All Sports Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 110, 9 August 1902, Page 3

All Sports Of People

MR J. H. Witheford, M.H.R , known to fame latterly as the " World's Entertainer/ was on hand to let the Auckland officers, of the "Eager Eighth" know that there was a champagne cork still unpopped in Wellington w hen the troopship Bnttanic landed so many unblooded heroes on Saturday last. If you had happened to have been privileged to observe Bellamy's dining-room about 2 p.m. on that date, you would have seen the "World's Entertainer," Sir Joseph Ward, the Acting-Defence Minister Mr. Hall-Jones, and several more or less battered warriors forgetting that anything else but corks had ever popped There was one Poison, D.5.0., who came in captain, and went out major a spare, somewhat ascetic-looking wairior, who was one time a schoolmaster, later on a subaltern m the "Fifth," and later still the wearer of the most coveted distinction, barring the V.C., the Army gives. He is a bit knocked about with Mauser bullets and scraps of shell, but his> reputation is still whole. Perhaps he will go back to that Marlborough school, and perhaps not. Never a boy but will deem it an honour to be thrashed by such an arm. - 4- * Barney Todd Where have we heard that name before? Barney, the hustling traveller for Ehrenfned and Company, the officer of the "Natives" in Auckland, the subaltern in the Second, the single-handed oapturer of the city of Barberton, adjutant, straightener of accounts, and D.S.O. hero. The same ebullience of spirit marks the six feet two of well-groomed manhood as ever. Besides this, Barney was adjutant to the Eighth, and the Eighth got paid •within an hour or two of landing' He and Captain Colbeck, the dark, satur-nine-looking officer with a turn for caustic humour, also an adjutant, have immortalised the Hon. Hall- Jones, and the Defence Office has the largest kind of an ostrich feather in its cap for promptness. ¥■ *• + "Charlie" Somerville, son of the "shooting" Colonel, the much-wounded captain of the Second, is a Witheford guest too, and, according to the rank and file of the Eighth, "one of the whitest men that ever held a bridle." "Billy" Pitt, one time corporal of the First, the man who saved Colonel Robin's despatches, worked his way up to regimental rank, and went as lieutenant paymaster to the Eighth, is a modest partaker of the Witheford hospitality. Lastly, Lieuts. O'Dowd and Parker, who had a lot to say about everybody else but themselves, and the former of whom tells a story The Eighth's officers came down from Pretoria and Veeriniging with General Louis Botha an 9 his secretary, Piet de Wet. Major Poison (then captain), another New Zealand officer, and the two notable Boers, played bridge together in the train and Botha and his partner, showing superior generalship, won hands down. It was P. W. de Wet, who on boarding the train, asked Captain Poison who won the boat race p P W. is a Cambridge man. * * * Sir Josenh Ward had some very nice things to say about Mr. Witheford. He paid a graceful tribute to that gentleman's enthusiastic championship of the

