All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 78, 28 December 1901, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

AMONG the many Wellingtonians who have seen service m South Africa, and who wish, to see more is Trevor Foster "Rastus," for that is the name given to him by has comrades of the First, was, and is, of a dis position that Mark Tapley might have envied He left the desk of Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co., to seek for glory m the untented field, and when the corners had been knocked o*f him he was one of the best-liked men in his troop. That he was esteemed bv his firm was evidenced by their generously giving him "leave on full pay to go to Africa. On his return he took up his old billet where he left off, and a commission in the College Rifles. • ♦ ♦ As secretary to the Ist New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association he has done moTe to keep the men of that body in touch than any other man, and as editor of the "Bulletin," the organ of the Association, he has shown that should other lines fail him he can turn an adept pen to journalism. Duty appar ently calls again, and "Raetusis for service once more with the Eighth. His firm will again give him extended leave, and will again keep his stool vacant for him During his absence, the quality of the First Contingent "Bulletin" must necessarily suffer but he will d© expected to keep the new editor ot that publication posted up in the doings^ of his fellow Firsts who are with him in th" land of the Boer • • • Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.H.R. for Ohinemun, which district contains the marvellous Waahi mine, is perhaps one of the hardest-worked members in tn« House. A visitor to Waihi will gener ally see the bustling la,wyer surrounded with miners each with a little grievance. He listens to them all, and is said to dole out more legal advice , grati* than any lawyer in the Auckland Province He it was who worked manful] v to rob the raither venomous Label Bill r its terrors, and for this he is the iournallist's friend. • • • Mr Palmer's latest labour of love to emancipate Waihi from the slough c* a County Council, and to put that place above suspicion— and the high-water line. He is an example of that rar avis a young man who is useful in Parliament Unlike raa^ busy men, .* does not perform his Parliamentary duties in the dilettante fashion many lawyers favour, and that he is a power for progress m the Eldorado of the North all Waiheathans admit • • ♦ Dr. Hiem, the eminent Swiss geologist remained but for a short time in Wellington. There are no particular attractions for a geologist. The geological specimens scattered around our thoroughfares are hardly interesting from a scientific standpoint. The Professor is an aged, reverend-looking gentleman, perhaps over the allotted age of three score and ten, and he visits New Zealand to recuperate his health, which his arduous duties have weakened. He is an interesting conversationalist, and speaks quaint, but correct, English. It will be good news to New Zealanders that he, as a cosmopolitan, gives the people of this island the credit of being the most honest of any people whom he has visited. "For," he says.

"ii I pay money for my purchases, for my railway, or steamboat fare, I get my change back and it is always correct." He says his experience be unique on the Continent, and especially m Italy. # He can also leave his portmanteau in hotels, or station platforms, and it is untouched when he returns. Asked what he thought of the Maoris, the Doctor said "They have the faces of good children." He is much struck with their intellectual capacity, their magnificent physique, and their innate gentleness He has seem, nothing like the scenery of New Zealand. Asked to express his opinion of the Wanganui River, he said, "The cliffs are grand, the ferns are beautiful sublime, but — there is so little water'" The learned Doctor believes that New Zealand's labour legislation is in advance of her age, and that they will yet be found to hamper her. He thinks that when New Zealand beams to make a real bid for place among exporting nations, her easy labour conditions, and above all the large wages paid will keep her in the ruck for commercial place • Smiler" Hales, in has time, has played many parts. On© of them he is fond of, and glories in telling . - — Once I wandered forth to face a callous world, and noticed that a company of strolling players had just arrived in the township. I hunted up the manager, and asked him if he was in need, of talent. He sadd he was. Then he asked me if I was an actor. I said I was born an actor. He pulled me into the buildin" 1 and asked me to give him a sample of my powers. Of course, I took something easy — the Ghost Scene in "Hamlet" and I played Hamlet, the Ghost, and the whole outfit. When I had finished, tihe manager took me by the arm and saad . "I'll engage you. I have just the part to suit your histrionic abilities." Then he gave me a big brush, a bucket of paste, and a roll of bills. "Go forth," he said, "and decorate this town. You were built for the part." It was a shock, but I was used to shocks ; and so I took it, and a halfcrown payment in advance. * * * The Newtown people are in luck in getting Mr. Herbert Baillie, the wellknown bookseller, of Cuba-street, to take charge of their branch of the Free Library. It is many years since Herbert and brother John took over the Cuba-street bookselling business established by their father. And here, in Wellington, they have always been in the very forefront of their trade. John went Home some years ago, to pursue his art studies, and is now settled down in London, in the virtu and curio business What Herbert does not know about books is hardly worth learning; His acquaintance, too, with publishers will be of great practical advantage to the City Council, and his affable and obliging disposition is bound to make him a great favourite with the reading public of Newtown. * • m Mr. John Fuller, the well-known tenor, had a novel sort of obligato, while warbling the other day one of his sentimental ditties in the Sydney Empire. He was putting his whole soul and all his pent-up emotion into the song ''Angel of My Dreams." At the close of the verse he sings, "Sweet Angel," and dwells on the note while the violin takes up the motif. Just here, and while the audience were- breathlessly hanging on to the soft cadence of the note, a family of oats, which had got imprisoned in the space between ceiling and roof above the chandeli&r, came in in perfect time with a hideous and unexpected accompaniment It fairly broke the audience up, and left poor John quite speechless He says it is the first cat-astrophe of that kind that ha.<- over happened to him

Lieutenant Selwyn Joyce, of the Seventh Contingent, has returned to JSew Zealand, alter upwards of two years' service. He was within an ace, too, of sharing prison fare with seventeen of his troop at Waterval, the Boer prison. He 'went sick" at Thab&nehu the day previous to the Sauna's Post affair, and at the tame of the Boer surprise got away in an ambulance waggon. The smar* fresh, and boyish-looking soldier was i favourite with his troop in the First and, as an officer in the Seventh, he showed much tact and foresight. He has, as he says, nothing to stay for in New Zealand now, and has already sent in his name for further service with the Eighth. It is hoped that the activity of life on the veldt will help the young soldier to forget his sad bereavements, and lead him a step higher in his adopted profession. * • # Harry Valintine, First Contingenter and author of "Ten Weeks a Prisoner of War," is another First Contingenter who has volunteered for further service im the Eighth Contingent. Young Valintine, at the time of his enlistment, was under the age limit, and was admitted as a bugler. He did not, however play that melodious copper instrument, but went as orderly to Captain Bartlett, one of the smartest, and, consequently, one of the men almost forgotten by the authorities. Trooper Valintine was taken prisoner at the battle of Sauna's Post, on March 31st, 1900, and spent "Ten Weeks a Prisoner of War" at Waterval. • * • His faculty for observing events, and retaining impressions, have stood him in good stead, and he made the best use of his time in collecting items dealing with the sidelights of prison life, and he has just published them in exceptionally readable form. Trooper Valintane comes of a family of soldiers. His brother (Dr. Valintine, of the Health Department) has the military ardour, and was an officer of the Hawera Mounted Rifles. By an unfortunate accident, the Doctor was unable to go to South Africa with his fellow officers, and w^.s the only one of them who was not In the First Contingent. Young Va'intine preferred returning with his comrades to accepting an Imperial commission, but is anxious to accept one with the Eighth. He has a brother who was a sergeant in the Second, and who, like Dr. Valintine received an injury in the performance of his duty. » • • Mr. Tom. Clark Smith is a resident in the State of Kansas, and is celebrated throughout the said State for his skill with the rifle ; but a few weeks ago he surpassed himself at a public performance at Wichita. He stood in a position with an apple on his head, and a gun pointed over his shoulder. Carefully sighting the gun he pulled the trigger, rhe bullet struck the trigger of another gun placed thirty feet behind him. , the second weapon having been fired in this novel fashion, discharged its bullet at the trigger of a third gun thirty feet in front of the marksman. The shot from the third rifle struck the trigerer of a fourth gun at the back, and a little higher than the second , and, finally, the shot from the fourth gun went through the apple on Mr. Smith's head. We might remark that this is an American story, otherwise the modest tone of it would give the impression it was "made in New Zealand." # • • Mr. Marks, the wealthy Sydneyside merchant, is an enthusiastic yachtsman. That is why he gets the best boats to cyompete in the races with the "cracks" of the City of the Harbour. His Culwala — Australian named, but New Zealand built — won the first race she entered for in Australian waters, and she is entered for others with the biggest chances.

