as everyone took in a quick breath through halfclosed lips, and involuntarily drew sharply back in the seat. Tbis was especially the case when he related how a shell went whizzing between a man's face and the mirror at which he was shaving. Again, when descriptions were given or the manner in which shells came unexpectedly, and swept oil' men's arms or legs, all the men clinched their teeth hard and sounded a guttural ' ooo.' Mr. Macdonald was at his best in depicting the gloomy dismay and semi-savage melancholy which settled on everyone in Ladysmith when, after listening for days to the distant booming of Sir Redvers Buller's guns, in a state of nervous aoxiousnoss, those guns ceased, and yet no relief came. His description, too, of the sufferings from sickness and starvation was amongst his finest work. On the other hand, when he ga?e a brief humorous sketch of a score of men trying to catch a blue buck, when the pinch for food was severe, and told how they closed round the animal with the certain knowledge that it was in the centre of the ring, and then suddenly found that it was outside at the back of them, everybody roarei with laughter, and showed a tendency to jump about in their seats." The New Plymouth seas an is limited to the two lectures.