AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 72

AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

By CHARLES WHITE.

[All Rights Reserved.]

THE DUNN'S PLAINS TRAGEDY.

For about & fortnight after the raid on Bathurst very little was heard of the gang, and it was thought that they had quietly stolen away back across the Lachlan, near Cowra, knowing that as soon as their exploits in the vicinity of the City of the Plains were officially reported the main body of police would hasten thither, and give them opportunities of prosecuting their calling near their old haunts without much molestation. But they had not left the district. Watching their opportunity, they suddenly attacked the residence of Mr Keightley, Gold Commissioner, at Dunn's Plains, near Rockley, and about 30 miles from Bathurst. They made no secret of the reason of their visit to this homestead. Mr Keightley, who was a man of splendid physique and undoubted courage, had openly assisted the police in their search for the bushrangers, and had declared he would show them no mercy if he should happen to come across them. Like every other word or movement of those who sought to break up the gang, Mr Keightley"s sayings and doings reached their ears, and they determined to put his courage to the test by sticking up his household. From the beginning of Peisley's career bushranging in New South Wales had proceeded by gradations — from idleness and petty stealing to cattle-stealing; from oattlestealing to robbery from the person ; then to robbery (under arms) of mails and escorts, followed by the ruin and extermination of honest storekeepers, attacks on the officers of justice, raids on banks, country towns, and private establishments. The time had now arrived for a further advance — to the Neapolitan system of ransom. This made, the question was seriously discussed in certain quarters whether the next successive movements would not be to the formation of eamp3, stations, regiments, batteries, and open attack upon the united Government forces.

At about sunset on Saturday evening, October 24, 1863, Mr Commissioner Keightley stood in the doorway of his house, when he observed five men riding along the fence at come distance from the dwelling. At first he thought they were a party of police who he knew were in the neighbourhood, they having been in his paddock on the previous evening ; but ac he desired to give his guest, Dr Peohey, a shock, he called out to him, " Here are the bushrangers ! " Mr Keightley and the doctor watched the men to within 25 yards of the house, when they caw them simultaneously leap from their horses and make a sudden rush into the yard, at the same time presenting firearms and calling out: "Stand! If you run into the house we'll shoot you ! " Before the last word had sounded, however, Mr Keightley and his companion had turned and made for -the open door, which was fortunately near at hand. The men fired at them a* they ran, but the bullets did not find their mark, and, the door having been made secure, prompt measures were taken to repel the coming attack. A plan of procedure had been previously arranged, and was now followed. Dr Pechey hastened in the direction of a room occupied by the manservant (who was at the time absent, having gone to Rockley for the letters), his intention being to secure some firearms and ammunition there stored; but finding that he could not reach the room without exposing himself to the fire of the bushrangers, ho returned, to find Mr Keightley armed with a double-barrel gun and a revolver, which he had obtained from his bedroom, after having told Mrs Keightley that the dreaded gang had made its appearance^ — a fact of which she had already been made aware by the firing that had taken place. Taking up their station at the door nearest to the yaTd, where the bushrangers had congregated, Keightley and his companion prepared to make a stubborn resistance. But the failure to reach the other arms and ammunition somewhat disconcerted them, although the assailants were not awaxe that the occupants of the house were so poorly provided with the means of defence. Knowing something of Keightley's determination and skill, the bushrangers kept themselves under cover, posting themselves in the form of a semicircle, so that they could command the doorway from all point?. As Ihe two men came to the open door the bushrangers fired, but none of tho bullets did any harm. Keightley and his companion took care not to expose, themselves, although closely watching the lnoiemento of their assailants. What followed is be=t told in Mr Kejghtley's own words. And thi= is his story: —

