MR MONTROSES' ENTERTAINMENT

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3208, 17 January 1893, Page 2

MR MONTROSES' ENTERTAINMENT

It is hardly necessary to romindonr readers that Mr G,O, Montrose will'-deliver.- liiß famous and popular lecture '';Lights:and Shadows of.Now" Zkilahd Battlefields," at tho Volunteer Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow evening.' /.The narrative "(jf'j personal 'ex-; periebces and reminis'cki®)' U'idescrilfefV by bur' Southern and Auckland contemporaries as most interesting, instructive and amusing, containing many eloquent and stirring word pictures of tho " pride, pomp and circnmstanco" of war, pathetic' and humorous anecdotes of battlefields, and many' tributes to the gallantry and endurance of the colonial forces. The lecture touches lightly on the leading features of the Tnranaki war, and then passes on to a description of tho principal ;onc6un.te'r.-f in the Waikato,' including Koheroa,' Meremere, Rangiriri; Waiari, Paterangi' and Orakau, with nuinoi-ous allusions'tu events of local interest.. The entertainment will be opened with "'an'overture by tlie Hainil ton String Band,"'The' War March of the Priests" (Mendelsohn), followed by Mr Montrose's narrative of the Tarandki can)paign, After a song and the "Valse— Militaire" (Hurst), by the Hamilton String Band, Mr Montrose will describe tho Waikato war. The entertainment will conclude with a splendid selection from Euglish, Irish, Scotch and Welsh airs, and a final address by the lecturer, The pro gramme is judiciously varied, and ought to attract a crowded house, Miss Missen will preside at the pianoforte, No stronger or more gratifying testimony to a man's ability as a writer or a lecturer could be asked than the letter which Captain Steele has 'written, appearing in this issue, regarding Mr 0, 0, Montrose, who : will lecture in the various township*' in Waikato during the next few days, Captain Steele had probably as good an opportunity of judging Mr Montrose's ability as a writer as any man in the Waikato, taking as he did'a leading part in all'iriatters connected - with the district, Thoso were stirring times in 1875, when the railway was being constructed in Waikato, and the settlement of the distiict teas going on apace. At that time, too, tho great Piako swamp question was being fought out in the House, under the regis of Sir George Grey,' We have been looking back through the old files of this paper at that period, and have coine across a number of power-fully-written articlos, dealing with both colonial and local politics. In addition to this Mr Montrose was a very clever rhyme9ter, and the columns of the paper under his regime teemed with amusing poems treated in that caustic'and taking stylo which adds, so much to the readableness and popularity of a paper, We can heartily join with Captain Steele in urging upon everyone who delights in an' instructive and amusing enterlainment to roll up to-morrow night, as we foel quite suie they will admit they haveseldon or ever listened to a more entertaining lecturer than Mr Montrose. ■ ■ TO THB EDITOR. Slit, —I see that Mr 0, 0; Montrose will lecture on " The New Zealand Battlefields" on Wednesday evening, in the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton. In former years, as editor of The Waikato Times, he took a deep interest in everything that tended to the settlement of the country. He was a strong and forcible writer, always calling a spade by its proper name, Even those who did not agree with his views admired the way they were advanced, Mr Montroso had something to say on many questions of giave importance to the.welfare of the Waikato, and what he said was well Slid, His many old frionds will be glad to seo him again, and give him a liot.rty welcome. My object in writing, Mr Editor, Ib to ask those who are comparatively now arrivals to attend this lecture, and they will hoar of some of the struggles and trials of the early settlors, not second hand, but by one who was right in it, Knowing Sir Montrose and his writing as I do, it is impossible for the lecture to be anything but intensely interesting and instructive. Wishing him a bumper house, I am, &c., W. Steele;