All Sports Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 108, 26 July 1902, Page 3

All Sports Of People

MR W L. Bradbury, who has just completed a flying visit to Wellington, is a member ot that firm of world-wide renown Bradbury an d Evans, propnetors of London "Punch " Tall, handsome, and debonair, Mr. Bradbury is a typical specimen of the best class of Englishman. Punch" was oieated by a httb knot of writers and grandfather Bradbury, in 1841, became proprietor. 1 Punch." has become since those days a kind of political religion among the ''cultured ' people of Britain and whrn one considers that politics and society have been humorously criticised in that paper by the pencils of John Leech, Sir John Tenniel. Dv Mauner (the celebrated author of "Trilby")), the lnimiable Phil May, and many other geniuses, one can understand its wide-reachina influence. Wellington's recent visitor was a Rugby boy, and is a graduate of Trinltv College, Cambridge. He "ate his dinners," "sported his oak," and did all things necessary to become admitted to the bar, and has nevei practised He sat, s barnsterial rank gives one a standing in the Old Country, and it certainly is an entree to the best circles for wealthy youn? men Mr. Bradbury speaks of that British institution, the Punch" dinners Every Wednesday, Punch" staff sits round the celebrated mahogany on which are carved the initials of dead and gone and piesent-da^ celebrities of art and letters, whoha^o 01 still do contribute to its pages » • • At that weekly gathering the staff discuss subjects for the next week's cartoons A ' Punch" dinner is a sacre-1 affair almost, and only on one or two occasions has a stranger been invted as a guest. Sir Fred. C. Burnand, the celebrated humourst, and who, by the way. wrote "The Lady of Ostend," a richly humorous comedy, now beins played by the Haw treys, in Australia is the editor Mr Bradbury has recently been in Australia, where he escaped the bubonic plague and the plague of examining officials. He wa« howevei , duly sprinkled at the Bluff Ho has travelled very extensively in Egypt America, India, and on the Continent, and says he is trying to collide with colonial talent The real facts appear to be that Mi Biadbury is intensely modern, and that he desnes to leave the beaten track that Punch" has followed, and hit out in neAV directions. "Punch" has the reputation of paving the longest prices for literary and artistic work in England Mi Bradbury is struck with the artistic possibilities of New Zealand humouilsts and artists, and, altogether lie seems a httle surprised that we are quite civilised. He is enjoying himself vpiv thoroughly, but he mourns that time, tides, and boat® would not permit him to be in England to witness the triumphs of King Dick * * * Mr. Charles Bary, who has just been promoted to the charge of the Rospneath School is one of the best -known, as he is one of the oldest of the nativetrained teachers in the employ of the Wellington Education Board Mr Bary is a Marlborough boy, and was th* 1 first home-made pupil-teacher of that province. That must have been something like twenty-nine years ago. He came over to Wellington later on. and

joined the New town school as an e^-pupil-teachei Theie lie has been piacticall> evei since until he lecened hi-. well-desei\ed piomotion to the little school on the lull Mr Ban was second in command at the New town school, he was an enthusiast m tiaining the cadets, and in chemical matter As a bow lei, he has won a colonial leputation as one of the best skips the New town Club has produced The death of Dr Townend, who pass ed away at C hnstchurch last Satuida week, revn es the story of the lomanc 1 of the Sea field peeiage Eveiv Oamaiu vian of the past decade can tell some phase of the interesting career of the drner of a baker's dehveiy cait in th White Stone City who turned out to N the heir to the earldom of Seafield This young man of humble occupation was made much of in the South Island w hen he unexpectedly came to his ow n a few years ago. He married the daughter of Dr. Townend, and both countess and earl have been visiting; the latter's ancestral halls m Scotia of late. Mis (Peter) Hutson who died last week, was — despite the fact that she had a successful manufacturer for husband and had a grown-up family — what raanv folks have called a New Woman. That is to say, she' believed in. and advocated, Women's Rights, and she was a keen politician, and interested in all things that, interested her sex — from the latest recipes, for tickling the palate to he newest political question. She wa&, at the time of her death, treasurei of the Women's Social and Politicpl League, and had been one of Mis Seddon's light-hand women in fostenne; the League. The need of friendly societies for women interested Mrs. Hutson, also and she-, for yeais interested heiself in the Foresters' lodges for women And vet, she was a thoroughly womanly w oman Her husband is well-know n in business circles, and her eldest son (Captain Hutson, of the Cycle Corps) served in the South African campaign with our Second Contingent The sympathy of many friends have been extended to the bereaved * * * Since the beginning of things the family name of Adam has, taken a leading place in written chronicles. Hou in New Zealand we find the Adams conspicuous in the public eye We have them in the prohibition paity in legal learning in the South, in surveying circles in Marlborough, in poetic precincts, in sw eepstake affairs — and now , Ormsbv Gore Adams, a \eiy youth of a man, has won fame and the directorship of the Thames School of Mines. Tin-, was a position very much sought aftei b-\ qualified men in all parts of the colony. The new director is the youngest member of a clever family, the head of which is chief surveyor of Marlborough The Adams boys have all "shone" in different spheies — one in poetry, another in tennis and life insurance, another in the Indian Civil Service examinations, another in technical lecturing and Oimsb-s m mineraJogv. The "boA s" werei nephews to the late TCditoi Gillon, of the Evening Post" — a membei of the family of whom they were al 1 nghtlv proud * * • Dr fiiaham Campbell who was banquetted last week h\ the Wellington medicos, is one of the cleverest of the colony's gynaecologists. His place of lesidence hitherto has been Christchurch but he has forsaken the City of the Plains for a period to become a leisurely lover over the face of the earth. Be ing a gentleman of means, he can affoid to wander, and he will cease "walkm - a hospital" and take to "the track." Dr. Campbell has for some time held the secretaryship of the Ne-n Zeeland branch of the British Medical Association, and has been a faithful officer of what has been called "the closest trades union of the world "

