CAPTAIN BARRY'S LECTURE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9237, 24 November 1891, Page 2

CAPTAIN BARRY'S LECTURE.

Captain \V. Jackson BARRr, well-known us a lecturer, historiau, and colonist of many years' standiag, delivered a lecture in the Alexandra Hall on Monday night to a rather limited but thoroughly appreciative audience. The rainy Aveathor that set in between 7 and 8 o'clock acted no I doubt as a deterrent to many who had made up their minds to attend. His Worship tho Mayor presided, and introduced the lecturer in a few suitable remarks. Captain Barry then gave a history of his travels and experiences in the colonies. He stated that he was bora in 1819 in the village of Melbourne, Cambridgeshire (England), and when a boy 10 years of ago he came out to Sydney with Sir Geor^o Alcock, who was on a tour. Tho Sydney of those days was then sketched by the lecturer, who stated that ho owned a pieco of land now in tho heart of the city, which he bought and sold for quite a nominal figure, but which now was worth half a million. In Sydney the lecturer ran away from Sir Goorgo Alcock on tho eve of their departure for Buenos Ayres, and after some years' residence in Sydney he stowed away in a cask on board a whaler, having only tho bungholo to broathe out of. On tho whaler ho found things were not " all beer and skittles," and when the vessel put into Port Philip ho and a mate ran away. They wandered round the shores of Fort Philip, and met the Bateman and Faulkner colonißing expeditions, and also Buculey, tho wild wbitoinan, who lived with the blacks 32 years. Captain Barry and his mate finally set to work with the colonisers in working on what is now the site of " Marvellous Melbourne," and they were getting on extremely well, when the captain and some of the men of the whaler turned up and carried them away. The lecturer stated that ho left behind him a piece of ground, a wattle and dab hut, and £16 in wages. This pieco of land was now part of tho frontage of Elizabeth-street, tho busiest place in Molbourne. After cruising about some time Captain Barry and Ins mate ran away at the Bay of Islands, and were picked up by the Maoris, who, after mature consideration, initiated them as members of the tribe, and gave them two wives each. After many narrow epcapes the Captain and his mate escaped to a French Whaler, which waa afterwards burnt at sea, and for days they were on the sea ie open boats. So bad had their condition become that they cast lots for life, and his mato was chosen as tho victim. Luckily, however, a sail showed upthatday, and they were rescued. The lecturer tlien gave his experiences in Western Australia and othei places. His mate Winton, he atated, was killed, by his side while scaling the walls of Canton, in China. In evidence of his wonderful activity, tho Captain statod that eight years ago, in Blenheim, being then 64 years of age, he rode in a hurdle race against seven competitors and won. Ie conclusion, the lecturer narrated the oarlj settling of New Plymouth, made a fow remarks about a large tin field bo knew oi in the King Country, and also referred t( tho harbor question. • Votes of thanks to the lecturer nnc chair brought the proceedings to a close.