The Premier, while at Cheviot, stopped in an hotel that was decidedly out of perpendicular. The doors were of fantastic design, and the floor not fit for dancing on. The front door was so narrowed by the earthquake that only a Pirani could hope to get through. King Dick did not try, and the population of Cheviot were amused to see twenty stone of Prime Minister gaily jump through his bedroom window like a very substantial harlequin in pantomime, saying, as he slid to the sidewalk, ''There are not many tight places I can't get through." We believe him. • • • Mr. Gilbert Jessop, the cyclonic cricketer, is a gentleman who is a fair sample of the "bulWog" type of Englishman. Before Gilbert was forty inches high he played cricket morning, eivening, and on Sunday, on the Beaufort cricket ground, in hie native town of Cheltenham. His. father, the ponderous coroner and celebrated bull-dog breeder, had his work cut out to keep the youngster in subjection. He and his brother, nicknamed "Maddy," would go on long, dare-devil excursions, looking for trouble. No orchard was safe from the embryo professor of English and exponent of cricket. • • • On one occasion, he set. fire to the dry pasture land of a farmer "just for fun." The coroner paid for the " fun." His College career has been moat brilliant, and he is, when not cricketing, one of the best tutors the Cheltenham College, one of the greatest educational establishments outside Oxford, possesses. Naturally, the wild blood of the sturdy Cheltonian has cooled with age, but the diablerie is still apparent in the savage swipes he is celebrated for. His family is drstinguisihed in medicine, law, and the hunting field. If Mr. Jessop should come to New Zealand ,he will find several college chums, who will remind him^ of the many little escapades of earlier days, when life was not a very serious matter, and fun and frolic were all in all to the youth of the "Garden Town of England." • • • Mr. John Maokay, the Government Printer, is a very genial sort of departmental chief. Ever since his appointment, he has made it a rule of conduct to treat ail the operatives under him to a festive luncheon preparatory to the break-up for the Christmas holidays. The "social" of 1901 took place last week, in the bindery department, which was dressed out quite prettily for the occasion. • • • *- Advantage was taken of the opportunity to present Mr. James Burns, who recently retired on pension from the position of superintending overseer, with a handsome silver tea and • coffee service. Mr. Burns retired on Saturday week, after thirtyseven years 5 faithful service. He learnt the printing business in Edinburgh at the famous house of Blackwood and Company, and after serving his apprenticeship went out to New York, and gained some experience of American habits and methods. • • « In the early sixties he came out to Auckland, and when the first humble beginning of the Government Printing Office was made he left a situation worth £3 10s a week to take work as a State compositor at £3 a week. But he felt hopeful of better prospecte ahead. Mr. Burns has been such a hard worker all his life that his friends wonder how long he will remain patient under the burthen of nothing to do. It is related that once upon a time complaint was made of Mr. Burns to the then Government Printer, Mr. Didsbury. The complainant was an individual who had mastered "the Government stroke," and the hardest thing he could say of Mr. Burns was that "he does the work of two men."

