LECTURE BY BISHOP COWIE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2010, 26 May 1885, Page 2

LECTURE BY BISHOP COWIE.

His Lordship Bishop Couio delivered a li'cturc on " Our Present Trouble in Indi.i and Afghanistan," at tho Public H.dl, Hamilton, last night. The ehiir was occupied by the Bey. R. O'C. Biggn, Incumbent of St. Peter's, and there was a fur attendance. His Lordship commenced by referring to the Soudan Campaign, which he considered to bo drawing to a closo, England having no fmthet object to attain in that country. H. npplandod the came pursued by the (Jovorninent in evacuating the Upper Nile country when tho lcscue of General (Jordon was no longer possible, and de pitcatod the outcry of vengeance upon the Mahdi. The Right Rev lecturer thru bi if fly sketched the history of the Ru-si in advance from the Caspian, through Turkost.ui, to the border of Afghanistan, and detailed tho circumstances which led up to tin- present difficulty in that quarter of the globe. He did not believe that Russia entertained any aggressive designs upon the Indian Empire, but at the lame time it >v.vs in tho highest degree necessary that England should be on her guard. Tho bent way to secure peace wan to be prepared for war. A description of Herat and the people of tho country was given, and the difficulty of moving armies about was clearly illustrated by several incidents. His Lordship pointed out that one of tho chief sources of danger to our Empire in the East lav in the fact that of the 2r>0,000,0002 r >0,000,000 people of India, 50 000,000 vero of tho Mahommedan race, and therefore oppoiod to tho English and the English (!o\ eminent. Were tho Russians to make overtures to these people gieat tiouble might ensuo. Another causo of apprehenmon lav in tho circumstance thnt liiinv of the semi-independent Princes of India had well drilled and well appointed armifH of their own, but thiH danger was more »|> parent than rral, inasmuch as tho said princes were by no means unanimous On the whole the Bishop considered tint the outlook in the East was pacific, though no ono could tell whata day would bring forth. His Lordship wan fiequently applauded, and the lecture was listened to with the closest attention. During intervals adoubloquaitette party tendered the following part songs, under tho c-onductorship of MrTempler :— " Tho New Yeai," "Rwwt tuui Law," "Venetian ltontmnn'H Evening Song," and " Hii-.li Thee My Baby." A voeil solo wax also contributed by a lady amateur. Thoaccoinpamments weio pl.ived by Miss New ell, 01 gainst of S. Peter's. At tho conclusion of tho lecture his Lordship piosented the lVhop's pri/os as follows : -Ist Glass, higher grade. Miss .loanio Niggii (xecond in the whole list for the diocese) ; 2nd class higher grade (si\th in the list), Miss Bessie Sandoi ; 3id 01 ins, s-une grade, Master Edwin Hope and Miss Bella Manktellow (certificates) ; Ist Class, lower gia-de Miss Alien Sandes ; 2nd Class, Miss Florence Hope; 3rd Class, Master John Mivrtyn Hume. The Bishop accompanied each presentation with a few appropriate remarks, and each recipient wan loudly applauded as he or she returned to the body of tho hall. On the motion of Mr R. i*. S.indes, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Bishop and the members of the quaitetto party, and .1 voiy pleasant evening was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.