needs of tihe Auckland people. When Six Josenh first met Mr. Withefoid m Wellington he had remarked that the "World's Entertainer" had looked particularly "frisky." This was not strange seeing how closely Mr. Witheford had interested himself m the "Frisky" service. Sir Joseph prophesied a sure return for the genial M.H R. into Parliament and he is a good prophet Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.H.R.. the gentleman whom Mr. Seddon w ould not allow to "•<> to the front, was, with one exception, the only other civilian guest Mr. Witheford's lunch was a splendid opportunity for a general acknow ledgment that Colonel Davies, C.B. and Major Poison, D.5.0., were unsurpassed as officers, and there are indications that the Major was extremely glad in his native modesty to rush off to catch a boat, or whatever else it was that called him away Mr. H. P. Barber, one of the five candidates for the new Newtown seat m tine House of Representatives, if he has the luck that has apparently dogsed his footsteps from early youth, will be voicing the sentiments of the people of Wellington South in Parliament some time during the first session of 1903. The 1 sturdy dhampion of whole footpaths wider streets, and short cuts to Newtown, has been a civic politician for 12 years, and was returned for the city and, although he dyed too for a living, he is not by any means defunct yet. ¥■ * * Mr. Barber is a chairman of a string of concerns too long to talk about, but he is dhiairmam of directors of the Wellington Woollen Mills Company, chairman of the Opera House Company, chairman of the Wellington Building Association and also of the Evans Bay and Miramar Estate Company, and he has burrowed deeply into dredging, arid knows a dredge from a yacht any day in the week. Seven years ago he had the temerity to say that Adelaide-road should be widened, and seven years from now that street may possibly be widened all the wav down Constamt dropping wears away the opposition of the stoniest council. He also advocated the tramioad through the Basin, and the extension of the Basin Reserve eastward. He remained unchanged. When Mr. Barber has a minute to spare, you will find him poking holes in the ground, and filling them up with bulbs. The Council would not let him fill up the holes in the footpaths, so he falls back on horticulture. He carried off the Chrysanthemum Cup for two years running. One of Councillor Barber's ungrateful battles was fought over the question of footpaths for bye-streets. He thanks no streets should be built on until properl" footpaved. Perhaps, you live in one of those unpaved localities in Newtown ? There are a few, it is believed. This candidate for Parliamentary honours has borne arms for his country on many a sodden Basin Reserve or park, for he was once a lieutenant of cadets. He tootled likewise for some time in the volunteer band, but in recent times his- bulbs and tramways and footpaths take up all his time. He is now willing to bear his brother man's burden even to a larger extent than ever. *■ * * Mr. Ignatius Singer, who has just severed his connection with the Wellington Single-tax League, prior to returning to England to take up a lucrative position, hardly "found his feet" in Wellington. He never had the opportunity here to show the quality of his brains, except to the few men whom he chose to make his intimates. Not only was he a keen debater — though New Zealanders found his foreign-

tongued speech somewhat difficult to follow — bue as a thinker he was clear, clever, and ono-inal. Let doubters read his "Story of My Dictatorship," a book which was widely quoted on its first ar>pearanoe, some ten years or so ago. Mr. Singer is by profession a manufacturing chemist, and is no mean master of his mystic art. The author of "My DictatorshiD " and the author of "Money Island" — two books dealing with economic questions from different standpoints — struck up a friendship which promised David and Jonathan results. Mr. Michael Flurscheun, the author of "Money Island," was a successful German ironmaster, who was converted to Henry Georgeism. So strong a hold did the new idea take of him that he sold up has business for a large sum of money and determined to go to a new land where there was some chance of seeing the reform carried out. Many and long were the conferences held by the two Continental dreamers — the impulsive, comfortable-looking ironmaster, and the small and not- well-off chemist Of all places on earth, New Zealand struck them as the most likely place for the exploitation of their aims and aspirations. «• • • To New Zealand, via Australia, this strangely-assorted, strongly-contrasted, pair of dreamers came In Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, they were nuade much of. But, Mr. Singer was always kind of suppiessed, though he was gifted with a quick and bright tongue. Then, they came on to Wellington — that was some six or seven years ago — where they expected to set Port Nicholson on fire. But they met with failure and disappointment at every turn. They found New Zealand, like other parts of the world, was in the hands of the politicians who were not looking for singletax or for a new system of banking. * * * This- latter idea, under which all money of the gold and silver and copper kind was to be dispensed with, was Mr. Flurscheim's pet scheme. He started a commercial Exchange Bank in Wellington. But it was doomed to disappointment. By this time, he and Mr. Singer had drifted apart., and had gone separate ways. Mr. Flursoheim took up his residence in Auckland, and is now in Europe. Igantius Singer, whose departure will be keenly deplored by his friends of Petone and Wellington, hopes to return again., * * * The Rev. C. C. Harper, who is leading the Pallmerston North agitation in favour of bible-reading in State schools, is a member of a family well-known m the South Island for its progressive and broad-minded attitude towards national questions. Not only the ecclesiastical, but the civic and provincial, history of the province of Canterbury was helped largely in the making by the Harpers. The head of the family was bishop of the province, and a son of this popular cleric is, and has been for over two decades, archdeacon at Timaru. C. C. H. is a grandson of the bishop and has only recently come up from the South. He is young, slender, clean-shaven, enthusiastic, and an ardent reformer not only in the biblereading question, but also in the temperance movement. His brother clergy — of all denominations, be it noted — have chosen the young Anglican clergyman chairman of the bible-read-ing agitation in Palmerston. * • * The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, as proxy for the captain of the troopship Brittanic, eulogised the conduct of the troops on board his boat. The bosun, interviewed on the same subject, said 'Tie wairn't a man. but when he see Wellington Heads he owned to havin' gone down to his quarters and said all the prayers he'd ever larnt."

