COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14153, 15 April 1916, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

MUKCHISON

(From our Own Correspondent.)

Mr John Clegg lectured on his experiences at the beginning of the war to a packed 'house on Thursday evening last. Commencing with his escape from Europe under sc!H-<stn.rvation conditions, Mr Clegg described his voyage to South America, his dopai'ture for New York,- his capture on the high sons by the Kronprin^ Wilhelm, and liis varied experiences, mostly. of a pleasant nature, while* on the German boat, and his landing once more in l\io «c Janeiro after having spent over a month as a forced guest of his German enemies. " Mr Ciegg then described his second departure from South America, his arrival at New York, his journey across America to Vancouver, thence home to New Zealand via Honolulu. Mr. Clegg, though not an orator,."delivered, his lecture ,in •■.a-.-in'osfc anterestiug tian« ncr, &nd carried his audience. with hi m from start to finish. 'Sonic of Mr ■Clegg's-.experiences were of a humorous nature; and the speaker's humorous, manner of dfscribiner those* kept his, listeners in a ripple" of ianghtor, w;hile his description of Belgian atrocities caused -anything-but amusement. One result of Mr Clcgg's experiences may be gathered from his remarks, and that is tha.t he has developed a decided aversion to the German nation. This was constantly being shown, nnd his caustic comments on" the Huns were oi anything but a complimentary nature. At the conclusion of his lecture • Mr Clegg was' accorded a hearty, voie or tbanEs by acclamation on tho motion of the chairman, Mr J. Brown. It is plea-sing to know tliat as a result of Mr Cleggf s lecture in Murchison the Belgian Fund has benefited to the extent of £12 Bs, which brings the total amount raided by Mr Cv>gg for t.he various patriotic funds to nearly £700. .