The Romance of a Pro-Consul | Page 2

nation making; a harvest in South Australia; the
witchcraft of Turner's wig; the vanity of riches; keeping the
Anglo-Saxon ring; strange human documents; and a reference to Sir
John Franklin.

VIII. PICTURES IN BLACK AND WHITE
Food, as man's leading motive; curing a witch doctor; a problem of
Kaffir women's ornaments; elevating the native; a Tasmanian study; a
new Sabine story; the Aborigine and his surroundings; lastly,
McFarland's elopement.
IX. OVER-LORD OF OVER-SEAS
Lamech's slogan and the task of stilling it in New Zealand; with, arising
therefrom, martial chronicles of Hongi, Heke, and Kawiti, Maori chiefs,
and of the taking of the 'Bat's Nest' stronghold.
X. 'TWIXT NIGHT AND MORN
An Easter scene and earlier; on tramp with Selwyn; the kidnapping of
Rauparaha; Rangihaeta cajoled into road making; how the Maoris
rubbed noses; and the boycott as peace-maker.
XI. THE THRILL OF GOVERNING
Knight and esquires; a secret of empire; the tragedy of the naval
lieutenant; Patoune's fallen-out tooth; to the hills for New Zealand's
constitution; playing 'cock-fight'; and repulsing the Ngatipoa.
XII. IN THE QUEEN'S NAME
Showing the management of another danger spot of the realm, to which
picture there come in, details of the winning of the African natives to
the Queen, a comedy of witchcraft and widows, and a German Legion
difficulty.
XIII. OCEANA AND A PROPHETESS From the plight of Sir John
Herschel in London, to the stir made in South Africa by Nongkause, a
Kaffir girl turned Messiah; and between pages Sandilli, Moselekatsi,
Bishop Colenso, and Bishop Wilberforce.
XIV. A SAVIOUR OF INDIA

The activities of a hunter, prelude to a narrative of how a British
military force, under orders for one theatre of war, was boldly diverted
to another; incidentally the bearding of Moshesh; and a queer Pax
Britannica.
XV. AYE DREAMING AND DOING
The effort to federate South Africa; the gathering in of the Pacific,
involving visits to New Caledonia and Norfolk Island; the Irish girl as
empire builder; a meeting with Macaulay; and Prince Alfred at the
Cape.
XVI THE FAR-FLUNG BATTLE-LINE
Two Kings of Maoriland, Te-Whero-Whero and Tawhiao; Sir John
Gorst and the newspaper battle, 'Lonely Sparrow on the House-Top' v.
'Giant Eagle Flying Aloft'; the storming of Wereroa Pa; and an escape
from an ambush.
XVII. FOR ENGLAND'S SAKE
Keeping the painter from being cut; an election contest at Newark; a
visit from Mr. Mundella; the pacifying of the tribes; and finally the
golden legend of Hine-Moa the Maori maiden.
XVIII. A FATHER OF FEDERATION
A word on Mr. Gladstone, and many words on Anglo-Saxon federation,
the ideas underlying it, elements making for it, and the benefits which
would follow in its train.
XIX. WAITING TO GO
Backward and forward, being farther memories, one telling of a tryst
with Dean Stanley; then, an exposition of simple faith and the romance
of death, as leading to the Hereafter.

THE ROMANCE OF A PRO-CONSUL

I PERSONAL AND PARTICULAR
'Perhaps there is something in old age that likes to have a young mind
clinging to it.' Sir George Grey was speaking of the famous people he
had known in his youth long, long before. He struck an inner note of
nature which is surely equally valid the other way? Whenever I think of
the remark, I am inclined to discover one reason why I came to know
Sir George so well.
I met him, as I have met other characters of English story in our own
day. You go into these great waters, seeking that all who care may
know. You cry across them, answer comes back or it does not, and
there endeth the lesson, until the next time.
It was different with Sir George Grey. He hauled me straight in-board,
saying, 'Now, call upon me often, and we'll talk mankind over. Going
by myself, no two people can meet without being a means of
instruction to each other, to say nothing else. You are where the swing
of events must be felt, and I am in the back-water of retirement. It may
entertain us both, to study new subjects under old lights.'
Thus flew many an hour, and many an evening, and the memory of
them is green and grateful to me. Here was an incident, there a
reflection, and always it was Sir George Grey intimate, whether in a
frame large or small. It is the rivulets, babbling to the big stream, that
really tell its tale, for without them it would not be; and so with the
river of life. Beside me, a scarred veteran looked back upon himself,
hailing some venture from the mist of years. Again, it might be an
event on the wing; or the future, and him bending eagerly forward into
its sunshine.
We wrote things, he inspiring, I setting down, and by and by I
exclaimed: