ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 72, 16 November 1901, Page 3

ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE

THE Pieinier may be justly proud of his son Captain Seddon, who has recenth returned to Wellington and to his friends w ith. all his blushing honours thick upon him." Perhaps, even King Dick." when he despatched his bon to Afnoa had no idea that he would make so good a s>oldier. That he is a chip of the old block those who have followed hif> career will admit. Young 'Dick" was educated at Nelson and Wellington Colleges, and, like his father, soon began to force himself to the front, illustrated by his strenuous efforts m the field of sport and his success in them On leaving school he joined the firm of Bnscoe and McNeil. and performed his duties with a thoroughness which promised speedy promotion * * * The despatch of contingents for South Africa fired the soul of young Richard, and he importuned his father to let him go to the front in any capacity. In fact, after the despatch of the Third Contingent he put it very plainly to the Premier that as he had sent other fathers' sons to the seat of war. he had no right to prevent his own flesh and blood taking a hand in the scrimmage. The Premier relented, and his son, then a lieutenant in the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles left for Africa attached to the Fourth Contingent When that Contingent landed at Durban. Lieutenant Seddon was offered a staff appointment bv Lord Roberts, the Field Marshal showing a marked preference for vouna; colonial officers with plenty of spirit and self-reliance • » • The >oung officer, however, preferred to remain with his own troop, and made his preference quite clear to the Chief of Staff. His comrades were delighted with this evidence of his good-fellow-ship With his troop. Lieutenant Seddon endured much of the hardships of campaigning Arriving in Beira the. March to Marandaras, bv way of the pestilential Bamboo Creek, was a stiff one, that tested the real grit of a man mere even than contact with armed foes Young Dick was ever a sport, and botore his' troop sot to Suh he took a loni? walk looking for game — (there are a few head of big; game there} — and lost his troop His instinct, however prompted him to take the right direction and keep out of danger, but it did not present him hawng a weary tramp of seventy miles As he was reported missing," his comrades welcomed his ro-appoaraneo bv holding a little thanksgiving soi vice under the stars that night ♦ * » At Mafekin - he was again asked to take a staff annointment This time he was persuaded, and remained with the Field Marshal until he returned to England. Lieutenant Seddon was present at the battle of Belfast with tho other staff officers, and after Lord Roberts's return Home he roioined his contingent under Colonel Davies His soldierly instincts prompted him to volunteer for further service when his troop left for New Zealand, and on the <(- commendation of Lord Kitchener he «ay promoted to the rank of captain and lomed the Seventh Contingent • • • As an officer of this rank, young 1 Dick" baw most of his hard fig-hting He participated in five or six engagements showing signal courage and coolness of resource in danger He

ua^ vei\ close to death at \ereemgning (between Johannesburg and Pretoria), his horse being shot under turn at a range of twentv-fi\e \ ards Lieutenant Leach was killed in this engagement Captain Seddon's fii>t act on reaching Auckland was to call on Mrs. Leach, the mother or that gallant officer to offer his . ondolenoes. During his> >ear and eight months' service Captain Seddon has gained some distinction for ready pluck bonhomie, and tact. His promotion, tht result of his own ability and hard work is allowed to be well deserved Whether in civil or military life he will be looked on with some pride as a -veritable chip of a sound block * • * The Rev W. C. Waters,, ot St Petei's, has not yet got used to the- tiew formula "God Save the King ' At Sunday night '«, sem ice, the congregation bang the National Anthem in honour of His Majesty's birthday, and the vicar m announcing this addition to the ser\ice twice referred to it as "God Save the Queen " The second time somebody must have whispered to him a w ord in season for he hastened to repair the error. And then the young folk tittered, and everybody smiled in a grave and pensive waj at evervbodv else. Word comes from the genial Captain Barney Todd, at Capetown. "Barney " when he got his D.5.0., told his comrades that he meant to stick to the. service and devote himself to hard work Barnej" can work and during his short stay in New Zealand he performed more in the Defence pay office than the whole staff has done since He joined the Sixth Contingent during October at Spring fontem, and he will probably see that the men have all the rations they require and a "tot" to wash them down with Barney is the man who captured Barberton with a walking-stick He was first into that Boer stronghold dio\e out the panic-stricken burghers b> flourishing his walking-stick like a sword roiuid hi'- head, as be cantered ud the mam street and then, with a keen eve to commissariat needs bought up the whole of the provision^ in the town As Captain Todd does not seem to know for which particular act he was made a D.S O , writer gives it as his opinion that Barney's Barberton feat wa-s one of the smartest and most businesslike during the war But * lie is business clean thnvi«ih * • * Mi A C. Norns, the instructor to the Learners' Gallery connected with the Post and Telegraph Department, was the recipient last week of a handsome smoking companion, containing a goldmounted cigaiette holder, a silver cigarette case, and a silver match-box, suitably inscribed from the learners attached to the Gallery Mr. Norris^ has already passed one class through his hands in a ver\ creditable manner, the lads on that occasion presenting their tutor with a handsome silver-mounted malacca cane <u> a mark of the esteem in which he wa.s held, and as a token of appreciation at the manner in which he had taught them how to manipulate the "dot dash' 1 instruments Mr Norris has also apparently won the goodwill and esteem of the class now under his control, and the\ have shown it in the tangible mann«'i inst referred to * • • Queen Victoria took a fancy to a picturesque Maori missionary who went Home many years ago. The Maori had a wife, and the wife had a son. The son was called Albert Victor, and the Queen stood godmother to him Albert Victor is just now a deck hand on a New Zealand boat and his title does not assist him one bit in handling cargo or hosing decks. The Government ought to see that such an august personage is supplied with a pension, or a commission So far however he is not even a JP

