NEW ZEALAND BATTLEFIELDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3207, 14 January 1893, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND BATTLEFIELDS.

The numerous friends of Mr C. 0. Montrose will be glad to welcome him back to the Waikato after an absence of many years. Seventeen years ago he was die editor of The Waikato Tijiks, and he was afterwards proprietor of the Cambridge Mail, sub-editor of the Auckland Evening Star, aud editor of the Observer. He left Auckland nine years ago, was engaged on the literary staffs of the Melbourne Argus and Age, and edited several provincial and metropolitan newspapers, C, 0, has seen many viccissitndos during his wanderings in Australia and Tasmania, but he is still us halo ami genial as ever, and time has apparently laid its hand gently upon him, It was in Australia, when called upon hi give his services in aid of several charities, that Mr Montrose entered upon a course of popular lecture?, which he has since given with much success in all the principal centres of New Zealand, his affection for Maoriland, in which he spent the happiest and best years of his life, having attracted him back to his old familiar scenes. Mr Montrose served with the old Fighting Fortieth throughout the Taranaki and the Waikato campaigns, on which he wrote a series of articles in the Auckland Observer, entitled, '• Incidents in the Life of a Journalist." His lecture, or rather narrative of personal experiences and reminiscences, consists of graphic, pathetic, and laughable stories and capital word pictures, illustrating the pathos and humour of war, interesting nnd instructing alike to the old veterans and the new generation, which now enjoys the peace and prosperity secured by the hardships and dangers endured and faced by the pioneers of the Waikato. The narrative is entitled "Lights and Shadows of New Zealand Battlefields," and is interspersed with music and songs, and the tour throjgh tho Waikab districts will he commenced at the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, on Wednesday next, the 18th inst,, after which Mr Montrose will vicit Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Pukoknhe, Waiukn, etc. His last lecture, was delivered in the City Hall, Auckland, to a fashiunableandapnreciative audience, under the patronage of His Excellency the Sari of Glasgow, the Mavor and councillors of Auckland, Lieut.-Colonol Goring and the officers of tho Volunteer Garrison, and the Institute of New Zealand Journalists. The New Zealand Herald and Star, in their flattering notices of (lie lecture, especially eulogise his " splendid word pictures" of the engagements at Koheroa, Meremere, Rangiriri, Waiari, and Orakau. We select the following among scores of equally enlogistic notices, from the Palmerston Daily Standard :-Mr C. 0. Montrose delivered his lecture on " Lights and Shadows of New Zealand Battlefields," to a fair audience at the Theatre Royal Inst evening. The chair was occupied by. His Worship the Mayor. The lecture was one of the most inter sting that has ever been delivered in this town, and wo can assure those who wero not present that thov missed a treat. The audience showed thoir appreciation in a manner whicli must have been very encouraging to Mr Montrose, as he endeavored to give them a true and faithful account of the Taranaki and Waikat'i wnrsevtendingnver a period of several years. Thodiscpur.s) could not bo otti'-r----wise than interesting, seeing that it is a narrative of the lecturer's personal experiences during the campaigns, accounts of which Now Zealanders never tire of listening to, The audience were held spellbound while the graphic details in connection with 96ver.il of the fights were told inan eloquent and realistic manner; and then a little latter hearty outbursts of laughter were heard after snmo humorous little anecdote had been related. The lecturer described in a very able manner the martial spirit and pride of the troops as they marched to battle, the brilliant uniforms and glittering steel, and then the ghastly sights to bo witnessed on the battlefields when the fight was over, the dead and the dying, The lecturer complimented the colonial forces on the trying part they sustained in the war, and upon their gallantry, endurance, and adaptability tor the war. The applause with which the lecturer was greeted when he concluded his remarks was sufficient to assure him that hi; efforts to entertain had been highly appreciated.