All Sorts of People

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 85, 15 February 1902, Page 1

All Sorts of People

SO the Hon. Mr. Cadman ex-Mmis-ter of Railways and Mi. E. M Smith, the M.H R with the white \est and the button-hole bouquet, have got back from their tup Home to exploit the local manufactuie of iron. The\ arrived by the s.s. Karamea on Tuesday morning, and Mr. Cadman was not long ashore before a Lance man bore down, and proceeded to make "copy." Alfred Jerome Cadman is a native of the colony, and this was his first visit to the Old Country. He had formed large expectations conceininsr it, and what surprised him perhaps more than aught else is the persistency of old-fashioned habits and methods — old-fashioned ways in agriculture, oldfashioned processes in industrial operations, old-fashioned routines in business Those who know Mr. Cadman best will not require to be told that he is not given to blowing the trumpet but he makes no bones about saving that if we. m New Zealand, had only control of the capital which England possesses for manufacturing enterprises, "no could run rings," as he phrased it, ' round both the stay-at-home British and the- Yankees as well " * ■+ ♦ He is not at all disposed to lend himself to company promoting, but he saw large opportunities for the successful mtioduction of British capital to de\olop the resources of this colony, and 'if I was only fifteen years younger," he added with a half-sigh, ' I would devote mv attention to it He is omte convinced of the solid advantages to accrue from the establishment of the iron industry in New Zealand. A pnvate company has been formed, with the assistance of certain capitalists, who are prepared to embark a quarter of a million sterling in establishing the manufacture of iron in its various forms, plain sheet, corrugated sheet, bar-iron, nails fencing wire, etc., etc. It is not settled vet where the headquarters will be, but the chances are they will be located about New Plymouth, and, when the industry is fully equipped, it is estimated it will afford employment to about a thousand men and lads Theie is no immediate intention of foiming a public company Later on the public may be given an opportunity of taking up shaies. Mr Cadman is not enamomed of company promoting. He found out that the Stock Exchange skims a good deal of the cream One film asked the modest fee of £45,000 to do the underw riting. Mr. Cadman's health at Home was very indifferent, and he had to dodge the winter somehow. If he had not come on to NewZealand, he would have had to flee to the south of France instead His work is not yet completed, and he returns Home therefore m fh c or six weeks' time to see it through. Mr. Smith, however, will remain in the colony New Zealand is on the bunk of great developments, as soon as this iron industry gets a firm footing * * * Tom Mann the Labour leader so re-cently-arrived from Home drooped in at the Lance office one day this week for a chat If you did not know who Tom was you might take him to be the bustling advance agent of a real up-to-date show, for his clean-shaven face the cut of his tailor-made costume of light tweed the set of his spruce frock-ooat, and his stylish beaver of light grey weie all suggestive of the alert man of business, who goes ahead of a theatrical tioupe to spy out the land, and make

the rough places plain He was quite at home in a newspapei office, and hetalked away easily and natmally on just the sort of topics that he seemed to know, eithei by intuition or expenenee would most interest Ins public * * * He has been just ovei thiee weeks in Wellington, and he has formed a good main conclusions already. And he lias noticed a, tew things For instance 'I don't think you are wise m encouraging such a deadly dull kind of paint as \ou coi er eveivthing heie with. It depi esses one. As soon as I entered your harbour, and saw that panoiama of red-roofed houses I felt the sombreness of it all And your men dress in the same sombre fashion, too Go down to the Day's Bay boat any hot summer's, day, and, instead of finding the male passengeis wealing light garments, and using the cummerbund instead of the vest, you discover them all dressed in sad blacks and browns What does it all mean 0 It strikes me as lathei funny. On the othei side of the- woild the more sunshine and the fiutlioi east you get, the brightei the colours. Heie it seems to be tho other w a'\ about " And so Tom flitted on from topic to topic answering questions and making pithy obseryations He frankly said lie had no intention of entering politics m New Zealand. His puipose is to "get a grip of the attitude of Labour in this colony." and the relation of our statesmen to it to note how fai the spirit of collectivism has advanced and what prospects it has of further development. He has been deputed to make this study in the interests of Collectivism at Home In the Old C'ountiv New Zealand ha,i the reputation of beinf further advanced on socialistic lines than any country in the world. And that is why he has chosen it for special observation. * * * I can't sa\ I am at all pleased w lth your trades unions here " added Tom bnskl\ . ' I find them numerically strong, but distinctly flabby. They lack vigour to push the movement on or take independent action." Mr. Mann mentioned that he hoped to spend some years in Wellington, and when he landed he was within an ace of entering an engine shop and getting a billet But, at Hobart on his way hither, he wds intercepted bv a letter from R. S. Smythe theatrical manager making overtures foi a lectuiing tour through Austiahd The Labour leader had been approached on that subject befoie in London — on behalf of the Fitzeeiald Bros of circus fame — and he replied to ' the much-travelled Smythe" asking him to state his terms Result, a cable which reached him m Wellington, and the chances now are fair for that pioposed lecturing engagement. But it is only a means to the ereat end of watching the trend tow aids Collectivism in this quarter of the world. Some of his impressions he has already sent to Keir Hardie, M.P , and 'I think," he remarks "they are hardly agreeable Eveivthing does not strike one as being vastly superior to what it is at Home " He mentions tents, for instance And he thinks it very odd there is neither a fruit market nor a fish market here. He had a look at the fruit auctions, noted the Chinese bidders, and reckoned it very much "off" to find that a box of peaches should sell for 2s lOd in one mart, and that in the neighbouiing mart two minutes away a similar box should fetch 4s. And. then, he introduces the subject of that conviction against him in London for selling diluted beer —he has observed an allusion to it in the Lance. His explanation is briefly that he was away organising in Wales on behalf of the National Democratic League, of which he was secretary, and that the manager