Very general s\mpath\ is felt wdl> Mr Marcus F Marks, "Hansard" Sn ervisor, in losing so tragically Ins little tharteon-yeai-old son Douglas Tlie circumstances weae so peculiarly sad At the close of the late session Mr Marks went off on a, trip to Sydney and as the holidays approached little Douglas came back from his boarding school and wemt to stay at Worserßay with some friends until his father ar rived. • • • On the clay the lad met with his accident, he was eagerly looking; out for the Monowai, by which his father was expected from Sydney He went off on his bicvele, and climbed the hill above Worser Bay, in order to get a longer look out to sea It is surmised that he was caught bv a strong gust of wind on one of the turns of the road, and blown a distance of 25 yards before being hurled over the cliff at a spot whero there is a clea,r drop of 30ft When found he was unconscious, and he remained so from Wednesday forenoon till Friday afternoon when he- died. • • • Mr. Marks was anticipating a joyful home-ooming to his son and daughter, and terrible indeed must have been the shock when on his arrival on Thuisday morning he learnt that little Douglas was m the Hospital, and that his reco\ er\ w <ts practicalh hopeless It is little moic than a year ago since his daughter Dons nanowh escaped from that fatal fire at Martinborough, which destroyed Mr Robt Martin's house Mr Marks' heart was bound up with his children, and the affliction that has just befallen him must be most grievous to beai • * * Suigeon-Captam Neville How se Inwon the VC. Up to now, the Federal States and New Zealand have won foui of the highe-t distinctions which the Army confer, One has gone to We^tiaha one to Tasmania, and one to New Zealand Captain Howse's deed was especially valiant He, a non-combat-ant., waded into an atmosphere of bul lets coming from the rear, front, anr' flanks, and, although himself seveielv wounded, bore a comrade into safety The captain is but twenty-seven \e<ii' of age, a New South Welshman bv birth, and a brilliant ornament to his profession At the social gn en to Mr J W A. Marchant, the new Surveyor-General, on Saturday evening, Public Woiks Minister Hall-Jones indulged m a mild and decorous jokelet. In presenting Mr Marchant with the handsome service of plate subscribed for bv the officers of the Wellington Land Office, the Minister hoped the recipient would "keep it during his lifetime, and that he would leave it properly provided for." The touching picture the words conjured up of a destitute silver coffee pot and its smaller relatives left without enough to keep them in daily coffee, appealed to the audience, but, of course, no one really laughs above a whisper at a Minister. After the excitement of the joke had calmed down, Mr. Hall-Jones proceeded to remark that if people wanted to really know what the land policy of the Government had done for the people they should so to Cheviot, which was a veritable garden of Eden. In spite of the invitation, however, no one evinced an inclination to emigrate to the earthquaky settlement. • • • This "social" was also productive of "reminiscences" from some of Mr Marchant's colleagues and old friends For instance, Mr James McKenzie chief

draughtsman (who, by the way, filled the chair capitally) said liis departing duel was welcome in every bush house where there was a billy and a stick to boil it with, and lias long waterproof ajid leggings to match wene a welcome sight to hundreds, ot back-bloekors Mr Huntley Ehott, the gay, giey, and debonair Undoi-Secietarv for Mines, assured the convives, that he icmemboied Johnm Marchant" thirty-s<n on vcais> ago, or theieabouts Ho knew- linn, in fact, before Mrs Mai chant did, and he seemed to exult that he had discovered so good a fnend before that lady had the chance He remembered an uncomfortable trait in the chaiacter of the new Surieyoi -General In the early days, in the field, he would lather work than sleep and this lod to the unwilling emptying of suitp l oamp bunks before daylight He belie\ed the ''Johnny" of to-day was the same 'Johnny" as of vorp Tliis opinion was endorsed bv the lauerh of unusually early-rising surveyors all over the hall * * *, Mr. Reese, the handsome, nigged Scotch veteraji of the Lands Office, iclated a little incident of Mi Marchant A maai and wife he.ld an area of land under the Boaad The man was a "scrouchei" puic and simple. He cleared out The lents got behind, and things looked very bad for the woman and her children The u omati, of course, could have been bundled out, her children east adrift, and the land resumed By some means, known only to the large-hearted and tactful Mr Marchant the land was not resumed, the woman lived on her section, and roared her childien, the arrears were paid giaduallv the children weie reaied respectably, and, to crown all, the man, probably liking the look of the country with the rent paid up, came