" As 1 appeared at the door several shots wore fired. The men were in a semieire'e around me, at ■varied distances. At tli9 time I took up my gun I fancied it was loaded in both barrels — one with snipe shot and the oth^r with buckshot When I went to tlie door I noticed a man near me on my left, who was firing very rapidly. He fired several shots. He appeared to draw out from a cask, behind wh'ch he was concealed, with the \iew of filing at the door. The la*t time he came out I slung up my gun and fired the right barrel, which I thought had the small shot in it. I could not tee the effect of the shot otherwise than the man put his hand en his stomach and fell back. I then said to Dr Pechey. ' Now for the roof ! ' wluch I had barricaded for somo time. When on the roof I saw Vane for the fir->t time. Ho was going across tl.e yard, and when the parly saw me on the roof they commenced firing at me again, but I cannot say how many shots. When I had fired I looked for my powder horn, but could not find it. I concluded that Dr Pechoy had got the arms and ammunition I had sent him for pre\iou-ly. I left lie house open when I went on to the roof, and Mrs Keightley and the child were below. When on the roof I a~ke-d the doctor for the other gnu and loading materials, and he said he had been intercepted and could not get at the arms. I then looked at my own gun, and found that the other barrel was dischaigcd. The shooting at this time was very dose. One ball went close to my face— l think it was Hall's — and another through my hat. They called upon me to surrender, or they would burn the house down, and as I had no arms I thought it best to do so, as we had no ammunition. Two of the voices called out, 'If you lay

touch you.' I sadd, 'Honour bright?' and they replied, ' Honour bright.' I said, ' Very well, we will come down,' and I came down the ladder into the garden in front of the house. I concluded that the party knew at the time that one of their number was hit. When we came down they made a rush at us. Vane struck Dr Pechey with a revolver and knocked him down. I said, 'What did you do that for? He has done nothing.' One of them said, 'Is not that Keightley? ' and I said, ' No, I'm Keightley.' Vane then said, 'You wretch, you have shot my mate.' I denied it, saying, ' I never killed your mate.' I did not know then the result of my shot. He said I had, and that they would shoot me for it. They then brought me to the spot where Burke was lying, and they held a consultation, the result of which was that I was to be shot. I was told to go into tho paddeck. From their statement I learnt that Burke had, after he was shot, fired at hims°lf and shot himself through the head. I was then told that I should be shot, and to say good-bye to my wife and come up the hill. As I had been ensnared in n>y position and had no means of defence, I begged them for God's sake not to shoot me and commit murder. It was then arranged that Dr Pechey should proceed to Rockley for his instruments with the view of affording assistance to Burke, and while he was away Gilbert came to the foot of the hill and called out, 'Mickey is dead,' or words to that effect. One of the party remarked, ' He (meaning me) had better be shot at once and waste no more- time.' "

Mr Keightley's position was a very critical one. That the bushrangers fully intended to kill him when they found that Burke was dead was proved by their efforts to shoot him when he appeared on the barricaded roof, and their threat that if he did not come down and surrender they would burn the- house down.

Mrs Keightley and the servant woman, who was also on the premises, saw Dr Pechey knocked down, and witnessed the preparations which the bushrangers were making to shoot Mr Keightley in cold blood ; and it goes without saying that they begg»d hard for hia life. It is said that the servant actually threw herself between her employer and one of the bushrangers who had raised his piece to fire at him. In the end his life was spared. Vane was not the leader, and had to swallow his resentment at the command of Hall and Gilbert, neither of whom were more bloodthirsty than the average run of bushrangers. Keightley was removed into the bush, and the leaders remained at the house, while further parleying took place-; eventually the bushrangers agreed with Mrs Keightley to spare her husband's life on condition that the sum of £500 was paid to them. When Dr Pechey returned from Rockley he wa3 made aware of the bargain, and informed that it had been arranged that he should ride into Bathurst and get the money from Mrs Keightley's father, the late Mr Henry Rotton, of Blackdown. If the money wa3 not handed to them, said Gilbert, between 10 and 12 o'clock on the following (Sunday) morning, Mr Keightley would assuredly be shot; aa he would bs if during his visit to Bathurst the messenger gave any information to the police. In reply to a question from Dr Pechey, Hall said they would have tho money in £5 notes, and that they had fixed upon £500 as the ransom, because that was the sum which Keightley would get for shooting Burke, there being at that time a reward of £500 upon each of their heads. It was then arranged that Mrs Keightley should go to Bathurst with Dr Pechey. The horae was caught and harnessed, and the pair started on their urgent mission. Before leaving, however, Mrs Keightlev was allowed to have a brief interview with her husband, who was brought down to the house for the purpose. The journey to Bathurst was accomplished in smart time, the reader may be sure, the horse being kept at top speed ; but it was 2 o'clock on the Sunday morning before Blackdown was reached. There wae excitement bordering upon consternation in the household when the anxious daughter made known her errand to her father, and then the question arose : How was tho money to be obtained? The large sum required was not in the house, and innumerable difficulties might arise to prevent it being obtained in time. The Blaekdown squire was known to be a wealthy man, but even wealthy men cannot always lay their hands upon a large sum of money at a moment's notice. An appeal must be made to the bank in Bathurst, and the time spent in waking the bank manager, making explanations, and counting the- money would considerably shorten the few hours of grace allowed for the ransom to be paid. And another difficulty presented itself. The object for which the money was required must be kept secret ; yet the bank manager must be told, and he might consider it his duty to inform the police before the messenger had got well away with the price of the ransom. There were difficulties and riskjs on every side, but thoy were boldly faced and overcome. Fresh horses soon covered the distance between Blackdown and Bathurst, and very shortly after the visitors had poured their tale into his astonished ears notes to the amount required were counted out by the bank manager, and Mr Rotton and Dr Pechey were "making the pace" towar Is Dunn's Plain.

