"A TWELVEMONTH'S TRAVELS."

Temuka Leader, Issue 2262, 3 October 1891, Page 2

"A TWELVEMONTH'S TRAVELS."

On Thursday evening the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, of Timaru, gave a lecture in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, in aid of the St. Saviour's Sunday School Building Fund. There was only a meagre attendance. Prior to the commencement of the lecture the Rev. Mr Hamilton expressed regret that bo few people were present to' hear so interesting a lecture as that to be given by the Archdeacon. He supposed that people were surfeited with information just now, or only cared to put in an appearance when no admission was charged. He was glad, however, to see bo many church people present, and they would feel that by their attendance they had added a plank or two to their parish, room. The Ven. Archdeacon then commenced his lecture, which was reallyia descriptive narrative of a pleasant sojourn; in Italy. He commenced by saying that" he had always longed to see that country, and when he took his trip Home last year he managed to spare twelve weeks in Italy and the Alps., In company with some friends he travelled, chiefly in vehicles, through a large district, and had opportunites of seeing the country under various aspects. Italy was very much like New Zealand, It was similar in respect to its mountain ranges, had a wind closely resembling the nor'-westers, but the country was dry and deficient in water. He hardly saw a running stream. Rivers there were like the Po, Tiber, and Adige, grand pieces of water, but subject to heavy floods, but no pleasant creeks. The want of these was made up for by irrigation. All Italy was cultivated by spade husbandry, and it looked like a great garden. There were no live fences and no foliage trees. One could see large areas planted with vines and mulberry trees, and amongst them a lot of beds almost like those in which asparagus is grown and little water channels around them. Here crops were grown an 4 harvested by hand in a most primitive fashion. At first it seemed very strange' but one could not but realise what a tremendous amount must be produced., Vines were grown everywhere, either on espaliers or stretched from tree to tree. . Everyone drank the red wine .of the country. It was harsh but wholesome. I Tea was unknown except to invalids* coffee being its substitute. In the course of his travels the Archdeacon made acquaintance with a variety of foods, preparations of maize, mashed chestnuts, maccaroni, etc., all cooked with olive oil, 1 strange to the'palate at first, but very wholesome and nice. The national costume was gradually falling into disuse, and Manchester goods were observable everywhere. The men, however, invariably wore a large blue cloak, and carried an umbrella. Even the navvies, when going to work carried these protections, and they seemed afraid both of sun and wet. The women wore no head covering. An amusing description was given of the treatment of babies, who are kept strapped upon a board until they are about eleven months old. It was handy in its way as they could be stood against the wall, but the lecturer hardly thought, it good for their health. They were released once a week. The custom was a very old one, as shown by a picture of the Nativity, painted over 400 years ago, where our Saviour was represented in » similar fashion. Some amusing descriptions were given of the manners of the j people, their civility, superstitions, and so I forth. The prevalence of beggars, some of them great swells in their way, was remarked upon, and some amusing stories told about them, after which some excellent views were shown by Mr Wilcocks by means of a magic lantern. It had been hoped that the oxy-hydrogen light could have been used, but the gas could not be brought out. The pictures, however, were clear and beautiful. The light having been put out, our reporter's notes were of the briefest, but the Archdeacon gave. a nice sketch of Rome, the oldest city in the world, There could be found relics of 3000 years before Christ. Ruins of the • Etruscan period, of the time of Romulus and Remus, of Christian Rome, and of the mediaeval. Attention was drawn to ant obelisk, 101 ft. high, of solid granite, which was brought over from Egypt. This was of the time of Rameses, and must have been gazed upon by Moses . and the Children of Israel. The city contained 417,000 people, and the old walls were 13 miles, in length. There were 28 old gates. • The Tiber has a length of 3£ miles within the walls. It is a fine river, but subject to floods, and has been known to rise 62ft. Then followed a description of a pagan temple, then of St. Peter's, the largest building in the world. In front is an obelisk. 80ft. high, brought from Egypt. The erection of this took 100 men, 148 horses, and 40 cranes. The pillars of the portico are all of marble, 90ft. high, and 9ft. through at the base. The dome is 440 ft. high. The cost of the building was over £12,000,000 sterling. The size of the building it was almost impossible to conceive, for it was so difficult to make comparison witli familiar objects. The interior of the building was described, the high altar, the monuments, the crypt in, which the bones_ of St. Peter, aaid possibly of St. Paxil, are deposited. The beautiful marble pillars, all in single pieces, and brought originally from African quarries, were descanted upon, and the roof of gold mosaic was described Some beautiful pictures of statuary were shown, among them being the tomb of Gregory XHI., by Ganova* also Michael Angelo's celebrated sculpture of Moses. The prophet is represented in a sitting posture. The carving is 25ft. high, and all of beautiful white marble. Another beautiful tiful statue was that of the Laocoon. Then followed views and descriptions of the Vatican, that magnificent building which was commenced in the Bth century. It contains 4400 rooms, 8 grand! staircases, and 200 smaller ones. In it are the richest treasures in art, and the oldest manuscripts in existence. There may be seen the earliest copy of Virgil, the manuscript on vellum of the Bible written in 321 A.D., and quite clean and fresh. The oldest Hebrew edition is also there, and strangely enough, the love letters of Henry VIII, and Ann Boleyn. Many other pictures were shown, the series ending with a representation and description of the St. Gothard tunnel. At the close of tlie lecture very hearty votes of thanks wore passed to the Archpeacon and Mr Willeooks for their kind* sew. and th« aiiuienqp djsj*r«ed;