THE HON. MAJOR RICHARDSON'S LECTURE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 30 October 1869, Page 3

THE HON. MAJOR RICHARDSON'S LECTURE.

A lecture, in aid of the Church of England fund, was delivered by the Hon. Major Hiohardson on Wednesday evening in the Athenaeum hall. The attendance fell short of what might have been anticipated : but we regret to say this is too often the case in Lawrence when the entertainment is of an intellectual character. The Warden was elected, chairman, and introduced the lecturer, who proceeded to give an instance of practical colonization, as shown by Captain Montague, formerly Colonial Secretary for Tasmania and Cape Colony. He described, in glowing terms, the career of a. man whose sole object was the public weal — who, undisturbed by the clamour of the vulgar, and uncorrupted by the filthy applause of the multitude, pursued with unswerving fortitude the path of honour and rectitude. He described how Captain Montague, by a judiciously restricted system of immigration, by a humane yet far from sentimental discipline of the convict population, by the encouragement of road making, and by increasing the facilities for the admin istration of justice, raised the Cape Colony from a state of financial depression aud general stagnation to a comparatively prosperous condition. The lecture was throughout listened to wibh the greatest interest, frequent bursts of applause showing how thoroughly it was appreciated. Mr. Keen, on behalf of the Church Committee, moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer. Major .Richardson replied. He said he had been agreeably surprised by the progress of Lawrence since his last visit. He told the story of his first visit : how, when Gabriel Reia,""" with a generosity seldom if ever paralleled, had placed his discovery at the disposal of the Government, he (the Major), as Superintendent of the province, had started to visit Tuapeka. He described the perils of his passage over Maungatua, which, happened at the time to be covered with snow, and which was intersected with innumerable crab holes, making riding neither a pleasant n^r an easy task. On the speaker's arrival, he tried his hand at washing for gold, wibh a success similar to that which has attended all his efforts in that way, namely, lots of gravel, but no gold. He was, however, reconciled to his want of success by observing several parties of good colonists practising the art with greater success than had attended his efforts. At the time of his first visit there was little difficulty in getting, but considerable doubt about the transmission of the gold, and nothing would satisfy the miners but that the lecturer should undertake the care of the first escort. He consented, and, mounted on a cart-horse, proceeded on his journey. One of his companion reached Tolsomairiro before him, with the news that " the Major was clane bate ! " and "elanebate" the Major certainly was, as the jouraey was performed under decidedly difficult circumstances. Major Richardson concluded by reminding the youthful generation of the heroic and spotless man after whom the township was named. Sir Henry 'Lawrence, , whose name was not less illustrious for heroic daring and statesman-like sagacity than for practical benevolence, afforded an example and a pattern worthy of being kept continually before the minds of the young. Major Richardson was loudly cheered on the conclusion of vis interesting speech. With the usual vote to the chair the proceedings terminated.