The Hon. John Bryce Burnt in Effigy.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4279, 18 September 1882, Page 2

The Hon. John Bryce Burnt in Effigy.

The Native and Defence Minister was consigned to flames, per proxy, by the Parihaka contingent on. Saturday night. Shortly after 8 o'clock the procession started from near the Goods Wharf. A band of some dozen small boys bearing tin drums were the head and front of the offenders. Next followed a strong body of youthful torch bearers, to light the perpetrators of the deed to the scene of its execution. Then came the central figure of the pageant —death on a pale-horse. Mounted on a milk-white steed, furnished as a token of affection for the rider, by Jack Connell, rede the Hon. John Bryce, in effigy, "Like a .leader, in the land." He wore a light tweed suit, a black low crowned felt hat, and his Jong beard wared gracefully when breathed upon by the gentle'evening zeypher. He bore himself like a skilful equestrian, and presented a courageous aspect, his attitude being that of-one disdainfully indifferent to his surroundings, and capable of launching forth into the great ocean of the Unknown with a brave heart. He looked e?ery inch a man, and it was difficult to realize that the horse's burden was after all but straw, pitch, and gunpowder j inanimate and unconscious matter, so skilful had the effigy makers proved themselves. Side by side with the chief of their department, walked Sergts. O'Grady and McGrath and several constables. As in duty ,bound, in conformity with the solemnity and importance of the occasion, their' countenances were elongated as with grief; they seemed doomed never to smile again. But although outwardly sad, no doubt they rejoiced inwardly, and each would fain have contributed a match to burn up the man who was as careful to reduce their already scanty pittance as to vote himself £300 for extra services, though when and where tho»e services were rendered are still numbered amongst the mysteries as yet unreveaied. Close upon the heels of - the hero of the bloodless field of Parihaka followed a small but busy band of tin whistlers. Throughont the proceedings the music was plentiful; sometimes the drummers drummed, at other times the whistlers whistled, and occasionally the drummers drummed and the whistlers whistled harmoniously together. The music was altogether too high class for the ear of the uninitiated to fully appreciate, hut we are indebted to an intense aesthetic, to whom we feel duly grateful, for ihe precious knowledge that the principal melodies were the " Rogues' March " and the "Dead March in Saul." After the players upon the instrument came the Parihaka Contingent, in mufti, first in fours, then in two deep, to the number of about two hundred good men and true. As for the spectators, their name was legion. As the procession passed along the principal streets to Butt's Corner, at Shortland, it was accompanied by an immense throng of men, women, and children, each vicing with the other in exhibiting detestation of the man who had cheated and slandered the Thames Volunteers. The hooting and hissing was frequent and.hearty, breaking out into fresh outbursts, at intervals. And the proceedings^-jjvere., .further enlived by "crackers . and squibs Hying around in profusion. 1. From Shortland the pageantreturnedtoGrahanistown, proceeded along Abraham street, and up the Waiotahi Creek. Here the road became rough, narrow, rutty, and unpleasant,! if not dangerous. The further they went the worse it became, and yet the multitude kept bravely on. Sometimes the lights would be dimly visible, occasionally hidden by a bend in the track, often the banks of the creek were in perilous proximity to pedestrians, and mad holes were numerous. But all these obstacles were as nothing to the eager sight - seers. Finally, the procession turned up a hill, and bad as the road already ' traversed had been, it was excellent com-; pared to that which now presented itself. But on they pressed, and at last after a weary march, a plateau at the foot of : Messenger's Hill, commanding, a good view of the township underneath and the Gulf of Hauraki, stretching away iv the far distance, was reached. A halt was made. This was the place which had been selected for the execution of the horrible deed at the dread time approaching the midnight hour. But what excited the admiration of the writer was the enthusiastic order of the ladies. They " stayed not for brake nor stopped not for stone," but determinedly persevered to be "in at the death." Some half-dozen were close to his elbow. Although they were

Prettily pattering, cheerily chattering, Everyday young girls, and no doubt would have preferred toffee to the tulip or even the lily, they ceis tainly were intense, that is, if the intense and sesthetical be not one and indivisible, and the charmed admirer heard them sing through the medium of his mind's ear, In a melancholy train, Two and two wo walk this w&y, Hato of Bryce who now doth reign, Lied about our.sweethearfcs' pay, Who can only sigh and say, Woe ia me a«lack-a day, Yes, we go for hate of theb, Several love sick maidens we. There they were the little darlings, ia the transcendenlality of delirium, in an acute accentuation of supremest ecitacy, but much more after the modal of Patience the milkmaid than the Lady Angela notwithstanding. Once halted no time j was lost; a circle was formed comprising almost a thousand persons, and in the centre stood John Bryce, on horseback, alone but undismayed. The master of ceremonies, Mr W. Coles, then asked if the spirit had moved anyone to deliver a funeral oration, but the Parihaka con tin:gent were of the stamp of Miles Standish,. the Puritan Captain of Plymouth, men of action not words, and the only reply was a volley of hoats and hisses. The word " Prepare for action was passed along the line, and speedily poor John Bryce lay prone upon the ground. The war horse was led away, for the tenderhearted Parihakaites would not risk hurting his feelings by compelling him to witness the. sad fate of his master; the crowd stood back; the'match was applied. Not a moment's saspence ensued; John Bryce instantly flared up as if revelling in having entered into a congenial state* The curtain rose upon the crowning act of the tragedy at 10 p.m. punctually; the victim burned, spluttered, burst, and was no more ; at 10.5 the drop-scene fell,, and.the spectators departed to their respective homes,