LECTURE BY THE REV. MR BULL AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1401, 25 June 1881, Page 3

LECTURE BY THE REV. MR BULL AT CAMBRIDGE.

The Roy. Mr Bull delivered a very interesting lecture on'hja visit to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, and tfcej General Conference, • and ' what he, , flaw and heard there, in the Wesleyan Church Cambridge, on Monday evening lasb; r The Church was completely filled, and the loctnre was listened to throughout with manifest attention. Mr R. Reynolds occupied the chair. The lecturer, on coming forward, said he was extremely favored at meeting such an extensive audience there that night It was with very deep feelings of thankfulness he had returned to Cambridge. Nine weekß had just transpired since he had taken passage on the Ringarooma, and the same time had J elapsed since he last bade them farewell, j One of the chief things dreaded by people undertaking a voyage, was seasickness. He had anticipated this feeling by hearing a few remarks on the matter previous to his departure. Nausea was an illness not to be dreaded, as it was only for the time being it was felt, but; afterwards they felt decidedly better for it. After they had takeu passage, an incident happened on board, which was of a somewhat disagreeable character. A catholic priest named Father Ryan, and himself were having a quiet conversation to themselves on deck, when a person who was apparently under the influence of alcohol, approached them, saying, "There is Martin Luther, and here is the Pope of Rome." This brought their conversation to a close, and they retired for the evening to their cabins. He had felt aoiry when leaving New Zealand, it being the first time he had left it since lauding in the colony. Having called at Russel, they visited the several places of interest in that district. He had made a very perilous trip through the Bay of Islands in a small boat in compauy with several other goutlemen, and during this cruiae, visited Waitangi where the treaty was signed. During their stay in this port he had the pleasure of spending a very enjoyable tour in company with the late Captain Garrard with whom he walked to the flagstaff. The Captain ho said made an ascent to the very top of the flagstaff— a trip which he (the lecturer) did not care to undertake— and instead of coming down iv the usual way the daring sailor descended in a sea-man-like manner by one of the wire stays to the bottom. Having descended the 6teep hill together they both embarked in the little steam launch to their respective ships. When he parted with the Captain little did he think such a terrible fate awaited his friend as that which afterwards overtook him. It was rather dusk when they entered Sydney harbour, a place which was inexpressibly picturesque and paradise-like. The first thipg they heard after landing in Sydney, was that England's eminent stateinan, Lord Beaconsfield, was no more. The people of Sydney travelled principally in tramcars, over 182000 people having travelled by this means within a week. The first church he visited in Sydney was Saint James' which was erected on the sight of the old Court-house. The Church of England greatly preponderated in Sydney but there was nothing in the way of Ritualism existent there. He had spent a fpAV pleasant hours examing the Picture Galleries of Sydney as well as the other public buildings. In the matter of Cathedrals he would say that Saint Andrew's was the finest house of worship in Sydney. He had been told by a gentleman who had recently returned from Europe that the cathedral compared favorably with many of the continental structures, most of which he had seen. He had heard Canon Allwood preach one of the most excellent and impressive Gospel sermons, from the words ' ' I am the Good Shepherd and these are my sheep," in this church lie had ever listened to. The Jewish Synagogue was another imposing structuie which he visited. This edifice was capable, of accommodating 5000 persons, and cost £30,000. Throughout New South Wales the ministers were well proMded for in the mattter of stipends, and it was a general rule there that no ministor received less than £220 per annum. There was not one who received less, but a great number received more. In the Sydney papers he had come across some very curious advertisements of a pseudo-religious type, they consisted chiefly of challenges to scriptural debates. Ho had never seen such a lot of ill-looking faces as he saw in Sydney. These belonged to criminals of the worst type. One morning he enjoyed the privilege of sitting on the bench of the local Police Court. There were a lot of bad looking persons hanging about the audience gallery, whose faces were expiesshe of interest in the fate of the criminals m the dock, There were al^o numerous civil cases tried, a large number of which were for walking on the wrong side of the footpath. In one Court alone, a police inspector had prosecited in no less than a hunched cases in one morning. They also visited the old exhibition buildings from which they could command a view of the entire oity and harbor with its various little islets and the extensive ocean beyond, the whole constituting one of the prettiest sights he had ever gazed upon. The Agricultural Show was next visited, and he thought to himself when there that if some of his old Waikato friends, such as Mr E. B. Walker, Mr Reynolds, and others were there they could have enjoyed it a great deal better. One of the chambers in the Government Buildings was the prettiest and most richly arranged lie had ever seen. Amongst the many other places visiter! in and about Sydney was the Stranmore College,, a building which cost about £20,000, and was capable of accommodating several hundred students. In this college discipline was maintained with great exactness. The only two cases of a breach on record were frivolous indeed. One boy had been recreating himself on the banisters and had fallen over and broken his arm, and another youth had eaten sixty spiders for a wager ! Another place of importance in Sydney was the office of the Sydney Mornmg Herald, which was replete with every convenience, accommodation, and elegance, the whole internal structure being of the most sumptuous workmanship. After spending a few hours in the Mint they went to see the gaol at Darlin.ghur.Bt, a full description of which the lecturer entered upon. Everything was perfection in the gaol in the way of church matters,' schooling, labor, etc. In one cell one of Captain Moonlight's gang was chained, and the sight was really 'a ' pitiful one, the criminal being merely in 1 his boyhood. When he (the lecturer) had inquired into church'matters, attendance of clergymen, etc., he was extremely sorry to learn that'evary denomination was represented by a clergyman excepting 'the Wesleyana. But he was pleased to learn on further enquiry that none was needed, there being very seldom' any 1 inmates of that sect, ' The deaf, dumb, and blind institution was next visited. They viaitod the deaf and dumb 'department first. - The educational capabilities of the inmates' were paraded for their , inspections. One, boy whpm the teacher called came forward and wrote oil the blackboard. ' "I am John Thompson and I come from ■ Brisbane," whereupon 'another boy wag. called forward who without,any j instruct tion approached, the board and rubbing' out the "b", in s .',conje";, substituted the letter "a." The people of Sydney he thought were very ignorant of the geo«

