CAPTAIN WILLIAM JACKSON BARRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2418, 29 October 1892, Page 2

CAPTAIN WILLIAM JACKSON BARRY.

We are glad to announce that the distinguished colonist whose name heads this paragraph is improving rapidly, and was yesterday able to dress himself and walk about. He has had a very severe attack of rheumatic gout, which has pulled him down considerable, but his indomitable pluck has got him through it, and in a few days he expects to be as well as ever. Rheumatic gout is the only ailment from which he has ever suffered. He has been in wars and battles, and bears the marks of several saber cuts and other wounds, but never has been in the hands of doctors, although he is now in his 74th year. The captain has led an adventurous life, and has had many an escape from death by flood and field. He was born in the village of Melbourne, in England, and assisted to build the first house in Melbourne, in Australia, in 1835. He was in the King Country, North Island, in 1837, and remained their 14 months, during which time he narrowly escaped being eaten by cannibals. He had to marry a Maori woman, and after 14 months escaped on board a whaler, which took fire, and he was for 16 days in an open boat in midocean, when he was picked up. He visited California in 1849, and has also been in many other countries, including India. Over 30 years ago he came to New Zealand, and was Mayor of Cromwell, in Otago, three years in succession. An amusing incident occurred during his occupancy of the Mayoral chair of Cromwell. During his absence the Council passed a vote of censure on him, and at the next meeting he asked who did it. One of the Councillors said he did, and down he went before a welldirected blow. In order to escape further molestation he fled through a window,

and then Captain Barry asked who seconded the motion. Not one in the room would apknowjedge liac| donp and the remainder of the meeting passed oil’ in peace and quietness. In 1882 he visited the King Country where he spent fourteen months in early life, and had many friends amongst whom was the I native king, the distinguished chief Rewi, and others. He then discovered some minerals there, but, not knowing what they were,took very little notice of them. Last year he went back there again and made very valuable discoveries. He says there are mountains of tin, silver, antimony, and splendid coal, which will make firstclass coke, there. He has with him splendid samples of these minerals, and he is now on his way to England to float a syndicate to work the mines. He asserts that there is untold mineral we-dth iu the King Country, and that the land up there is magnificent, being the most delightful country he has ever been in, He has secured a large area of land there, some of it from the Government and some from the Natives, and asserts that within two years the world will be ringing with the wondrous wealth of the King Country silver mines. Fortunes will bo made there rapidly, and New Zealand will progress by leaps and bounds, Captaih Bariy also says that there is a great, deal qf splendid agricultural land in the King Country, and that there is a great future before is. Captain Barry has decided to give one lecture in Temuka next Thursday evening, in aid of the funds for building additions to the Catholic School, and we are pronpsed a real treat. Captain Barry has a scrap - book as large as a family bible, filled with most flattering criticisms of his lectures. In England h (! was the lion of the season there, having the honour of a personal audience with the Queen. Ho also lectured in most of the towns iu England, Exeter Hall being crowded when he lectured ttyere,