Vogel’s Golden Dream.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4981, 13 April 1889, Page 3

Vogel’s Golden Dream.

Sir Julius Vogel's novel “Anno Domini 2000 ” has met with much unfavorable criticism. It is cumbrous from the number of characters introduced, and sketchy from the number of occurrences only half described. A favorite passage for quotation is a description of the “dishing” of a gang of conspirators -who are entrapped by means of an outrageous impossibility in the shape of mechanical mesmerism.

The denouement of a great schema for draining the Moleyneux river into the Mataura is perhaps better worth quoting.the scheme being one upon which Sir J. Vogels mind evidently fastens as something more than a fitting project to be exploited iu the pages of Jules Verne. The crucial moment had come. The waters of the Molyneux had been turned into a new channel, and vast crowds lined the river banks, watching the gradual subsidence of the stream. The passage proceeds : “ The time was approaching when it would be known if it was to bo utter failure or entire success, or something midway between. It had been arranged that if any conspicuous deposit of gold became apparent, a signal should be given, in response to which all the guns along the river banks should be fired. At a quarter past 1 o’clock the guns pealed forth, and, loud as was the noise they made, it seemed trifling compared with the cheers which ran up and down the river from both banks from the throats of countless thousands of spectators. The announcement of succe:s occasioned almost delirium, for it seemed as if every person in the vast crowd had an individual interest in the undertaking. The telephone announced that at a turn in the river, about seven miles from the lake, what appeared to be a large pool of fine gold was uncovered. Even as the news went round, there appeared in the middle of the river, right opposite Lady Taieri’s stand, a faint, yellow glow beneath the water. Gradually it grew brighter and brighter, until at length, to the eyes of the fascinated beholders, there appeared along, irregular fissure about twenty-five feet in length by about six or seven in width, which appeared to bo filled with gold. Some of the company now rushed forward, and amid the deafening cheers of the onlookers, dug out into boxes, which had been prepared for the purpose, shovelfuls of gold. Fresh boxes were sent for, but the gold appeared inexhaustible. Each box held 5000 oz, and fifty boxes would represent in value £1,000,000 sterling. Five hundred boxes were filled, and stilj the pool opposite Hilda was not emptied, and it was reported that two equally rich receptacles were being drained in other parts. Guards of the Volunteer Force were told off to protect the gold until it could be placed in safety.”