Walking Round the World.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 47, 15 April 1899, Page 2

Walking Round the World.

Mr O. B.iinbridge, M.A., novelist, who is engaged in the self-imposed task of waiting round the woild, arrived in Waimate on Wednesday evening," accompanied by his pnvate seeietary. He has contiacted to walk lound a distance of 60,000 miles within six yeais. Mi Bainbudge is dressed in the pictuiesque Bulgarian costume and weais his hair long, his costume and geneia,] demeanour marking him as an individual of moie than ordinary importance. In converbation with a leporter of the Advertiser, he mentioned that he left St. Martin's Le Grand, London nearly five years ago, to procuie mateiial for a thiee volume work of travel which he will illustiate himself. He crossed over to France, and duiing his long pilgiimage he has passed through Italy, Spain, Geimany, Denmark, Norway, Servia, Russia, Bulgaiia, Eoumania, Buimah, Siam, Cochin China, Japan, Gilbert Islands, Fiji, Africa, and Australia. He has met with many strange advenkues, having been ariested as a spy in Turkey, tortuied in Russia, foe staking an officer, and lost in India. He is, however, very little the worse, Mr Bainbridge claims kinship with the peerage. He has several private wagers in connection with the result of his tour. He was accompanied as far as Australia by his dog "Barry Moore." His outfit consists 6f a maointosh, diaries, refeiences, an extra suit of clothes, and a revolver. He is author of several novels, " That Eustic Queen of Roses," " Through a Friend," and " Marion," and songs, " I'll Remember Thee," and " I'll Love Thee," and a drama, " Esna." Throughout his tour, he conducts a series of lectures, illustrated by lightning sketches, depicting his journeyings. In this department he has achieved a high reputation. He visited both Waimate schools on Thursday morning, and gave a brief and instructive speech on educational subjects. He also gave an exhibition of lightning sketches on the blackboard. In the evening, he lectuied in the Oddfellows' Hall to a fair audience. Mr Bainbridge speaks well of the people and prosperity of New Zealand, as far as he has gone. The climate, he says, is superior to that of any of the Australian colonies. He left Waimate on Friday morning, proceeding through New Zealand, thence to Samoa* Honolulu, America, Ireland, Scotland, and home.