42 Ha If- an- Hour in Queensland and the Bush. 



soldier's life in the time of war is anything but a desirable one. 

 He had numerous hairbreadth escapes, on one occasion, while 

 carrying despatches to the colonel of his regiment, being the 

 target for a considerable time of a number of Federal marksmen. 

 In the course of his lecture he paid a tribute to the generalship 

 of " Stonewall" Jackson and Lee. When he left the army the 

 war had almost come to an end. He closed with the hope that 

 none of his audience might ever pass through a similar experi- 

 ence, and the prayer that " the weapons of our warfare may be 

 spiritual, and not carnal." 



Edward N. MacIlwaine, Esq., read a Paper entitled 

 HALF-AN-HOUR IN QUEENSLAND AND THE BUSH. 



Mr. MacIt.wainr, who has had a lengthened and varied ex- 

 perience in Queensland, then proceeded with his lecture, the 

 first portion of which was devoted to a sketch of the large 

 colony of Queensland, and a reference to a few figures showing 

 the wonderful progress the colony has made since its foundation 

 only thirty years ago. Mention was made of the principal indus- 

 tries which have contributed to the prosperity of Queensland, 

 these being pastoral, agricultural, mining, and fishing. The 

 lecturer gave some idea of the Bohemian life in the bush, and 

 of the dangers attached thereto, dwelling particularly on the 

 danger of being " bushed" or lost in the bush, and narrated the 

 experience of a party of which he was one, who went in search 

 of a missing friend whom they ultimately discovered dead. 

 Mr. MacIlwaine gave a description of the Blacks and their mode 

 of living, showing that they are one of the lowest races of 

 humanity. The Aboriginals' annual assembly was described — 

 an occasion when the whole tribe gathers for a week's hunting, 

 and finishes with a coroborie. This coroborie was fully described, 

 and a portion of one was sung by the lecturer, who accompanied 

 himself with the clashing of boomerangs. The lecturer also 



