A RUSSIAN LECTURER

Evening Star, Issue 14524, 28 November 1910, Page 5

A RUSSIAN LECTURER

HIS BONA FIDES CHALLENGED. [Sr-ECIAL TO THE STAR.] INVERCAROILL, November 23. A good : deal of excitement was created on Saturday night when Mr P. M. Koonin, 8.A., F.Z.S., a Russian visitor, delivered an open-air lecture in tho Post Office square, his subject being 'My Escape from Siberia.' One or two members of the audience were sceptical of Mr Koonin's bona fides iu regard to his mission to raise funds for the relief and betterment of the persecuted Jews of Russia. Mr A. Paape, »vho in* 1 Invercargill seat at the last General Election, was chairman, and during the course of bis remarks he mentioned that he was in a position to state that so successful had been Mr Kooniu's mission that he (Mr Koonin) had sent £2OO home to Russia. Mr P. J. Hickey (Dunedin): I would like to ask if Mr Koonin has over sent that £2OO. Mr Paape (after consultation) replied that the previous statement was incorrect, he' having been misinformed. Mr Hickey: Has he ever sent anything? There was no reply. Mr Hickey: Has ne any credentials to show that he is what he claims to be? The Lecturer replied that certain unprincipled men always came to meetings of this sort with the express intention of interrupting. He added that he would deliver his lecture, and at its conclusion would answer any questions regarding tho subject in hand. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Koonin carried out Ins promise, and offered to answer questions.

' A Voice; How old are you? Mr Kocvnin; I do not answer personal questions. Voico: Then at what age did you take your degree? Mr Kooniu; That is personal. Voice: What university was it? Mr Koonin; That lias got nothing to do with you. Wlulo replying to a questioner regarding the late Count Tolstoy the lecturer was interrupted again. He said, angrily; “Two tools cannot speak at once.’ (Laughter.) Voice: Where are your credentials? Mr .Koonin : They sire open to inspection by lawyers or other responsible persons. — (Applause.) Voice: Is it not a fact that in Dunedin you could not converse in Russian to a certain person? Mr Koonin: Do yon speak Russian? — “No." “Then what on earth are you talking about?’’ —(Laughter.) Voice: How long did you live in Man- I Chester? Mr Koonin: Never in my life. —{Applause.) Voico; Why won’t you give your age? Mr Koonin; My ago? Well, Tin old enough to answer you. —(Laughter.) At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Koouin informed a reporter that he had taken the stand that lie did on purpose, knowing that Mr Hickev intended to interrupt the proceedings. In answer to questions, he said his age was twenty-eight, and that he had taken out naturalisation papers in Australia, showing that ho had been bora at Minsk, near Bt. Petersburg. He took liis degree of B.A. by examination at tlie Imperial University (Hebrew), near fit. Petersburg, in 1901, and had the degree of F.Z.B. conferred on him in England after passing examination in zoology. Mr Koonin also produced several letters, newspaper dippings, and official welcomes, etc. He leaves for Melbourne on Tuesday.