Meanwhile Mr Keightley was kept a close prisoner by the bushrangers on a rocky hill (known as the Dog Rocks) about a quarter of a mil© from his homestead, the spot being clioeen because it commanded a view of the Bathuist road. Here some members of the ganjt made themselves comfortable for the night, and the others took turn about as sentries, keeping a close watch upon Keightley, who had voluntarily pledged his honour not to make any attempt to escape. When morning dawned the party had breakfart, and then settled down to await events. Spven, eight, and nine o'clock passed, and still there were no signs of the messengers returning Ten o'tlotk found the waiting party painfully impatient ; but a little later Mr Rotton and the doctor drove up to the housp, and learned from the inmates that Keightley was with the bushrangers at the Dog Rocks. Alighting from the vehicle, they entered the house, and Mr Rotton pro posed to take tho money to the bushrangers, but this was deemed inadvisable, as the appearance of a stranger on the scene might lead to trouble. As quickly aa possible, therefore, the notes were recounted in the house. Mr Rotton hastily took their numbers, with a view to tracing them should they pass into circulation in the district, and then handed them to Dr Pechey, who mounted his horse and rode to the bushrangers' camp. As he came forward Gilbert met him and asked, " Have you brought the money?" " Yes," replied Dr Pechey ; "will you set Mr Keightley at liberty?" " Come aW"iy" &4kert iiaW" aa4 i "feft't «U J*bi,"

and he> conducted Pechey to where his friend was standing under close guard. As soon as Keightley saw him he anxiously repeated the question, "Have you the notes?" For answer Pechey threw the notes to Gilbert, who counted them, found they were all right, and told Keightley ho was at liberty. The ransomed man returned hastily to the house, hia captors meanwhile leaving the locality with all speed. After Burkes death, the remaining members of the gang did not concern themselves very much about his body. They saw, however, before they left Dunn's Plains that arrangements had been made to convey tho remains to Carcoar, that task being entrusted to one of Mr Keightley'9 servant men and another. Concerning the exact manner of Burkes death, it may be here remarked that some people have doubted whether Mr Kaightley ehot him at all, and thought the first wound must have been accidentally inflicted by one of his mates. It is certain that the ehot which killed him) was fired by himself after finding that he had been wounded. On the way to Carcoar the party conveying the body was met by the police, who had received word at Oowrai of the attack upon Keightley's house, and were making for that locality. There were 12 policemen in tho party, and two of thes« were told off to accompany the men with tho body to Caxcoar, the other 10 proceeding to Rockley, the nearest station to th» scene of the outrage. At Oarcoar an inquesfc was held upon 'the body, which everyone! pressed to see. After the inquest the body was handed jver for interment to Burkes frienda, some of whom made no secret of the fact that they considered the remains they were committing to the grave were those of a hero and a martyr. After the return of Mr Keightley and the) disappearance of the bushrangers, Mr Rotton tried to induce the employees at tho homestead to go for the police, but in vain. Then he decided to go himself; a horse was brought up from the paddock, and he rode into Rcckley and made known sit the police station what had occurred. Returning, he started for Bathurst to give information to the authorities there. But the news had already reached Bathurst, and within three or four miles of the town he met a. party of mounted troopers pushing forward at full speed for the scone of the outrage. The news had by come means reached Carcoar shortily after breakfast on the Sunday morning. A magistrate of that town at' once procured a horse and enlisted the services of a lad to ride post haste to Batlhuret, giving him a sealed letter to the police and a written communication to •all whom it might concern, requesting that if the bearer should require a fresh horse on the road he might bo immediately supplied. Young Bonnor— that was the lade name — covered the distance between Csrcoar and Blayney in very short time, and finding that hi« horse- w-ae fagged he, after some difficulty, obtained another, and made a fresh start on the road. Within two hours from leaving Carcoar the lad was in Bathurst and th© letter delivered to the police, the distance covered being about 35 miles. A party of; troopers was at once formed and sent off, some of them half inclined to disbelieve tlio report which had come to them in such a roundabout way; but the meeting with Mr Rotton dispelled all doubte, and they pushed along the road at a faster pace, while Mr Rotton continued his journey to Blackdowni t_> assure Mrs Keightley of the safety of her husband and the faithfulness of the bushrangers to their pledges. During the same afternoon Mr Keightley and Dr Pechey drove into Bathurst, where they received many congratulations on their escape from death at the hands of the bushrangers, and much praiee for their courage and heroism. Mrs Keigbtley also received a full chare of praise, for none but a stouthearted woman could have maintained her presence of mind sufficiently to assist even her husband under such trying circumstances. The servant woman subsequently received due approbation for the part which she had sustained in the affair ; indeed, there was at one time quite a heated public discussion as to which of the ladies was most to be honoured.

