THE MEN ABOUT TOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 527, 18 September 1871, Page 2

THE MEN ABOUT TOWN.

J^STO. XXXIV. ''■. . ;:^ Dick returned on Friday evening from the Thames, where he had been present at the opening, of .the new lodge, and hap been duly' admitted into' the fraternity of Freemasons in conjunction with several other great men,.;among them, I am proud say, being Billy Roe, whose connection with the Caledonian mine fully entitles. him to be considered a Scotchman/ although his enemies do say he is, a Cornishmiin, but this must be a pure fabrication on their part. However, I am glad to say that Scotchman or Cornishman, he is now a free and accepted mason, and a friend of Dick's. My son made the best of the opportunitypresented to him, and while he and Billy were going, through the trying ordeal they mutually sympathised with each other, and after it was over hob-nobbed together with a glass of Madeira, when -Hoe, in confidence, told Dick that if ho had any spare coin ho could not do better than invest.a few thousand in Caledonians, because theywere going up rapidly ; and, that having now been fully installed as a mason, he should be much more competent than previously to build up and pull down blocks of golden quartz; I ask ad Dick to give me some little idea of the fiory ordeal through which he had passed, but upon this subject he kept a profound silence. However, ho told me all o bout the feed, which seemed to be a very jolly affair, as indeed might hare been expected from the well known convivial qualities of the chairman. Dick says he left them in the height of their glory, the chairman singing "Willie brewed a peck o' nuaut," and the remainder of the company joining in with what is termed a medley chorus. The whole thing was very; interesting I:have no doubt; and Dick sa^s that- ho never saw such a degree of independence exhibited in all his life, for that, in joining in the chorus, every man had a distinct verse and tune for himself, which, as may be imagined, was highly deverting. But tho best part of the whole thing, ill my opinion,— that is if the account I received from Dick be correct, —was the grand procession from the Grahamstown wharf to the Scotch Church. The line of march was formed iv the rear of the Wharf Hotel, in order that the gigantic preparations being made should be hidden from the vulgar eye. But some of the goklfield arabs got scent of what was going forward and at once climbed to a point from which the enlivening scene at the back could be witnessed. Here many of the Masons were dressed in their Sunday best, while others who had just left their work wore washing their faces in tho tide and smoothing themselves up to the best of theip ability, and tho display of black bell-toppers, dirty white hats, felt " chumraies," black trousers, corduroys, black coats, aud blue blouses, with varnished boots and highlows, presented a very pic-< turasque appearance. At last, all being ready, aud the entire crowd having taken a final blow at ils nose, a final start was made. In front of all came the bind playiugthe " D.'ad March in ISau!." | The lievs. Messrs. Lusk and Hill nest appeared leading the procession, dressed1 in black gowns down to their heels, and presenting a. most svoo-begoue appearance ; indeed a bystander who had yj.nl landed from a steamer, enquired of Dick "if them coveys was going to be executed?" And, certainly, his appears to have been tho general impression. Then came Past, Present, Future, Hiilf-i'ully 1 empty, Deputy, Grand Master Bevi-ridgc, &c, &c, &,c, &c, who was elo.scly followed by Secretary Jenkins, bearing erect a banner on which were depicted a hod of mortar and a triangle. The line of route was very dirty, and every instant it was broken by gentlemen seceding to the publichouses at the corners, to inquire the time, so they said, as they feared it ; was getting lute. But what need Ito say \ more of this grand ceremony P It is now a matter ot history, and will bo so to die end of nil time. ,

Where is the Northern lieform Leaguo ? Where are our political and oilier associations ? Whero, oh where, our Fanners Society ? Come forward, one and all of you, iv defence of the rights, liberties, and other privileges which you enjoy, tp repletion, in this thy home of your adoption. Sjtnnd forward men, once and for over, and slr'jke a blow that will for ever annihilate the General Govomiueul, and make the whole* island a gigantic province with Auckland at its head. Humours come to us by the telegraph that au attempt will be made to abolish the whole of the provinces, and increase the taxation of the country, for the benefit of the public at large, and the Ministry in particular. Will you tamely submit to this stafe of things ? Well you give up that palladium of liberty which ims guarded this fair province since ;the days of Captain Cook ? Or will you rather, by presenting yourself as a bold plialanjt of. determined warriors, hurl back the tide of Centralism, unless, mind you, it is intended to make this city the capital of the country; if so, agree with the projected movement by all means, and once more let us revel in a large General Government Expenditure. This scheme Mr. Greigh. ton evidently intends to have carried out. iXc lias already warned, the Houso wliat is coming, and I doubt not that the Ministry quailed before the determined front, and fearful prophecy of the Ad* rairahle Creighton.