whom lie put m to manage his business brought, the. trouble down bv taking it upon himself to put some ' bitter waste" into beei that he found to bo rather heav\ . The inland ie\enue officers cluinced along just at the time, and they took away samples, and a prosecution followed. And then Tom wanted to know whether it was likely he would shipwreck his reputation merely in ordei to make a few shillings b\ working a swindle on the w orking man through his half-pint mug of beer If roguery was his game why should he not fly at higher game, and go in for thousands? In the couise of a rjuartei-of-an-hour's talking the orator of Labour skimmed lightly over a good range of subjects. He thought the City C ouncil should carry out its ow n contracts as the London C'ountv Council did, and he is convinced there, is a splendid field in New Zealand for the iron industry, and the production of all sorts of iron goods. Which reminds us that Tom Mann got our own E M. Smith to lecture on that veiv subject while in London. On the whole Tom Mann is an interesting talkoi and a keen obseiver of men and things ¥■ * *■ Colonel CoLhus, the volunteer enthusiast, who gives up his spare time to recruiting for South African Contingents is easily approached on the subject of soldiers. We caught the genial Colonel betw een the rings of the telephone one lecent afternoon, and as usual, he had a pile of papers dealing with troops ready to hand. He tells us that the ' Nuggety Ninth," as far as the "Wellington members are concerned, are the "finest lot of men hitherto recruited " and that, although therequired standaid is lower, the smaller men applying have not been up," and that the Ninth men wall average more inches than the Eighth. Some '•magnificent specimens of manhood," as the Colonel says, have come from the oountiv — lean, wiry, hard as nails — and that each of the men recruited has been marked VQ. (very good) as against tow n applicants (Fair) * *■ * For the most part the men of the Ninth are a good deal more familiar w itli the outside of a horse than the inside of a tram. They have wielded the steokw hip more frequently than the pen, and to them the limitless expanse of bush has been a more frequent sight than Lambton Quay. Colonel Collins considers that from Levin and Otaki the best of the Wellington men come, and instances the brothers McAllister, from Pahiatua, as among the best specimens of yeomen soldiers the country can produce. *■ * ♦ Among Wei lmgto mans who are 'for the front," there is George Fred Parsons, of the "singing Parsons" family, who is leaving the Empire City for the deliehts of bully beef, cast-iron biscuits, and the lesser infliction of Boer bullets. George has bee-n for nine years a petty officer of the Wellington Navals, and a good P.O at that. Also, he can sing a good song, which will be counted for a good deal when tho regiment pulls up under a kopje for a ' spell O " He has played a. few parts on the lyric stage in lv's tune and we have no doubt he will play his part on the veldt like a soldier and a man. *- * *■ There stepped up before the recruiting board one day recently one John Comertoid, who sounds like a Devon man, and looks fit to go for anything Had he been a volunteer? No Could he nde 9 Yes. Had he ever been drilled ? Well, yes, he'd be«n in the 12th Lancers for eight years, and the Queen's Royals (Dragoons) for a twelvemonths, was entitled to wear the spur badge of a roughrider, and thought he ought to have a chance. He got it. The sprinkling of old hands. Imperial and colonial, goes for the making of a smart regiment.

