"MR. E. A. SMITH."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 February 1910, Page 6

"MR. E. A. SMITH."

'V **' > H■• Al COLONUL'S EXPERIENCES. * : ; In December of 1908 a,' young Port Chalmers man, after six - weeks "in Greenwich Hospital,,; found .. himself- on' the" streets-of ■. London'.* absolutely: I'or/ a; few.;: days .-'he ilived on", a 1 few .shillings;. gained'iby' pawning his.watch and chain; '-"and 1 then, rendered:: desperate' by hunger, he,decided' to.' apply".to.the New Zealand;Agent-General -for : assistance.'" In 'giving- a' reporter:', of - Daily 'Timw'' : ,'ah!accquht of .his/expenehces ,*on' Er iday,V: her; !said;.'that -jhe .(.caired.; at.' ,>'the • office',', and^asked.^td/jSeeiMr,;'Eeeyes.'* ~"!"'/ """They«seem'ed'<quite:!astonished!: at my ,Request,*)iind. askearifrl-'ha'd 'att:,' appointment "with, him.', l .I!: said-I-had not.

■•/."Oh," said,"the"clerk., ,'CBu.t jou can't ..see the Ageht-Genjeral/!/-Put':in' writing what you want." ' -■ : ; "That's; hd"gopd ; '/"to r me',": said the colonial. "What should I do?- ,'

j*; The 'clefk proved.tp;be a Mr.. Goldfinch,: a very 'kindly-. man, :,T\ho listened, symp-, thetically to . the "colonial's!' tale: of woe, .advised .him to; apply :for- assistance toj/a'^meetingof .Colonial,■-. -Institute. Hei.did so," explaining -his' difficulty,' and -the Institute, - halving''Considered' his puse,- • magnahimonsly . advanced' him 155."'.-This' :kept' hiinfgbiiig<>f6r'' a : tim'e, l : L but!prese'ntlf; : half':despefate.' \rith' i huhgei'i- he paid iin-; 'other ..visit; to "the .Agent-General's; office.'By now Mr'. Reeves "was ! gone,': and • Mr. llall-Jonos, High;, Commissioner,, was. in his 'place. . , .... !■-.!.- V„

,; The Port'* Chalmers: man .'-asked to see Mr;. bat he was told _ that that :was quite impobible. -What idid ■ he. want ?,. The New Zealander, said that- he ' !was!, starving; "and! w'^s;.' of '"course,, penni:': less.':- If'he could "get into, communication yith-Ms'relatives"in. 'New 1 Zealand, .'money ,would' : immediate!y ,be; sent'hiin;.' ..Would. the ''Agent-Genmi'''Cable-to Port Chalmers for'him?' .: ~ '

".i'The officials., deliberated over the re-' 'quest!;arid*(the colonial .was- given, .into :tne :,charge';of/ah elderly . man ,whom 'he . did" not!mow.'.-jThe. latter ■ said" that, ho had better, see, whether -.he;"couldvriot. get an assisted passage; ' and took him - round to,!" Mr . :. Smithy"!shipping'office^,.'.This was; a,.room-in* the,' same ..corridor,; ".nght" alongside: the Agent-General's office;! "Here a ybnhg Englishman, . with" tie! somewhat condescending address"! so ,-irritating ' to. colonials,, heard" his "request"to" see -Mr." :Smith;'!:■--!' V' :; ! ; i : -'! : ; v'

"Mr. Smith is not in," said- tho Englishman. ;"What! 'dq .y'ou v-!want P"'-: 1 ' : The' Colonial : explained: ■ his difficulty. -{."Oh*,, weVcannot do anything, for*you," :the ,Ei«lishman. v ' r We';are" only here toassist; : emigrants.; ' You""are - a'; native of itho country.' and cannot call * yourself an emigrant." • - - "Well,-I .want' to get back somehow," said the'colonial!. . ... "!

"Aie:you;hard;;upy'/asied'!the/Englishman.. *.■"/■' l; 1 *?;''!! '

h "Well,'l am, rather,''* said the colonial. ''"Oh;,.yes,.'that's .always' the way •with you " colonials," "remarked'! the: English-!' ■man. " '"Tou : all.' come here" and "expect "such a' deuce; of'"a :lot." '!:"'" 1" " "

; This, particular, colonial fired 'up, and demanded/.td- know"' "who he. thought ho was'talking! to; Wasn't "the, Agent-Gene-ral's","office ■ a 'part of New. Zealand,' and surely ,'a New: Zealander/, in'."trouble was entitled to! tuin 'there for '.assistance."--; J '. The young' Englishman told the colo-. iiial that ...he -.wanted' <no. insolence, and the ..colonial" said;! that "all -he asked for, was fair treatment;' " The: Englishman retorted! that the"! colonial! fellows ."were, all: the", same: " they : wanted far • . too' much." ! ■ v'i

\ As'' the indignant 'colonial showed an inclination' .to, disouss . the,'." point • at length,' and ; did not leave, the, office -when requested'-.to; do .'eoj.'the,porter, was inyited up to.'assist. in ; hjs'ejection. , Penniless,'™ was. turned, out into .the streets, and he spent that' nighV and'many subsequent. nights,.' in a : where, by ;.the Mndness of 'the . man ■ in<' charge, he .was.: permitted to - sometimes occupy a bed freo of cost.

•; This .oolohial remained -for 'soine; months in 'London, .picking'upa , |>recarious. livelihood in . the/• streets,, and suffering much' hardship., -At last, after ■ agTeat many ;unsuccessful "efforts, ' ho,: obtained employment: on board a steamer bound for. New; Zealand, and "worked , his !pass-.. age.": He . never , returned. to the: AgentGeneral's office. • •. ' ';■' '