sraphy and climate of New Zealand. Sottfe&kedff'itf'trAs cbW in! '' Auckland/ others if it was "warm/ ! Some did no£ ■ know whether Christohurch was at the head or foot of New Zealand $>r /where Dunedin was situated or whether Wellington existed or not,' lor euoh were the questions asked him on his visit to Australian colonies. ' He ' could 1 assure his learners no suchi ignorance prevailed amongst tho inmates of the deaf and dumb ? inBtitution as it , would be > difficult for well educated persona to puzzle them.. The lecturer, then described the new system of teaching recently introduced, by which the mutes could understand by the motion of the teacher's lips anything which was said to them. This system is, the " German" and i8 likely to be adopted in all such institutions. They were then shown over the* blind department, where numerous articles of handicraft were made. The" little ones ' jn ' this department ' were excellent' musicians some playing the organ magnificently. The visitors were treated to a few musical selections, which were superb, being delivered in perfect harmony. After this they spent a most enjoyable day among the orange groves of Paramata, and then they visited Albury, which is celebrated for its wines. The railway accommodation in New South Wales was far in advance of that of Now Zealand, the carriages being more roomy and comfortable, and the speed of travelling considerably greater. In going overland to' Victoria they ;had an 1 opportunity of seeing th' 6 remains of Mrs Jones' hotel, where the Kelly gang 1 took shelter, and' also Strathbogie Ranges, the scene of the daring exploits of that gang. The party also visited the Melbourne Exhibition, and the Zoological Gardens, the latter filled with all sorts of wild animals and reptiles. Brighton, was visited as well as the various other outlying towns, the picturesqueness of these places constituted one grand panorama of landscape scenery. Land in Melbourne, during his stay there, had sold for the enormous price of £465 per foot. With regard to comraercidl houses he would mention that of Messrs McEwcn and Son. As to banking institutions he found that the Bank of New Zealand was well-re-presented in Australia. The Union Bank of Australia wab the finest building of its class in Melbourne, but he would say that the beat in all the colonies was the Bank' of South Australia, in Adelaide, which was said to have cost over £60,000, In a certain part of Melbourne during a few hours in the afternoon, ladies of jashion paraded up and down the footway to exhibit their beauty and dress; but he Was convinced that better-looking persons would be found in Cambridge than he had seen there. When leaving the wharf at Sandridge, the Methodist congregation bade their farewell, singing "Tho sweet ' by-and-bye. They encountered rough weather on their way to Adelaide, where they landed and spent a very happy sojourn in that charming city. They then sailed for New Zealand via Hobart, where they landed after a few days sailing. The lecturer having enumerated the various advantages derivable from the Conference which he had attended along with the other New Zealand representatives, what was a very instructive and eloquent lecture camo to a close. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was then accorded, and alao votes of thanks to the chairman and the choir for their services throughout the evening. A collection was made at the close of the lecture.