There was already a reward of £500 for each of the gang, and Burke-'s head-money was paid by the Government to Mr Keightley. Two days later the offered reward was increased by the issue of a proclamation offering £4000 reward for the apprehension of- John Gilbert. John Vane. John O'Meally, and Benjamin Hall; and £100 reward for acoomplioes. In addition to the pecuniary reward, however, Mr Keightley's serviced were recognised by the Government by an appointment in the public service as police magistrate. He was well fitted for the post, and faithful and efficient service in that capacity proved that the confidence of the authorities had not been misplaced.

While Mr and Mrs Keightley were yet in the Bathurst district, the latter was made the recipient of a handf-ome present from the ladie.s of a distant part of the colony, in recognition of her bravery when Hall and his gang visited Dunn's Plains. The present took tho form of a handsome silver tea service, upon the chief piece of which were engraveel the following words: — "Presented to Mrs Ke-ightley by the ladies of Ma itland, through Mrs Mullen, as an appreciation of her hproie conduct in defence of her husband against bushrangers, at Roekley, on Saturday, October 24, 1863."

But here it is necessary that I should divnrge somewhat from the straight coureo of the narrative, and show how some of the ransom money was traced after it had left the hands of the bushrangers. THE NUMBERED XOTES, AND HOW

THEY WERE FOUND

It will be remembered that before Mr Rotton handed over the note- that were given to Gilbert ho hurriedly copied their numbers. It was a wise precaution, and! fruitful of results. From "this list copies were subsequently made and handed to various tradesmen in Bathur&t and tho neighbourhood, and it was arranged that immediate information should be given to the police if any of the notes were presented a* their establishments.

Within a week after, a young man from a. district known to be friendly to the gang entered Eathurst, and purchased at different shops a revolver, several boxes of percussion caps, a quantity of black crape, seven gold rings, and some articles of clothing. "While he was still in the town it was discovered that some of the notes paid away by hinii corresponded with those on Mr Rotton's list, and before he had completed his purchase he was apprehended and safely lodged in the lock-up. There were found upon hia person the sum of £11, piece of paper, the seven gold rings, and five invoices of tho goods he had purchased at the stores. la feifl jalise were found the revolver, can*

crape, etc., and it was ascertained that out of £35 which the articles had cost, the prisoner had paid away five of the £5 notes given to the bushrangers. Upon th© piece* of paper was written a memorandum of ■what the prisontr was to purchase for six different persons, whose names w&re left blank. Th© singular and incriminating document ran thus: "For mother, bottle of medicine; for , pair of pistols, box of caps, gold ring; for , revolver, box of caps, gold ring," and so on. On© other -article was found in his possession — a piec© of ueed blotting paper, bearing on it the words " Patrick Burke " — th© name of the faih&r of th© bushranger who had met his death at Keightiey's hands. Th© arresting constable charged him with receiving the ndtes, " knowing them to have been stolen, and the prisoner mad© no reply to tli3 charge. It was afterwards elicited that the young fellow was a cousin of Vane's, and it wa3 publicly stated that the father of the dead bushranger, Burke, was connected in some way with his family. As may b© supposed, the news of th© arrest caused great excitement in Bathurst and its immediate neighbourhood, and for a time even the bushrangers and their doings were forgotten. In due course the prisoner was brought up at the Police Court charged with receiving stolen property, and was committed to stand his trial at th© following BaLhurst Circuit Court, at which he was found guilty.