At the Campbell banquet, winch was held m the Royal Oak Hotel, undei the genial toast-masteisliip of Dr. Collins, many pleasant things w ere said of the departing doctor. Not a few of the 'fellows he left behind him" envied the meandering medico his contemplated jaunt, but wished him many undistuibed nights, and long-drawn-out pleasurable days. M.H.R. Tom Wilford took delight in telling the banquetteis that he was "proud to be the son of a doctoi," and Minister Walker took the opportunity to say that Ohnstchurch would'be sorry it had let Dr. Campbell away for a holiday. But the departing guest — who retired as full of blushes as of honours, owing to the sweet discoveries, made as to his hidden, talents — - felt assured that it was only fair that he should give his patients "a bit of a rest," in exchange for that which they weie giving him! Bon voyage, doctor, for, as the convivial company truly affirmed, you are "a jolly good fellow " # » * Miss Payne, who has just resigned the matronship of the Wellington Hospital is one of the best organisers in the colony. An Irishwoman by birth, she acquired a taste for nursing during a stay in Wellington, and joined the staff of the Hospital here. And so it came about, within the space of a decade, that she had the peculiarly satisfactory experience of becoming head of the institution in which sihe graduated. Mi^Payne was matron of the hospitals at Invercargill and Christchurch prior to taking up the position which she i<= now vacating She was also offered the matronship of the Westport Hospital wh it time she chose the Christchurch position Miss Payne succeeded "little Miss Godfrey" as matron at the local institution nearly four years ago, and during that period worked very hard in oiganismg the staff of the Hospital. Miss Payne was offered the matronship of the Rotorua Sanatorium, and though she was loth to leave Wellington, after getting her staff into so high a degree of efficiency, the offer came temptingly at a period w hen she was feeling the strain of her work. And. as Rotorua is the haven of refuge for the run-dow n, Miss Payne yielded Wellington is the loser, and the Healt 1 ! Resorts Department is the gainer bv the change. The tnumph of Mr. George Fisher, in his advocacy of the dock scheme, has been complete. The junior member for Wellington has literally floated into populai favour once more on the dock, and he has, been the recipient of congratulations from every class of the community His greatest joy, however, must have been felt w hen he read an editorial of the "Post," in which he was given an acknowledgment of the credit which was rightly his Another source of undiluted joy must have been that moment at the Harbour Board when he found Messrs. Dutliie, "Teddy" Mills J. McLellan, Wm Cable and Mayor Aitken lining up in the Fishenan scrum on behalf of the dock Right down a period of full twenty years Mr. Fisher has consistently advocated the need for a dock — and now, as a result of a well-engineered agitation he has won hi® point from the Harbour Board. • * * M.L.C. Fraser was greeted with many hearty hand-shakes at last w eek's meeting of the Harbour Board. For the ex-chairman of the Board had been absent from his place for many months, owing to a severe illness, from which, for some weeks, it was not expected that he would rally. But, as one congratulating fellow-member remarked, he "looked himself again." Mr. Fraser had attended the sitting of the Boaid in response to a rally on behalf of the dock. He has long been an ardent advocate of the need for a dock.

