MAX O’RELL’S FAREWELL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2475, 11 March 1893, Page 3

MAX O’RELL’S FAREWELL.

M. Paul Blouet took affectionate leave of these Colonies in a few remarks he made at the close of his last lecture at Auckland. “ This is the last time,” said the lecturer, in his parting words “ that I shall appear in the Colonies. To-morrow I shall be on my way to Europe. I have been constantly asked ever since I landed on these shores whether I intended to write a book about the Colonies. Well, I have written books upon different nationalities, and one thing that I can say is, that I have never written anything about any country as the result of my first visit, for which I had to apologise upon my second visit. If ever I should write about the Colonies, I shall still be able on my second visit to look you in the face and shake hands with you. (Applause). The first line of the first chapter of such a book will state that the people of these Colonies are the most kind and hospitable people I have ever me*. I have come without pre-conceived notions. I had heard of Melbourne and Sydney, but you must excuse me if I heard of nothing more. I looked upon these as cities of twenty or thirty thousand inhabitants, and as to the others —well they were infinite. When I look upon the inexhaustible resources of these Colonies which can grow almost anything upon earth, I feel it is absurd to talk about depression. They, like spoilt children, have lived a little fast, but with the exercise of a little carefulness, a most promising future lies before them. Both my family and myself hare met everywhere with cordiality and kindness, and will carry home with them the sweetest recollections of New Zealand. Good-bye.” (Applause.)