MR C. 0. MONTROSE.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 3209, 19 January 1893, Page 2

MR C. 0. MONTROSE.

This veteran soldier and journalist gave his famous popular lecture on "Lights and Shadows of New Zealand Battlefields" at the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton West, last evening. It is needless to say that his popularity in this district, in which he resided some seventeen years ago when he filled the editorial chair of Thk Waikato Times, was sufficient to ensure him an enthusiastic welcome from a large number of former comrades in arms and old identities, while the younger generation that has since sprung np were equally cordial in their greeting, and listened throughout with rapt attention to the intensely interesting and instructive narrative. After some feeling references to the associations of bygone days, Mr Muntrose began his narrative with an eloquent and stirring description of the pride, pomp, and circumstance of " battle's magnificently stern array," contrasting it with the ghastly scenes of tho battlefield. He briefly sketched the origin of the Waitara war, described the plucky stand made at Waireka by a handful of volunteers under Major Atkinson, the disastrous repulse of the Fortieth at Metaukauere, the battle of Mahoetahi, the tedious sapping operations up to the To Aral Pa, and the suddon termination of hostilities by a triumph of diplomacy over arms. He then tweed rapidly the causes which led to the ronewal of tho war in tho Waikato, the construeof the Great South Road, the erection of the Queen's Redoubt, and tho engagements at Koheroa, Meremore, Raneiriri, Waiari (Paterangi). Rangiaohia, and the last stand at Orakau,' The descriptive parts of the narrative were graphic, spirited, and realistic; but tho best piece of eloquent word painting was that dealing with the fierce prolonged struggle at Rangirivi, the vivid description of tho successive assaults and repulses as tho victory trembled in the balance, tho murderous cross-fire, the shower of hand gronados info the enemy's central redoubt, in which they were enclosed " in a ring of lire and steel," the burning of the wounded Maories by the ignition of the wliares in which they wcro placed, the forlorn hope ready to spring upon the enemy at dawn, and tho aversion of a bloody slaughter by tho surrender of the garrison, The lecturer gave many interesting anecdotes and graphic touches, illustrating tho leading traits in somo of the prominent leaders in the strife, Generals Piatt mid Cameron, Major von Tempsky (whom he described as a born lightor), and many others, with examples of individual acts of bravery and heroism among the Imperial and colonial forces, and tributes of praise to the courage of the enemy. Tho pathos and humour of war wore cleverly contrasted, numorous grotesque instances being described, which evoked hearty laughter and bursts of applause. The interest of the audience was sustained till tho linal peroration. It was evident from the lecturer's earnestness and the vividness of his descriptions, that he was an actual eye-witness of most of the scenes he referred to. Mr Montrose will lecture at Cambridge on Friday ovening, the 20th, and at Te Awamutu on Monday, the 23rd. Last night he received very valuable assistance from the members of the Hamilton String Band, under the able lead of Mr T. H. White. The overture "The War March of the Priests" (Mendelsohn) was rendered with much spirit and great precision, the tempo being excellent, and the whole performance showing thorough mastery of the technique. The selection of popular English, Irish Welsh, and Scotch airs was highly appreciated and warmly applauded. Mis? Missen acquitted herself most creditably in the pianoforte parts.