DONALD MACDONALD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 17 September 1900, Page 2

DONALD MACDONALD.

; A keil bumper houso greeted Mr. » Donald Macdonald on Saturday eveni ing-, when he gave his long-looked-for i lecture on the seige and relief of Ladyi smith. It says a good deal for Mr. i Macdonald's popularity wheii we say ■ that nearly every one who had the pleasure of hearing him on Friday , evening was present on Saturday even- ■ ing. The story (f this now historical and famous - oige, one which has brought i so much honor and credit to General White for his determined stand, and to Geneial Bullet- for the dogged way in , which he forced his way through an i almost impossible country, was told in ; vo. y graphic terms by Mr. Macdonald, and one realised for the first time how i one became used to the daily routine and monotony of seige life and com- , paratively callous of the danger and suffering caused thereby. It is aston- ; tarnishing, also, how many humourous incidents arise even out of i :l.j mo.-t tragic occurrences. Indeed,! , :!. .0 -ww times when we could have • ! ■' ,; ''' ! "'•"• '■"'■■"fi-tr left out, so painful '', ■" •' '■•'■■ ■ ' ■' ■ ■■;; sol which they ■ 'i ■ "• ■ : : v:i' : .ii-igs endured • ■■: ' ' : . ; : .'j ,■'■'!;ic iiy tllO pic- ■:■■' .iJi'iy growing •■.: '.i no less than !, i. !i-h' ail duo to 1 ■'■'-■' - ...! '-.rivation, The ■■''■ •■•!']'■, when relief : •.'.;.,:.; : v,.;i.,k and foible ! '- : ' :: ' ' t'"ii-i -.■: o;:.. in their first '--■" a■' j : 'V at ~'■:■■!!ef and cheered Sir ' •ieor.;c Whiw for the way ha had cond.ieved the defence was a splendid piece ■ : - ■■■■] pivvitf;-■•. imd a splnndid. testi- ;.•;... to tiiitt. .x..vo oDicer. During ( '■'■■'.<.< ivenjng iiuiiie very good lantern ;

ing the various projectiles thrown into Ladysmith by the Boers in tho courso of the siege, were especially interesting, so also some shell ca?es, exhibited by Mr. Macdonald on a table on the stage, enabled the audience to realise the ' characters of the shells, pompoms, etc., ; with which the besieged had to con- : tend. The manner in which an out- ■ burst of applause followed periods of : almost breathless gilenee showed in a very marked way how the interest of the audience was excited. On all sides regret is expressed that Mr. Macdonald is unable to give New Plymouth another visit, as, we understand, hiseagagements elsewhere render this impossible,