LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 742, 26 August 1878, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE.

[FBOai OUR OWN COKRESPONOENT.] Livingstone, Aug 24. A lecture on " Banyan's Pilgrims Progress, illustrated by diagrams, was de-jM'-red in the Schoolhonse here on Wednesday evening last by the Rev. H. L. Gilbert, of the Presbyterian Mission, when there was a fair attendance. The lecture was interspersed at intervals with suitable musical selections, Miss Gilbert presiding most efficiently at the harmonium. The most important events had arisen from circumstances very different to what human reason could have expected. Thegreat Lawgiver of Israel was a poor foundling on the banks of the Nile; the Redeemer of the world was born in a stable; the sublime Revelation of John the divine was written by an exile in a penal settlement; and the universal guide to the Christian traveller was the unaided production of a pious mechanic, while a prisoner for conscience sake in the gaol of Bedford. It was here God employed the mind and pen of his servant to produce a work which has been more extensively circulated and read than almost any book except the Bible. As a proof of this may be cited the fact, that, during the short period of Banyan's life, 100,000 copies in English were sold, and that in little over 200 years since that time it had been translated into nearly all tht! known languages. It was now to be found in French, Flemish, Dutch, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, German, Armenian, Burmese, Cingalese, Hindostani, Bengalee, Chinese, Serarapore, and other dialects, together with those of most of t?ie South Sea Islands, Maori included : and so this blessed book, hand in hand with the Bible, continued;"!' l , its message of mercy, and, without doubt, i,s destined to become the admired companion of every tribe of pilgrims from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, whose founder and builder is God. The lecturer then went on to deal with diagrams in order, numbering some six or seven, commenting upon them in turn, and among other things remarking that Bunyan did not go" far for his ideas and figures ; they were all in a certain sense common-place, and never far-fetched. The lecture, including the musical selections, occupied about an hour and a half. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was unanimously tendered for the interesting and pointed manner in which he had treated one of the works of the immortal dreamer of the prison cell of Bedford. A similar compliment was paid to those who had supplied the musical part of the entertainment, and the audience separated after singing P. P. Bliss' "Hold the Fort," having spent a most enjoyable evening. A novel case of horse stealing occurred here on Wednesday. It appears that a ■■"an named George Mace was commissioned by Mr. Reid (said to be ploughing part of tht property of Mr. Gardiner here) to proceed to Ngapara for the purpose of getting some repairs to a revolving coulter, the said Mr. Reid supplying him with a horse. After leaving Ngapara it transpired that Mace had offered the horse for sale to one of the farmers on the Tables, but failing to get a buyer he came to Livingstone, arid there sold the horse to Mr. M'Quade, giving a receipt in due form, and stating that he bought the horse from Mr. Reid. Mace immediately afterwards left for Oamaru or Waimate it is supposed, and on Thursday Mr. Reid came to Livingstone and claimed the horse, which Mr. M'Quade has delivered, apparently without getting any guarantee from Mr. Reid that he is the rightful owner, and thus becoming the loser. Two distinct and successive shocks of earthquake were felt here about 2.45 p.m. to-day. The probable line of the disturbance was from east to west. It was felt in she township, and also in the vicinity of Basalt Hill, four nrl- s nearer Oamaru.