The Chief Justice, after making som& impTessive remarks upon th© enormity of the offence, and expressing an earnest hop© that the crime of bushranging would now effectually cease, sentenced the prisoner to five yoars' hard labour on the roads, or other public works of the colony. There was an appeal to tho Full Court in Sydney on some legal technicalities; but their Honors were cf opinion that the conviction should be sustained.

Th© news of th© ruling was received with joy in Bathurst, as it tended to intimidate the already too bold friends of the gang, •who had their doors ever open to receive the bushrangers and thsir hands eve-r open to receive the bushrangers' ill-gotten gains. THE SURRENDER OF JOHNKT VANE.

After leaving Dunn's Plains, Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally, and Vane rode across tho bush in tha direction of Carcoar, calling in to se© some of their frir^-k on the way. They stayed long enough in this locality to quarrel amongst themselves but the cause of the quarrel has never been mad© known, although its rtsults were most startling to the public. In a letter from a gentleman at Carcoar which now lice before me, and which is dated 27th October, 1863, I find the following sentences : " I have heard that Van© was seen alone at the back of Mount Macquario (a prominent district landmark near the town), and again at the foot of Mount Fitzgerald, on bobh occasions well armed. . . Gilbert, Hall, and O'Meaily supposed to have cleared out. Vane still at the back of the Mount — was at Number One school yesterday, and had a black eye given him by Gilbert — -ays he got not a sixpence of Keightley's ransom money." How the quarrel between Van© and his mates originated was never clearly explained, butr whatever th© reason, within three w_e«ks from the tim« of Burkes death Van© yielded himself up to the authorities. Wh&n riding through the bush in tho direction of the Abercrombie Pangea, tne Rev. Father M'Carthy — on© of the pioneer priests of the Bathurst and Carcoar districts, whose genial good nature and zealous labours mads him most popular with the residents, particularly those scattered through the isolated parts which seldom or never saw the face of priest or pardon, other than his — happened to fall in with Vane. There was mutual recognition, for the good priest was well acquainted with, the bushranger's family — although not of his flock, for they were Presbyterians, — and a long conversation ensued. The substance of that conversation never transpired, but the reader can imagine how earnestly Father M'Carthy pleaded with Vane to forsak© the course which was keeping the • community in a state of terror, breaking tho heart of his mother, and leading him | to certain death. They parted, and before the day closed Father M'Carthy told Mrs Van© that he had met her son. Th© pcor i woman wept bitterly, pouring out her troubles in th© presence- of her sympathetic listener, and bemoaning the dreadful circumstances' in which he-r boy had placed himself and her. Before leaving, Father M'Carthy advised rfie disconsolate mother to seek am interview with her son in the bush and beseech him to surrender, pointing out that by so doing he would bs liksly ■to win favour which could uot othor.v£=e be extended. Mrs Van© promised to do this, and without delay p'ne sought her sen in his retreat and pleaded with him ouly as a, mother could. Her prayers avr\ tears were effectual, and in sorrowful joy •* returned to send a message to Father -i'Carthy to th© effect that her erriu-g son desired another interview in order x> make arrangements for his surrender. Within a few hours the priest and the bushranger were a^ain tcgethor, and in th© lattrr'a biding place these arrangements were completed. Vane agreeing to meet his newly-found friend at a certain spot before midnight and accompany him to the headquarters of tho police at Bathurst.