Mr. H. S. Whitehorn, the youn^ Wellingtoman, who has returned from the South African war with two stars on his shoulders, put in a great deal of time on kopie and veldt. But, he did not put in his time on service with his fellow -colonists. And thereby hangs a paragraph. When the Otaki Mounted Rifle Corps was formed, just before the outbreak of the war, he and his brother became members (the brother is now wearing a star on his uniform, and i<« an active Otakian). When our Firs*" Contingent was being organised, H. S W. caught the war fever, and sent in his name. But, like many another good man, he failed to get a place. Nothing daunted he set out for Australia, and, at Sydney, found that he was about in time for a place in the Queensland Contingent. He set off for Brisbane — and so got to the war. •»■ * * Trooper Whitehorn enjoyed himself with the Q. 1.8.'5, and, when its term of service had expired, he returned to Brisbane with his comrades. Whilst resting, the Sixth Q. 1.8. was being organised. He applied, for a commission, and was made a subaltern. He had set his heart upon getting command of a squadron, and applied himself so diligently to his duties that, in a short space of time, he won his two stars. He returned to Wellington by the Mokoia last week, and is now among his "am fowk" in the country. Captain Whitehorn was a veiry active mover in athletic circles in Wellington a few years ago, being a forward in the Wellington Club's football team, and a playing member of the Wellington Cricket Club. He taught a class in the Clyde Quay school for some time — and is still remembered by some of its Old Boys — ■ but had to give up teaching in 1896 ow ing to a throat affection. * * • Mr. E. W. Alison, who has been paying a flying visit to the Empire City, is an Auckland delegate to the Racing Conference, and is a cheerful, curlyhaired, little man, who has successfully battled with fortune since he left school at eleven years of age, and started in to lay the foundation of his present large banking account. He was born in Auckland, and started work soon after. He learnt printing, under the recently-deceased Mr. "Willie" Wilson and George Main, of the "Herald," and when his health began to suffer, he turned his attention to meat, entering into business on his own account at sixteen. -/■ * * His business foresight convinced him there w ere thousands to be made out of Auckland harbour, and, while still a youth he fought the then existing Ferry Company tooth and nail, and was instiumental in forming the Devonport Ferry Company, which, at the present moment, is one of the most thriving corporations in the colony, with a fleet of fourteen steamers and a chronic habit of paying 10 per cent, dividends "E. W." is managing chairman of directors of that ferry company, and has been since its inception. He reckons there is a first-class opportunity ahead of the Wellington Ferry Company if it w r ill only have the enterprise to grasp it. Then, E. W. started in being Mayor of Devonport, and filled the chair for five consecutive times, and was re-elec-ted the other day unopposed. Devonport people bitterly fought against water for a long time. E. W. insisted that tanks were not modern, and that it was a bore to put in all day Sunday carrying water. He got the water laid on. He initiated the drainage scheme. He has found time to be a member of the Harbour Board, chairman of stewards of the Takapuna Jockey Club, chairman of the Taupiri Coal Company, and he puts in his spare time being chairman of half-a-dozen other companies, corporations, or public bodies in the Northern oitv. Mr. Alison represents the employers, with one other wealthy

member, on the Conciliation Board, and he relates some humorous little things in connection with the hearing of the new celebrated Thames Miners' Union case. Misther Michael O'Keefe, who trained some passing notonety after the hearing of the case, by making distressful allegations against Judge Cooper's ruling, was being examined. Michael spent some time at the Thames School of Mines and is therefore qualified to speak on geological foimations. lhat mining expert and manager of the Karangahake Crown Mines Company, Mr. Daw, put a simple question to Mick, which the latter answered with an expression as who should say, "Ask me something hard?" Mr Daw did. He dived deep into the bowels or the earth, talked of sub strata purple andesite. and lots of things that sounded unfamiliar. Mick O'Keefe wasn't to be beaten. "Misther Daw," he replied, "the question yez axes me is a difficult wan, and if T was getting £1000 a-year I could answer it aisv. It's 8s a day I m gettin' meself." Mr. Daw wanted to know if Mr. O'Keefe had been in the Crown mine "I have'" said Mick. «Ts it well ventilated?" "It's that well vintilated," replied the O'Keefe, turning to Mr. Daw, who has but a slight ring of hair left on his cranium, and pointing to him, "that ivery man who woruks there army tonne at all gits bald-headed." Even the Crown Mines manager is said to have chuckled. Mr. Alison once "took down" a three-card spieler at Cambridge. The gentleman was raking in much unearned increment, and a hotel cook, with smudgy hands, was standing in openeyed astonishment. The card mans confederate, just out of pure friendliness, showed him the way to pick em every time Mr. Alison watched that cook pick it. Alas' Cookie "went down " "Which is the dash blank card then?" queried the cook, picking up another one, and leaving his trade-mark —a dirty thumb impression. &. W. was badgered into laying a fiver on the card He watched that dirty thumb mark. He picked it first time, _ and the crowd cheered ' A charitable institution benefitted to the tune of £5 on the occasion of the spieler's Mr. Alison keeps racehorses, and has owned some erood ones in his time. Nestor, who won the Auckland Cup and Derby of 1897, was an Alison horse. Devonport people of both Government and Opposition proclivities want 'Ji.. W " to woo their support at the general elections. The probabilities are that he will "oome out" with the rest of the crowd. He will find it difficult, perhaps, to crowd any more work into his phenomenally busy life, but if he should write M.H.R. after his name, he will find time to work for his constituents — whatever else suffers. "Well, I'm blest'" 'What is it--twins?" "Why, Bill Branigan has come out for New town'" "No' Fact —he's actually put a two-inch advertisement about it in the papers ! ±ne two citizens who exchanged the abovequoted ejaculations agreed that a man must "mean business" when he paid tor an advertisement. Mr. Branigan certainly wants to be taken seriously, and he is sanguine as to his prospects ol climbing to the top of the poll- His claims for consideration are — (1) that he is a very old resident in South Wellington ; (2) that he is a young man of much energy • (3) that he is a plumber by trade, and therefore knows how to deal with leakages, whether in Parliament or out of it , (4) that he was Inspector of Water Taps for the City