Haiold Chvo Hume is the boy whose mother bearded him in the camp, and tearfully protested that his duty was at home. He decided, on the vote of his comrades, that mother was right. Mrs. Hume, however, has decided that Empire is before Home, and Harold is in for it" with the best of them. * • * Albert Kellow, perhaps one of the smartest colour-sergeants in the Wellington Battalion, and certainly one of the most popular, has applied for a commission. His business ability has induced Colonel Collins to recommend him for the rank of regimental quartermas-ter-sergeant, which is a position requiring more tact than is necessary to a junior commissioned officer, and whioh certainly entails a good deal more work. Levin and Co. know something about Albert's business capacity, and are not gome to throw him over when he comes back home again. * * • Albert Bezar, the man who wrote a good deal from an artillery battery whioh was garrisoning blockhouses in tihe Northern Transvaal, is also an old hand He at one time belonged to the Scots Guards, enlisted in Kitohener's Horse when the war broke out., and was drafted to the Fifth New Zealand Contingent. He has not had enough, so he is to face the music once again. Arthur Styles is handing over the secretaryship of the Thorndon Swimming Club to help down" the downy dopper, and the club is going to put up with it, hoping that Arthur will lay dow n the rifle in good time and resume his secretarial pen. J. Walsh, the wellknow n boniface of Wallaceville, will draw fire instead of pints for a while, and perhaps notice if there is a likely stand for a paying "pub" in the wilds of darkest Africa. If the Ninth New Zealanders want to start a colony with every trade that a full - fledged town needs, they could probably do so, and rumour whispers that a large capital could be subscribed among the members that would give it a good start. Far from being a "scrappy" lot. Colonel Collins believes the Ninth to be the pick of the Contingents as far as usefulness is concerned, and as he has seen the whole thing through from the despatch of the First, it should be admitted that he knows whereof he speaks. The Premier's daughters are chiDS of the loyal block, without a doubt. They were deputed, while in Auckland, to choose a piano for the use of the troops on board the Surrey. At first, they selected one with a German brand over the keyboard. Universal horror! When tli e mistake was discovered, there was "mounting in hot haste." Imacine playing "Tommy Atkins" on a Prussian piano! Had they an English piano? Of course they had, and now the Surrey concerts are being accompanied bv a piano that has not got "Made in Germany" on it anywhere. We believe that already the Germans are turning out ' English" pianos at a great rate. What's in a name ? * * *• Miss Maginmty returned to Wellington at the end of last week via Auckland from a prolonged visit to her eldest brother, Mr. J. Maginnitv who is happily married and comfortably settled at San Francisco. It will be remembered that at the conclusion of Mdlle. Antoinette Trebelli's first tour of the colonies Mr. John Maginnitv, who was w ell- known as an accomplished pianist, accepted an engagement as oianist in her concert company, and accompanied it to America Shortly afterwards he obtained an appointment in the California Safe Deposit Bank, in San Francisco, and is still there, and doing well. Miss Maginnity's visit extended over twelve months, and she is quite charmed with the Golden State. She likes the Americans, but did not bring back their language with her. In other words, she has not learnt to speak through her nose.

Mrs Montagu ,i famous luigli&li horse-woman, is at piesent on a Msit to Chnstchuich Slip lias won main jumping mate lies on liei own hoihcs in Kngland, and is touimg the woild paitlv tor pleasure and paith to «kqune hnthei knowledge She iccenth won some 1 aces in Queensland on hordes bioken. trained and liddcn b> herselt, and intends shortly to visit Aigentina to how things are earned on there. Mrs. Montagu oneo met with an accident, which she considered was due to the use of the side saddle and she has since adopted the modern system of 'riding. She geneiallv takes hei exeicise in the early moraine and her piesent mount l 1l 1 - a handsome stallion Mr C'hailes McMunan is the stout little Ameiican gentleman who came to New Zealand for one day, and is sta\mg tor six months. If the 'cute Yankee, with a suspicion of gre-\ in his hair, and vouthfulness in his features ever leases New Zealand we shall be distincth offended unless he realh intends telling his own people how nice we aie, and bringing a few milhonaiies back to soit out amongst the community. A Lance man found Mr McMurran in the \estibule of the Emmie Hotel, ringing up the Telephone Exchange for the fifteenth time, just to see if the Exchange girl "had resigned that kind of business," as he told us He is of opinion that while we are generally ahead of every other country on earth, we don't hold a candle to "United States. A.." as far as telephones and their operators are concerned . # » • The Amencans, othej than impoiteis and business men. believe from the ancient geographies served out to the State schools that New Zealandeis generally aie a remnant of cannibalistic madder-coloured savages, on a patch of volcano, in the Pacific. Charles McMurran started out to visit Australia and called in to* see our savages. He is so charmed with them that he thinks he might pitch his camp here for evei . Since he was fiozen in the New York blizzard, he ha-s been looking for moie equable climes, and he says that we have his permission to tell the American who extols his own climate he is a perverter of the truth, and lequest him to climb right down New Zealand legislation is away twenty years ahead of all other known brands. Hei legislators are men of surprising intellect (are you listening. Richard 5 ), bramv, and many etceteras and that Amencans hand over the palm for business aptitude to Maonlanders right now and here. Mr McMurran possesses credentials from everybody who is anybody at all in America, and he "feels nicer" about a letter he has from the New York Press Club hoping he would uphold the reputation of Americans for telling the truth, and other good things He has a wallet of autograph letters from every "heavy" man in the States and those heavy men aie coming to NewZealand to spend their summers (American winterO in ten years' time when the Panama route makes the joumev short. * * * All these men have yachts largei and more coin fort ablp, than Spreckel's boat 5 :, and New Zealand harbours in a few years time will piobabh contain from one to two dozen nalatial yachts belonging to the oil kin^s and the nork emperors of the States Mr McMuiran sent Mr _ Astor the multi-million-aire, a Maori war club He is a convert to the charm of New Zealand and wall be with us in less than no time Wp would warn our Rotorua friends to lookout for him Mr McMurran is eoineto persuade the forty-five Houses of