back' Of couise he was penitent, as anyone w ould be for whom someone else had made a competency, and ''they all lived happily c* er afterwards " * ■» » Mr Marchant gave his friends a sample of his innate modesty too, on Saturday nieht. He told them that he had looked in the mirror that morniner, and said to his reflection, "You villain, how have you manged to deceive all those people s "' He meant, of course he could not make out how all tho«o people could have been deluded into imagining that he was a fit and proper person to be Surveyor-General But nobody wanted to rusih away and get his appointment cancelled, and no one endorsed his opinion of himself Tn fact everyone seemed to think that try he never so hard, he will not he ahle to qualify foi the epithet * ♦ * If you are fond of hearing how the pexynle are getting on at the other side of the world and can stumble against Mr J "E Page the Town Cleik, wnen

lie is off the office ohair make fast to him at once and apply the corkscrew. He will keep you both interested and amused with the stock of good things he ha.s picked up on his travels. A L\nce man caught him on the hop one day last wook and found him full of excellent copy " « * * Mi Page was .struck by the number of people who nightly thronged the numerous, theatres, and music-halls in London If you pass by these places half-a,n-hour befoie the doors open you see a long hne of people waiting at the ontiances to the pit and galleries They are formed into a line by the police, and each nev\ -comer lias to take his or her place at the back of the column. They w ait there for an houi , 01 more, at the most popular places of amusement Thirt\ years ago the pit was the cheapest place in a thea,tie, and the occupants of it were decidedly hvelv, not to sa> rowdy, at times All this has been altered The shilling seats, which have been improved, and made comfortable, are now in the gallery and the price* of seats in the pit is now 2s 6d. A London audience is very enthusiastic, and will recall a favourite actor five or six times It 1186 quite refreshing to see the waimth of their regard foi Irving and Ellen Terrs', a,nd some other old favouiites. This applies also to singers in perhaps a greater degree-. Patti has been very many years before the public, although she left the operatic stage long ago But she still sings in London once a year, and can still attract an audience large enough te fill the Albert Hall. To watch the huge ,iudiciice there, when she leaves the platform after singing the inevitable "Home, Sweet Home," is a sight to be remembered for a lifetime London seemed to Mi _ Page to be much auipfer than it was in his young days — not that theie is less noise in the streets but that the people seem quietod, ' the averaee Yorkshireman can yell could Hid ere, there is far less rowdyism than there was in former years Even the "drunks" seem to have mended their wav«w ay« and instead of fighting they now walk along arm-in-arm in a most affectionate manner. * * The noisiest place our Town Clerk came across, not even excepting the busiest parts of London, was Leeds, m the neighbourhood of the Midland railway station 'I suppose," he remarked, ' the average Yorkshireman can yell louder than anybody else, and the noise made bv the numerous vendors of newspapers, c'rect cards of the races and cricket matches, and other things, is almost enough to deafen you. I happened to be there on the occasion of a benefit match to J. T. Brown, the

Yorkshire professional cricketer, and the people seemed to have gone neailv crazy. • • ♦ The quietest and cleanest town he visited was Bath, where nobody seems to have anything to do but walk about tlie streets and public promenades and where the only tram traffic is carried on in smaJl carriages drawn bygone horse. A laree number of the people there are invalids, who ao to the Roman Baths to drink the mineral waters, and are drawn about in bath chairs On has way back to Wellington, Mr. Page met in Sydney a well-known member of the New Zealand Parliamentary press-gang in days gone by. viz., Mr. William Epps. William, who used to be styled "grateful and comforting," in allusion to ,the cocoa of his English namesake, girded up his loins, and got on to the Australian Continent some thirteen years ago. He dropped upon his feet all rierht, for very soon afterwards he was the liberally-paid secretary of a Conservative political body called the National Association — probably a blood rela+ion of our own National A=s » » • From this position. Mr. Epr>s graduated to the managership of tihe Safe Deposit Company, and when Mr. Page passed throueh Sydney the ex-New Zealand loumalist was the bustline secretary of the Prince Alfred Hospital. The intention is to voaVe it the bi^eest institution of the land in Australasia. It is maintained bv voluntary subscriptions and Mr Epps is full of idea« for widening; it^ sphere of usefulness.