Council, and lesigned because bib suggestions for w atei conservation were not attended to , (3) that he is "as good as the best ot 'em who aae having a go tor the seat" (())) that he resides in Kilbirnie, which is the centre ot the Gieater Wellington agitation, and "that is worth something in votes", and (7) that he, William Biamgan, has political aspirations, just like Tom Wiltoid, and if T.W. is good enough to get in the House, then so is W B -<- * * It has been mentioned in town that Mr. T. W. Kiik ,the clever biologist of our Agricultural Department was an applicant for the vaoancv in the Colonial Museum caused by the lesignation of Mr. R. B. Goie. It would be strange, yet only natuial, if Mr. Kirk "came again unto his own." For he was hi ought up from youth to manhood in the place of stones* and bones, over which Sir James Hectoi piesides, and T. W. K. attained, by much diligence, and a real love foi dead and dusty cunosities, unto the position of first lieutenant to Sir James in the institution. Then came Sir Harry Atkinson and his retrenchment scheme. The pruning knife separated Mr. Kirk from Museum matters. But his talents were not to be hidden, and he has done som° good service to farmers as a scientific officer of the Agricultural Department. • ♦ ♦ Mr. Hales, who has just cieated .something of a surprise bv resigning the stewardship of the Working Men's Club, has managed foi some six or seven yeais a somew hat trying institution in a gentlemanly manner The management of a W.M.C. is not all beer and books for there are many minds to please, and many critics to meet. Under Mr. Hales' stewardship, the Wellington Working Men's Club has risen to a position second to none among similar clubs in the colony. Prior to taking up the management of the club he was known as an expert accountant, and held a position in the Public Works Department. Mr. Hales has found, during his tenure, that uneasy lies the head that rests 1 beneath a club '

Mr. Coopei, president of the Wellington Bootmakers' Union, and secretary of the Executive Council for New Zealand, is an example of the brainy colonial who took to boots. Curious that bootmakers generally are exceptionally well-read men. Whether there is inspiration in sole leather, or a divine afflatus in cobbler's wax, we do not know, but the fact remains that men of the last very often come out first. Mr. Cooper is a Chnstohureh boy, and was, earlier in his life, an articled pupil to a solicitor. His master having disposed of a great deal of trust money (and himself), he left the law for the leather, and has stuck to the last ever since. He has lost tw o fingers from his left hand in a machine. To those who- think that there is a soft thing in the secretaryship of these labour councils, it is interesting to remember that in such a position one is regarded as a court of appeal on every subject under the sun, and that when other unionists are carrying banners and yelling you are engaged disjgine into a heap of correspondence. Mr. Cooper is a married man, and has a couple of young Alton Lockes coming on. He rather discounts the popular idea of the self-edu-cated unionist, for he is quiet and retiring speaks with unassuming modesty and has a, special regard to his choice of language. * * # •Willie" Dutton, son of Mr. G. W. Dutton the Willis-street stationer, will be much regretted aanong a large circle of friends. He was engaged, previous to his death, in travelling for Ms father, and had only just returned from a business trip to Napier when he suddenly took ill and died. The young fellow was a native of Wellington , in fact, ha was born in Lambton Quay, and has been engaged in his father's business since he left, school. He was wellknoavn on the West. Coasts of both islands, and was a, great favourite, both there and in Wellington. The photograph published in this issue was taken four years ago, and is the latest his parents have of him.