Representatncs of the States to enact that no child undei touiteen, and who has not passed the tonitli giade" at school shall co to woik e\en for ( ainegie 01 Rockfellei and lie is gomcr to show them the New Zealand Act piohibitmg it as an examule Mi MeMurran is wilting stones" about New- Zealand and he conhdenth expects the tounst traffic horn the. State's to quite astonish the people of this land when the\ ha\ c been a;ncn time to work their wav with the milhonaues of the hustling lepubhc. + * * Miss HolroAd of Kaiaka Bn^ Wellington, enio-ss a well-established reputation among a wide cncle of fi lends foi liei cloeutionan gifts The other da\ she was intioduced we understand to Mrs Brough who heaid hei lecite in private and was en eat h pleased s 0 much so. indeed that she 1 called in Mi Biough to hear the aouiiot i ac ] v ]S Brough told Miss Holrovd that she had moie power m her voice than she knew of, that theie was a, gratifying absence of "the colonial twang." and that hei method was cjuite natural. But foi the fact that the company will shortl\ disband, Mrs. Brough would have been glad to take Miss Holrovd into it and give her the advantage of two 1 training on the stage * *- * Tony," of the Kketahuna •Expiesfe. ' may congiatulate himself oh being the premier literary pirate we have chopped aeioss. In one is&ue of that paper undei the heading Comments and sub-headed Tom ." he bare-fa<?edh commandeers tw o-tlurds of a column of the Free Lance, which he gives to the world as the outcome of his own headwork If the Express" must fill up its columns bv the wholesale use of scissors and sum-pot it might have the decency to make an occasional acknow.lodgment

Mi Hogbon, Inspector-General of Schools, is an liiteicstme man to meet if out 1 can catch him during his off moments t\ Inch are er\ few The In-spector-General has recently braved the wilcK of Chatham Islands, in pursuit of Ins a\ocation and he comes back with distinctly pleasurable memories. He went detei mined if possible to dispute the fallacy that half-castes genera'h had the wees of both j-ections He finds that so far from this being the case, the half-castes of Chatham Islands have quite as few vices as their white or brown bi other 1 ;, and have the stnrdv wrtucs of both. The Chatham Islander has set himself a high standard, and the whole community, from school childien to great-grandfathers work. The-\ have no quarrels and no new spa'X'i ' Their happiness is complete * -c * The ninet\ children on the islands get the benefit of itinerant, teaching peihap« one da\ in thiee weeks, or if they <ne paiticularh keen on education they wi'l saddle up after the morning's milking and ride an\ distance up to ten miles to get the- benefits of a school. There is not a single weakly child on the islands, nor a, fool, and, despite the tact that they get a ~ood deal less on the a\erage than a - uarter of the given the children of this colony they hold their own m examinations. The Maoris, as Mi Hogben quaintly ebserves. formerly kept out of mischief h\ fighting." Now, however, they substitute work for that pastime, and roll in) largeh , especially at Te One to night school. Curious to note that the pi own-up scholars have to be fairly dinen a tired schoolmaster from the c 'ass-room and that the night muster is alwaAS large, the scholars coming by bos: and creek over hill and dale to bum the midnight oil after the toils of the <oieep ran.