i - Mr. R. M. Nicoll, who died in Napier the other day was known to a wide circle of people in Wellington as "Bob" Niooll. He was one of the most experienced commercial travellers in the colony. He had probably travelled every "road" from Auckland to the Bluff. He was in the ironmongery line, and represented Dunedin firms before he came on to Wellington in the seventies. He joined Mr. John Duthie in 1881. Among the other firms for which he travelled in Wellington were Waring Taylor, Wilkins and Field, and Bnscoe and Co. On leaving Wellington, some years ago, Mr. Niooll went to Gisborne, where he took a partner, and went into the auctioneering business. Later on, he went back to the "road," as traveller for a Napier firm. •* * » ' Mr. H. D. Bell, senior partner in the well-known firm of Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers, ils one of the busiest of our colony'si lawyers, and has taken his part in some of the most important oases, both civil and criminal, in our records. He is a very sound pleader, depending almost wholly upon close argument, and having nothing to doi with flights of oratory. Very few people would imagine that Mr. Bell has practised in Wellington for twenty-seven years. He has not only won honours at the bar, but he also for a term represented Wellington in the House of Representatives, and, during a term of office as Chief Magistrate of Wellington, he brought down a great scheme of public works upon which the City Council is still building up its proposals. "Mr. Bell's proposals" are frequently referred to at municipal meetings, even to this: day. Mr. Bell has 1 always taken a keen interest, in athletics 1 , and has been the official head and the friendly adviser and helper of the Rugby Union and the New Zealand Amateur Association. At the present time he is chairman of directors' of the Athletic Park Company. * • • Mr. H. L. Michell, Mayor of Hokitika, who was in Wellington last week as one of a deputation to Parliament who prayed that the Hokitika river might be proclaimed a sludge channel, is one of the West Coast's best-known men. He is a member of the firm of Paterson and Mitohel, and also a member of every public body in the little borough. He was elected mayor in 1887. was re-elected in 1896, and has held possession of the seat ever since. His life has 1 been absolutely uneventful, save that he has been adding to his banking account each year. He is chairman of directors of the "West Coast Times" Company. * * * In 1887, Hokitika wanted him very badly to go into Parliament, and promised him a good following. He insisted that they should not dangle the glittering bauble before him, and he denied himself the £240 which the billet was then worth. We do not want to injure Mr. Michell in any way, but nothing can hide the fact that he is a J.P. He is a New South Welshman by birth and a Hokitikian by education. His unctuous jollity shows that he has not been spoilt by being the people's pet for a quarter of a century. * * * Mr. "Willie" Tustin— he is as famil iarly "Willie" in the city as the Premier is "Dick" in the colony — who is a candidate for the Newtown seat, is one of the keenest of amateur politicians. During the exciting times of past election periods, Mr. Tustin was in his element, and was also said to be in "the know" concerning the plans and operations of the Opposition Party, and particularly the Panama-street Ring. The marvel to most people is that "Willie" should elect to stand for Newtown. For, if he has any political claims- at aalandl — and as every elector can claim the right to stand, how much more right can "Willie" claim? — it is upon the city. He has grown with the

