MR PEACOCK'S LECTURE AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2791, 3 June 1890, Page 2

MR PEACOCK'S LECTURE AT CAMBRIDGE.

_ 4> The first of a series of lectures inaugerated by the Presbyterians of Cambridge, was given in the Public Hall, on Thursday evening, by Mr Thomas Peacock, M.H.R., of Auckland, the title being "Paria the Modern, Rome the Ancient, and Pompeii the Buried City." There was a fair attendance under the adverse circumstances, for there were several families who would have been present, had they not been to use the modem slang phrase, "gripped." The Rev. W. Evans presided, and briefly introduced the lecturer. At intervals songs were given by the Misses Priestly and Bright and a piauo duet by Messrs McDenuott and Hartly. The songs were ably rendered, Miss Bright beiug particularly successful, but the duet made the audience (and the performers) long for " The Good Time Coming," when the new piauo, that has been so much talked about, may arrive. At the commencement Mr Peacock explained that the lecture was founded upon personal observations made by himself during a recent timr, in the course of which he had spent a considerable time iu the cities mentioned in tli6 title, The lecture dealt with the cities in the order given in the title, therefore commencing with Paris. That splendid piece of architecture, the Arc du Triumphe, erected as a monument to the successes of the French army was picturesquely described, it being a noble structure 100 foet high, and 110 feet broad, and cost £400.000. The Champes Elysees, 200 feet wide and a mile aud-a-half long, and numerous other streets were also graphically described, the lecturer remarking upon the manner in which the French enjoy themsplves taking refreshments seated at little tables underneath thetrees in the Boulevards. The Exhibition with its wonderful Eiffel Tower received a due share of attention, as did also tho Tuileries, the Louvre, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and in fact all tho "sights" with which Paris abounds. Mr Peacock paid a visit to the Chamber of Deputies while in session, and described the excitable manner in which the members interrupted one another whilo speaking, and contrasted their confused method of procedure with .the grave deliberations of the House of Commons, or even our own House of Representatives. When visiting the Hippodrome hu was a<toiiised to hear tho band play the British National Anthem, and naturally thought Ihe Piince of Wales was present, but he found that it was to tho liight Hon.. W. E. Gladstone that this tiibute of respect was paid. Tho fortifications of Paris, with their connecting miles of railways wore biieliy touched upon, aod several of tho various piaces of amusement were described, including the Grand Opera House, which covers three acres of ground and cost nearly iiL',ooo,ooo. This is the grandest theatre in the world. The lecturer said Rome possessed great interest to modern travellers because of its historical associations. Like Melbourne it could boast a land boom, and man} - speculators had erected houses on the flat land on the banks of the Tiber. He commented upon the scarcity of relics of the Republican period, while the ruins of the great architectural works of tho Empire were numerous and also in a fair state of preservation. He described many of tho buildings, both ancient and modern, including the arch of Titus, Trajan's Column, the Coliseum, the Catacombs, St. Peter's Cathedral and the Vatican. In the journey to Pompeii many places of fame received a passing notice. Facts relating to the destruction of tho city in 79. A.D., when it and Herculaneum wero buried in ashes, lava, etc., thrown from Vesuvius, wero given, and seven eruptions that have since occurred, were mentioned. Although Pompeii was only buried 20 feet deep, so completely had all trace of it been eradicated, that for seventeeu centuries the site of it was unknown. Nearly half the city, which was supposed to havo contained 30,000 inhabitants, had now been unearthed. The lecturer said it was easy to trace the various tradesmen's shops and also the palaces of the nobles, and much could be gleaned as to their style of life fioin the furniture and arrangemeut of their dwellings. The lecture was a very instructive and interesting one, and at its close Mr Peacock was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr F. J. Brooks, seconded by the chairman. The singing of the National Anthem closed the proceedings.-