The contest for Labour & seat on the Arbitration Court bench promises to be an mteiesting one The sitting member, Mr. Robert Slater (of Dunedin) has no less than three opponents and Mr. Slater's chance of le-election is bettered bv the division in the camp Auckland tarnishes a candidate in Mr. John Faweus an engineer who a few years ago was known m Wellington, and w r ho. once at least, stood, as a ParliamentarA candidate for Auckland City It is reckoned he will get the majont\ of the \ otes of the unions in the Northern pro- \ nice, partly because he is so well known up there, and partly because the Waihi miners feel very sore concerning the award recenth given them bv the Court of which Mr Slater is a member And as the miners ha\ c openh said that the Court could not be worse, and am change made w ould be a change for the better, there is bound to be a plumper tor Mr Fawcus on the Northern goldrVlcU * • « Wellington make> strong running for i onours on the Bench inasmuch as it provides tw o candidates m the persons of Messrs Cooper (secretary of the Trades Council) and Allan Orr (secretary ot innumerable unions) As there is no hne lost between the Council and Mr. Oir, whose unions do not recognise the ( ouncil, there will be a division in the Wellington camp of organised labour. Despite his personal unpopularity among employers, and a certain section of unionists, unskilled workers are beginning to realise that Mr. Orr is about the best 'barraeker' they have had. and the\ will vote for him to a union. At the same time, it strikes t.he Lance that lit is in the running to 'block Coooer's chance " as a stone-bieaker put it » • • With the unions of the North Island rghting a triangular duel Mr. Slater is left with a clear held in the South Island, where he is a>-. well known in hbour circles as the Premier. Mr. Slater has sat on the Arbitration Court since its inception and. as he has also bet-n the secretary of the Otago Trades Council for a decade past, no one is moie familiar with colonial unionism than himself. Whilst there is a rush to oust him from his seat, it is to be observed that the employing interests sit tight, and do not squabble over the appointment of their representative on the Bench The employers know when they have a good man. if the Labourites do not, and Mr. Sam. Brown is thereto stay as long a.s he cares to occup\ the position * ♦ • The Rev J. G Greenhough — call him Greenhow — captivated the fane\ of Weihngtomans during his lecture season at the Vivian-street Chapel last week. His quaint stjle and merry quips, fired off unexpectedly were hi& peculiarities which made' for popularity. He cannot he called an orator, but he is an effective and impressionist spea.ker. He met an old college pupil in Wellington in the person of the Rev. J. Reed Glasson of the Terrace Congregational Church. Mr Glasson sa\s that Mr. Greenhough vas a terror as a master and quite a different person in private life. Mr. Greenhough retorts that those pupils of his were pretty rough material to deal with and needed a hard exterioi to rub against them * * * All hail to the Rev. James Paterson and warm congratulations to him as the Moderator-elect of the United Presbyterian Assembly of New Zealand. Mr. Paterson has done yeoman service for the cause of Presbyterianism in New Zealand, and as the' past or of St John's, Wellington, he is known in every kirk in the colony. He has also been a very active participant in the life of the F.mpire City and has taken a particularly keen interest in its educational affairs as a member of the Board of College Governors and an e^-member of the Education Board, and also as a member of the Fnivp.rs.itv Senate.