At 11 o'clock that night the bushranger faithfully presented himself at the place appointed, where FatheT il'Carthy wa-5 already in waiting. A start was made for B-athurst, 40 mil-r-a away, throuph the bu£h. They reached it before 5 o'clock next morning, their chief anxiety being to enter the town unobserved A brief rest at the Fitzroy Arms, in George str&et : a short consultation. l>etween Father M'Carthy and his venerable superior, Dean Grant ; a message to Dr Palmer, the polioe magistrate,. a.nd another message to Superintendent Jlorrissett ; the formal surrender of Vane to the- latter; a quiet walk to ihe gaol ".stes — and the Ea<thurst residents woke up to learn that Van« had voluntarily surrendered and was safely domiciled in the gaol en tho Central square. In due course he 'was brought before the local bench of magistrates, when three ehtftges cf robbery under arms were preferred against him, and rwo charges of shooting with intent to kill. Evidence in each, cese wa3 given, and the prisoner, who made no defence, was fully committed on each separate charge to take his inal at the next Batfrurst Circuit Court, to be held in April of the following year. Vaco had been five months in gaol — bail had not been sought, and would not have been granted — when th© As?ixe Court i« ■which he had been committed opened. &ir Alfred Stephen. Chief Justice, presided, and as soverfl very important cases besides tho^se ogasost Vaa« were set down lot trial nearly

all the leading membere of the bar attended, the circuit work of promirent barristers in those days being quite as heavy and quite as remunerative as that of the judgos. Mr Edward Butler acted as Grown Prosecutor. Bathurst was full of people and the pc-cple were full of excitement, to the no small b&nefit of the hofcelkeepcrs.

When Va.ne was placed in the dock his personal appearance was made the subject of general remark. He waa a good-looking young fellow, and in the slimness of hi^ build was a typical Western "' native.'' Those who expected to sea a repulsivelooking desperado of the Bill Sykes type were disappointed — no doubt pleasingly, — for there was nothing repulsive-locking about him, and the court visitors could scarcely believe that the youth before them, was the daring bushranger who had assisted in keeping the countryside in terror and for so long set the law and its officers at defiance.

Mr Dalley had bc-en retained for the defence, and it was no doubt under his advice thait the prisoner pleaded gvilty to being concerned in the raids on CaWla, Grubbenbong. and Canowindra, and the- atta-ok on Mr Eelghtley. To a fifth charge, concerning the sticking-up of the mail coach near (Weoar and the shooting of Constable Sutton, he pleaded not guilty.

Mr Dalley's defence was able and success* ful, and the jury acquitted Vane on this charge — the more readily, perhaps, becajse they knew tliat for other offences he would receive punishment commensurate with his crimes.

As the horn 1 was laic, his Honor ordered the prisoner to be removed and brought up for sentence on the following day ; but, knowing that many of his relatives were in the court, in order to ease their minds he announced that the sentence he should pass would not be death.

On the- following day fche court was again crowded, and shcTtlv after the Chief Justi"© had taken his seat Va-ne was called up to receive sentence. Before judgment to- pronounced Mr Bailey pleaded with the iudpe for leniency, urging prkoaer's youth in extenuation, and referring to the- fact that he had borne a good character before abandoning himself to lawless pursuit', and that he had given himself up and shewn tru^ contrition for his crimes. He slso called several prominent public men to beaT testimony to the fact that Vane, prior to becoming a bushranger, had been a most exemplary younsr man. His Honor, after a long address, deks'hl sentence as follows: — For the outrage nt Dunn's Plains, 15 venrs' hard labour on tl c road? or other public works of the colon 7; and for each, of the other three offences, 10 years' hard labour — the sentences to be eonCttrrent.

It is right that a word or ivro should bo said concerning the subsequent Rcti^n of tho good priest through whese in-trum r 'ntahty the district was freed from the presence cf this member of Hip notorious gang. Father M'Carlhv was entitled to the reward of £1000 which the Govenrmen* had offered for the capture of Vane. He did not accept that reward. In hi> min'sterial capacity he had effectively preached ropentaic? to the sinner, and the censciousness of having dou.3 his duty was reward sufficient. In anotheT casp, yet to be recorded, in which a bushranger (not connected with Halt's jjang) was concerned. he was instrumental in recovering for one of ths banks Feme £2000 in note* wir'cb had been stolen from one of the Western rnail^. Th.6 benk had offered £100 reward for <he reooverv of tl.e> notes, but Father M'drtiiv refused to peeept that reward also. The act was cb^raei-p-ristic of the mai, who in his priestly office labourer! for «omcthimr xnorf precious and more enduring than earthly treasure.

(To be continued )