caty from his youtli up, he has learned his trade as a painter here, and is established in business as a master, and he knows eve ry body who is worth knowing witlun a. radius of half-a-mile of the town clock. About the only claim he has upon the suburbs is that oi being known in the building trade as a very fair employer. ♦ * * Mention of the New town seat in the foregoing paragraph reminds us of the remarkable fact that the whole of the five candidates who are out for the seat are native born. Messrs Tustm, Barber, Murdoch, Branigan, and McKenzie'are all New Zealanders, so that there is no contrast of national claim for the quintette to "have at" one another though the tongue of each clearly indicates the w hence of his parentage. But all are so familiar with Wellington through long residence that each may faiily claim that the Empire City town clock is the only recorder of its kind they are familiar with. The rise of Alec. Gough has been one of such rapidity as to astonish WellSngtonians, w-ho remember the young man as a dentist's apprentice in our Empire City as it were only the other day. He is still in his early twenties, and yet new s comes from South Africa that ' Mr. Alexander Gough presided over the big reception dinner which thei colonials gave to Premier Seddon in Pretoria. Young Alec went to Soutih Africa with his bi- brother "Joe, aa onie of the party of Wellingtomans who followed the Prophet Eugene. Some of that party came back, but Joe and Alec stayed on, apparently to such purpose that their old friends left behind are saying to the youngsters"Go off, emulate Alec Gough— go on the Rand, yoimg men l " -«■ -*• * Mr. Robert McKenzie — whom all his friends call "Bob"— is from a Scottish stock, but Oamaru is his native sphere. He has been long enough resident in Wellington to clam this city as his own. The burly "Bob" is a carpenter by trade, and a master at his craft, though not a master of men other than as a leader in unionism. He has had the experience of several terms as president of the Wellington Trades Council in days ante to these ruction times in that Parliament of Labour. Mr. McKenzie has done much good work for the match factory girls of this city, having organised their union, and held the office of president from its inception (some three years ago) down to the present day. He looks after the interests of the girls in a big-brotherly fashion, amd without raising the jealousy of the better-half to whom Robert was married in quite recent days. Mr. McKenzie has always taken a keen interest in national and municipal politics, and is sanguine of success in whatever he undertakes. * * * Mr. W. Hunter, who has just been appointed general secretary of the New Zealand Fanners' Union, is not unknown in Wellington city, though he carries on his business as a commission agent and accountant in Palmerstora North. It was but natural that Mr. Hunter should have received the appointment, as he had ably carried out the secretaryship of the Wellington Provincial Council, one of the most flourishing and enterprising sections of tihe Union, the chairman of which (Mr. J. G. Wilson) was honoured with the office of national president at the Colonial Conference recently held in Wellington. Mr. Hunter attended the Wellington Conference as assistant to the acting general secretary, Mr. E. Hall who is well-known throughout the

colony as the secretary of the Auckland Agricultural Socity. Mi Hall was not a candidate for the permanent office. In Mr. Hunter the Faimers' Union has an active, young, and courteous executive officer.

Ji The idea of the formation of a Bankers' Club and Institute had been germinating in the mind® of a fev\ \\ ellwishing bank clerks for some years. And, at last, the idea has taken shape, such a club has been formed, and a strong committee of management has been set up. The moving spirits m the formation of the club have been Peter Thompson — they do not think of calling the active and ruddy-faced enthusiastic Scot anything but "Peter" in banking and Kent Terrace circles — and Strongman Jones, very late of London, and now of the* Bank of New Zealand. Something has to move when Big Jones gets his well-trained shoulder under a given obstacle, and he has certainly

done hois biggest feat ot weight-lifting in biting the Bankers' Club from brain to Brandon-street.

The 1 new club can hardly help being a success with so influential a directorate, and ajn active membership of over one hundred. For patrons, it ha 9 geinial James Caates, ex-Aucklander, and a power in. the banking world as chairman of the associated banks, and one whoi is as liberal of hand as of stature. Nor will the first vice-presi-dents — Messrs. Embling, Winter, Stott, ToJhurst Finch, and Macintosh — fail to follow the Coatesi'an lead. The Lance would like to know the register on the beam those seven big bankers would tup, for nearly all are men of weight. The> objects: of the Bankers' Club are two-fold — social and educational. One of the 1 latter is to instruct the cadets m matters which, under exising condition®, the youths in thei banks cannot get instruction upon.