Mi F W. Frankland, actuarj- to the New York Life Insurance Company, has been in town this week assisting Mr. Purvis, the Australasian manager of that powerful company, in arranging for the establishment of branches in the colony. A decade ago Mr. Frankland was as well known in Wellington's insurance circles as he is to-day in those of NewYork foi until eight years ago, he was actuary tor our Government Life Insurance Office. The New York Life office has treated him handsomely, fully appieciatin a clever officer. Of delicate constitution his health broke down some two years ago, and his life was despaired of His medical advisea" told him that he must avoid the great heat of America's summer, and, as a relative in England about that time had left him a substantial fortune. h« desired to drop out of business. * • * But the life office directors would not let him go. If he would only keep in touch with them, remaining as an advisory actuary, they would give him a perfectly free hand as to how and where he should do his work. That suited Mr. Frankland, who is devoted to his profession, and he decided to spend half the year in travel. Last summer was spent by him and Mrs. Frankland in Japan, which they declare to be the finest country in the world — next to New Zealand. Some of Mr. Frankland's work was sent to him at Japan, and he did it in a leisurely sort of way in Chrvsantheinumland. When summer made a descent this year upon New York, the Frankland family came over to New Zealand, and the past few months have been passed bv them in the Manaw at u dist ric t . * • • For Mis. Frankland was a Foxton girl — a member of the well-known Symons famih which has not a few connections in various parts of this province and was also related to General S\mons, one of the victims of the early part of the Transvaal war. The Franklands, accompanied by a pretty sister of Mrs. F., are returning to New York bv the Sonoma, at the end of this month, after which they visit Great Britain and the Continent, and then return to New Zealand, where it is their intention to settle down, probably in the Foxton district. Mr. Frankland will not sever his connection with the New York Life, but will do some of its actuarial work over here, and make an occasional visit to America, for whose people he has a great affection. Wellingtonians will be interested to learn that the Franklands' eldest son. a young man of seventeen, worthily upheld the colony of his birth on the playgrounds of America. He was a student of Berkeley College, and was preparing to enter Yale University, but, on his family deciding to come over here to settle, he had to forego the wearing of the big •'Y." and play or yell for Yale. On the athletic grounds of his college, young Frankland won many medals and other trophies, and has developed biceps of which both himself and his parents are proud. He may yet be seen upon the racing track of Wellington, for he should make an enthusiastic member of our Amateur Athletic Association * » • Mr. George Cotton, who was farevtelled by the Newtown Congregationalists last week, was well known among the city's master butchers. He has now left the chopping block and the sausage macliine in order to raise sheep and mutton near Palmerston. North. He i» not without experience as a fanner, foi once upon a time, as a change from rt tailing in Cuba-street, he had a little farm well tilled at the Hutt. Although he nourished like a °reen bay tree in >us «hop in Constable-street. Mr. Cotton had to relinoni«h shon-keepinc on account of his health. Nature seeming to insist upon his on to the land and working in the open air. Newtown's loss is the Manawatu's gain, for Mr Cotton was a pood eitizpn

