PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 8, 25 August 1900, Page 12

PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

Charles Warner is doing immense business in the melodramatic line at London Princess. His daughter, Grace (Mrs Franklyn McLeay), is his right-hand supporter. Captain Richards's death, announced the other day, recalls the times of the earlier " seventies," when the great Caledonian Mine at the Thames, of which he became manager, was turning out gold literally by the ton. Eichards came after the best part of the big patch had been worked out, but nevertheless, under his management, the old claim gave some splendid returns. The Caledonian was just a little bit of a claim at the foot of the Moanatairi Creek, and it and its neighbours, the Golden Crown and Manukau, all of which were on gold together, and on the same big reef, made up the richest hill ever found in New Zealand.' Those were the times when big fortuneswere quickly made on the Thames. Caledonian scrip went up to somewhere about .£220 a-piece. As not many people could gamble with them at those high figures, they used to be split up and sold in quarters, tenths, and even smaller fractions. Also, there is little doubt that there were many people who grew rich outside of scrip-jobbing. For though every miner had to submit to humiliating surveillance, the very fact of living under suspicion made men crafty, and there were in these times many little private crushing plants which were very glad totreat specimens that were almost solid gold.

Mr W. Barber informs the burgesses of Te ■ Aro ward that it is his intention to offer himself for re-election as a representative in the City Council. Messrs Band and Higginbotham are also out for the Cook ward. The former will address the burgesses at Cyde Quay this (Friday) evening in the School-, room. * Mr Estall has taken possession of theKilbirnie Hotel, in the pretty suburb of" Kilbirnie, just over the hill from Newtown, and within easy access of the city. The hotel provides excellent accommodation for permanent boarders and tourists. There are all kinds of amusement in the vicinity — boating, bathing, hockey, golf, &c, &c. A fine view of the Straits can be obtained from the house. The locality is highly recommended as a health resort..