Here, pending the re-adjustment of the instruments, the audience indulged in a few moments of lively conversation, for the promises seemed to be more encouraging. But soon Mr. Oseba stepped to the front with a confident dignity, and in a pleasing voice said:—
“My learned colleagues, and you, my beloved countrymen and women, I have detained you long, and, that you might appreciate my conclusions, I have gone somewhat into details in my extensive review. I have shown you many of my discoveries, on the outer surface of our planet; I have explained the political systems of many peoples, and I have observed the play of your emotions as the conditions of men were portrayed; but I now promise you only pleasing revelations, for in beauty, in climate, in soil and social situation, I am going to show you the paradise of Oliffa, and this means a portion of Australasia that declined to join the federation of which I have spoken—it means New Zealand, on the map, ‘Zealandia,’ with the poets, but Zelania, as it would be called in our more musical speech, and by this euphonious title shall we speak of that charming land. This, my children, was my last discovery, and while many people on Oliffa don’t care to be discovered at all, I hope the ‘Zelanians’ will never regret my having landed on their blissful shores.”
SCENE VIII.—Act I.
ZELANIA—MR. OSEBA’S LAST DISCOVERY.
Blue pencilling several eloquent pages, I am here constrained to use the discretion generously given me, by choosing for myself the methods of introducing the scenes of Mr. Oseba’s last discovery.
Hinemoa’s Bath, of Legendary Fame
It has been previously mentioned that Leo Bergin had “done newspaper work in New Zealand,” and here seems a proper place to re-refer to this pleasing fact.