The London Missionary Society's deputation, at piescnt M&itmg Wellington, mokes an mteiesting trio. The head and trout ot it. the Rev Joseph King represents the comfortable, easy -going, otticial side of the -L.M.5.," for he is tlie oiganiMii" agent ot the Society 101 Vuxtralasia pending his time, in going to and ho upon the eivilsed portion ot the earth talking about the self-sacrific-ing deeds of the people who are doing the real woik However time was whtti Mi King put m his share of the heat and bin then of the day bv taking lus Bible and his life in his hands among the savages of New Guinea Uho will say he luis not earned the pinilege of wearing the tall hat of civilisation and the clerical raiment in lands uliei. nnssiona. v i oast or boded m vei appears unon the biH of fare The «-• v I Lord Lord and Kme bv the wav au a good combination in peaceful navels has for mam years been on active missionary duties m Madaeascu MiAmy Harband. B A is a Chnsubmch pirl and went out to the Madias (India) minion field shortly aftei takme liei degree » • * Bandmaster Herd, who had the honoui and pleasure of acting as judge at the BaJlarat Band Contest, held during the closing days of last month was exceedingly well treated whilst, on the Ser side" of the Tasman Sea To his ereat delight, no jarring note followed upon his decisions, which gave general satisfaction, although fully 000 mu.icSns were affected bv the decision* Several of the leaders of unsucoe&siul bands were true sportsmen for they told the Welhnertoman that he had chosen the winners wisely and well as for the Contest Committee, tlu^ gave him £10 above his stipulated fee and sureh no ereater compliment ot satisfaction could be paid a nudge than to receive it in hard cash ♦ * The Mavoi of Ballarat dined Mr Heid and the bandsmen of S\dne\ wined him as he came through It was rather odd b< the vvav that among the fifteen bands competing at BaJlarat was E T Code's Melbourne Band which Mi Herd placed second in both the hie e.\cmt* It will be remembeied that, Mr Code indeed the hie; contest which held in Wellmaton some two^eais ago when Mr Herd batoned oui GamBand into fiist place * • * Backn Powell whose soldiers weie responsible foi all the jewelled swords and giee-n stone pendants and things a hero-woi shipping generation thiusts on him is a pretty smart chap Baden is modest "too and when people aie thrusting new swords and other gewgaws at him he always mentions the othei one of the fellows who helped him live on mealie pap and sawdust flitters in Mafekine but he does not sell out Ins museum and give the other fellows a tieat If he had not been a mihtaiA heio lv would prohabK have been captuipd foi the stage • * • Told of him that at one o^ the heroworshipping tournaments in Southampton lntelv in reply to a doc ten's (|uerv as to how he felt when he killed a man professionally, with a. genius for getting out of a corner that would have helped him hugely at Maf eking ho .said Oh all neht, how do you feel under the same circumstances ' Which tale, emanating from the brain of an inventive louina-hst, would make yon really think B P deserved a medal or a jewelled sword or something

Judge \au Wvtk who lias just boon cUhuitid foi the roajoialn of JNe\\ Yoik after a sharp contest in winch laniinajiN got a som io knock-out is the v,imi old Dutch pait\ who refused to louoi tlie mayoial Hag to half-mast when news was leconed ot Queen Victona's death Tune bungs in its leienges Van \V\ck is consigned to obscunt\ and Soth Low is set on high Seth b\ the wav, is pi trident of Columbia I ni\ersity. Still another haixh pioneer has passed away in the person of Mi John Grigg who recently died at his home at Longboach C'anterbur\ knows him as a man who ha,s done much for its trade its progress, and its people Mr Gngg arrived m Auckland in 18")2 and went into the potato industry Duimg the Maou war he pio\ed himself d shrewd business man b\ sir -ilMnghois^ feed to the tioops and tlieieb\ laid the. foundation of his success in business hfe In 18(>l, he lourneved to (anteibur\ and has c\er Miice then been identified with that district • * ♦ Mr Griee was piominmt in the rstabhshinent of the fiozen moat

industi\ of New Zealand, and on that account alone he may be deemed a benefactor. Although eminently htted by expel ienoe to take apart in public aftairs Mr. Grigg's retiring disposition constrained him to speak little and act much His opinions, rare1\ given were therefore considered \aluable and as such were frequently nought His life' was remarkable foi oneness of purpose and honesty of effort and the people who knew him best are ageed a& to* his sterling worth and k grrt hi^ decease. ♦ ♦ « Di Logan Campbell, ex-ma\ oi ot Auckland and the munificent donor ot Cornwall Park to the people of Auckland feeling fresh and well celebrated Ins eight y-fifth birthday bv climbine to th<- top of Rangitoto. the roughest and steepest island mountain around Auckland This is good news. Writei lias essa\ed Ra.ngitoto and he is under eights- five and knows that the revered doctor, Auckland's cherished link with the carl's unsettled da\s>. is robust and well, considering the' feat of climbing Rangitoto is allowed to be a good one. foi \ourhs of fort\ or fifty.