I see the pigeon shooting season Tins ; commenced, and some very fair sconing | made by ouv local murksnv'ti. Dick tajia invited to make one of the party, aud after great solicitation prevailed upon nio to lend 11 i »>. a largo single barrel duck-gnu i which wits presented to me by my grand- | father, many years ago. 'f hj.s gun it '■ appearcd'was loaded about 20years agoartd had not been since tired, but Dick thinking to do a big stroke of business put in ' another full charge of powder and shot, and standing wuli his back to a tree closed bis eyes and boldly pulled (lie trigger. The explosion was terrific, Dick, for a moment sa\r more stars in heaven j than were ever seen even by Sir JoQ.ii Hers'ehblj 'and for a moment or two the bystanders thought thopo.vder magnziuj had gone. The birds cowered on the' ground fearful of the discharge, but T j must do Dick the justice to say that lie j had'nt injured a hair of one of their.J heads by his first shot, however, they ' were so frightened that ou the next'man ! Mr. Mor —n presenting his gun vri'h theiuteniion of firing, the bird quietly slipped

Out of the-b&x^au quickly to his feet and-there'-fell a*6wn in an attitude of mercy,'and Mpr—*n coolly picked it up and pui^it. in tiis pocket—and this counted twb>. Diclcii'h'ad a swelling in his left jawbone,^|3r the rest of the day, and he: h:a3:^veipfessed his determination to go to noTmoro pigeon matclios, which he very properly denounces as highly dangerous.

Have you heard of tlie very hard cnse which befel Mr. C —-mp—n of the C —y o—b, on the arrival of the Hero from Sydney this last trip. A parcel *as sent to him from that boat very nicely packed up,.and as he was expecting a present of elegant trifles of jewellery with which to adorn those fair creatures who so lightly decant the drinks behind the bar, he took it up with aridity, and gladly paid the freight upon it —amounting to about £2. He carried the pareelupstairs, and it was opened in the presence of several pitirs of sparkling eyes which gazed with eager curiosity upon the brown paper parcel, speculating as to the particular kind of presents which would fill to their lot. But lo ! and behold on the paper being taken off, the only thing exposed to view was a piece of—bacon ! which had been sent over from Sydney, and which would have been bought in Auckland for three or four shillings. TII3 disappointment of the fair sirens, and the annoyanco of the noble host, may be better imagined than described. Tlie girls at oucc returned to the bar, and the host for the rest of the day went about with a face as long as my arm, reflectively chinking the coppers in his pocket to drown his annoyance.

I feel highly indignant, that the Bill for legalising marriages with a deceased wife's sister ,has been thrown out. I am a widower, and I strongly object to it, on purely personal grounds. Why should Dick be debarred from having a mother in his aunt. 'The whole thing is; monstrous, and I shall despatch Dick to Wellington to try and get the noble houses of Parliameut to alter their decision. Beck's a jolly good fellow —at all events, Dick says ' so^—and as he is a volunteer, he is allowed to be a judge in such matters. The fact is Mr. J3eck has given a very handsome silver cup to be fired for, and I hope that his example will be followed by a great many others. If there were but a larger distribution of this spirit of liberality among the public, the different corps would lift "" - •' '"^""Jboting than E, V ' S yNßiij^i t''% i ; : ', -' ' IItVU * IllO'\U ''■-» n"' ' '''*'. '\'1V-1 .*■'•'' a " tip" on the subject of " Caledonians," but perhaps alter what occurred during the early part of this week in relation to the Otngos, I had better say as little as possible. Nathaniel Beeswing.