LECTURE ON SOUTH AFRICA.

West Coast Times, 19 April 1911, Page 4

LECTURE ON SOUTH AFRICA.

Last evening, Mr. Thos. Probert, formerly of the Government Agricultural College, Nata], South Africa, gave an interesting and instructive lecture at All Saints’ Schoolroom on the Victoria Falls, the river Zambesi, and other interesting parts of South Africa through which he had travelled. The lecture was well attended and highly appreciated. The lecturer describe) - various scenes, past as well as present, in journeying from Durban to the Falls— Cecil Rhodes superintending the working of the gun “Long Cecil” during the seige of Kimberley, Colenso, Johannesburg (the hub of South Africa), the Victoria Falls bridge, the fascinating scenery of the Zambesi (which was recently the scene of the race for the sculling championship of the world .between Arnst and Barry), the lonely and weird Matopos jn all their silence, and desolate grandeur, and lastly the ancient ruins, diggings and rubbish heaps of Khami and Zimbabwe, Mashonalanci Rhodesia, which are a puzzle to the archaeologist traveller. The lecture was well illustrated with numerous‘lantern slides, skilfully shown by Mr. King, those showing the different aspects of the Falls being of special merit. Point; in natural history were not omitted the baobab tree (the largest and oldest tree in the world), the puff adder, and the hippo, of the Zambesi being abh and graphically dealt with. .At the conclusion of the, lecture the vicar, Rev. A. Here, M.A., proposed i veto of thanks to Mr. Probert for hi' interesting and educational lecture, tr Mr. King the lanternist, and to.,'tlx ladies and gentlemen who had so kind ly assisted in connection with the- lecture. The proceeds will bo devoted to the Sunday School funds.