All Sorts of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 114, 6 September 1902, Page 3

All Sorts of People

MRS. E. F. Allen, who has been nominated for the seat on the Victoria College Council, in place of Mr. J. P. Firth, is the wife of a wellknown and clever member of the literary staff of the "Evening Post." It will be remembered by our readers that Mr Firth, who represented the graduates on the Council, is at present enioying a European tour, and, as he has been absent for six months, his seat on the Council has had to be declared vacant. Mrs. Allan is well qualified to repiesent the graduates upon our Colle^e Council, for she is a Master of Arts, and won her degree with honours. # It is not generally known that Mrs. Allan has qualified for membership m the "Devil's Own," though she has not yet been "admitted " There is no doubt that she would be as clever a lawyer as she is a journalist, which has so far been her profession. Some years ago she made the name of Miss Stella Henderson well-known throughout the colony by her strenuous efforts to win equal-to-male recognition for her sox in the Gallery at the House Mrs Allan (nee Henderson) was in those days acting as Parliamentary correspondent for the Lyttelton "Times, for which journal she was also an editorial winter for some years. As one of the Benevolent Trustees she is doing good work for the community, being a regular attendant at the meetings of the Trustees, and also an inquiring visitor among the recipients of charitable aid y. * * Mr. G. H. Bayhs, one of the two objectors who have been the cause of the setting up of the Wehngton Elctnc Tramway Commission, is well-known throughout Wellington and its subuibs. He has been a Wellingtonian from away-back days, and it is hard to sa^ in what corner of the district he has not some property. It has been said that a stone cannot be thrown in Island Bay or South Wellington without hitting Bayhsland. In the early days he was a contractor, and, through all his days he has been a builder — of a Baylis fortune. Public affairs have ever had an t attraction for him, though his name has not vet been mentioned among the aspirants for the Newtown seat. .* + * Mr. Bayhs was at one time a member of the Melrose Borough Council. Even to this, the expiring day of theboiough, he has maintained great interest in Melrosian affairs, and has been a strong opponent of the Greater Wellington movement. He was for a number of years, one of Wellington's Benevolent Trustees, and even in the latter days of his trusteeship rose to the dignity of chairman. His successor in the chaai (the P*ev. J. K. Elliott) still presides over the Trustees' meetings. • • * Mr. James Reid, co-objector with Mr. Bayhs, in the tramway-to-Island-Bay affair, is not such an old resident of Wellington. But, ever since his arrival here, some three or four years ago, Mr. Reid has been constantly conspicuous in the public eye. Though he came from the country, Mr. Reid was no "country joskin," as those who ran counter to his notions of doing things soon found out Some previous experience of public life on a county council had taught him a thing or two with regard to the management of public bod-

les. Settling in Island Bay, the newcomer with an interest in the country for Mr. Reid is a sawmiller m active service — soon found scope for his ambitions and foi the practice of remedying ills of burgesses. The Melrose Borough Council was a body which sadly needed reforming, and Mr. Reid was hailed as a reformer. He now sits on the body (and on his fellow - councillors) as one of the representatives for Island Bay Ward. Though an aggressive opponent of a Greater Wellington, it would seem as though Councillor Reid will soon be given the opportunity of sitting on the City Council. When that time comes, Mayor Aitken, with a lively recollection of the time he lost before the Tramway Commission, will say to Councillor Reid "Just fancy meeting you '" ■+ •* * '' It is no small achievement to have occupied the chairmanshipship of an Education Board for upwards of tv> entv years and yet this record has been achieved by Mr. J R Blair, of Wellington. For several years he has been making an effort to drop out of the chair of the Education Board, but the pleadings of his fellow-members not to fOlf 01 sake them ha\e prevailed Last week though he had fully made up his mind to drop out. lie was again prevailed upon to accept re-election. Either the Board consists of a number of men who are without ambition, or Mr Blair has made the chair an uneasy one for anyone else to occupy. ■* * * Mr. Blair has lesided m Wellington for nigli upon thirty years, and his projected trip abroad will be the fust he has taken since he came out from Scotia. As the active head of the firm of Messis Lvon and Blair, pimteis and pubhsheis, Mi Blair built up the business which was acquired some h\ c or six years ago by Messrs Whitcofbe and Tombs. He has always taken an interest m the public life of Wellington, though he has never been a politician, nor has he ever sought political honours. Educational matteis have been his specialty, but he has found time and inclination to "dabble" in city enterprises. His connection with the Bank of New Zealand, as chairman of directors, is w r ell known, and he succeeded Mr H. D. Bell as mayor of Wellington Mr. Blair being in turn, succeeded in the mayoral chair by the piesent occupant. Mr. Blairs mother lesides in South Africa, hence his reason for an parly visit to that part of the w orld * * * Dr Wohlmann, the Government balneologist, who is stirring ur> all soits of hitherto undiscovered hot springs, is ti'ying hard to earn his thousand a There is a breezy fieshness about the smart ruddy-faced medico, and he impresses one at first sight as being eminently capable and practical. He has not been m New Zealand lone, but he has formed impressions He remarks that he is at present a combination of balneologist, landscape gardener, and crier for the beauties of this country. The Lance feared that Dr. Wohlmann, so hot from European spas of repute, and towns of wealth and much artificial beauty would have been surprised at the comparatively undeveloped state of the resources of this country. * * * He is surprised, but it is at the development that has taken place in so short a time. But, the doctor looks fiercely through his pince-nez when he asks what reason there is in destroying thousands of acres of the loveliest bush in the world, and planting "the dirty little pinus insignus." New Zealand forests are its finest assets, he says, and she is incurring liabilities by destroying them, and paying for the planting of much hideousness. He is extremely enthusiastic and eulogistic over New

Zealand's mineral springs, which to a far larger extent than was ppreviously supposed. He wants to develop the local taste for drinking curative waters, and believes that he can work up an export trade for the aqueous products of Mother Earth. jfr * * We asked him, tremblingly, when Rotorua would earthquake out of sight. He explains that the presence of hot water is evidence that volcanic activity is dying down, that the tremendous vent nature has made for itself in the thermal district is its safety, and that Waimangu may be regarded as a guardian angel. He has already prospected parts that no white man has previously seen, and he is evidently of opinion that, the country with development could call itself one vast soa. Dr. Wohlmann lived at Bath, the fearfully aristocratic afternoon-tea drinking and somewhat prudish spa in Somerset. He hates 'Society" of the kind with the capital "S," and he would rather drink spa water than afternoon tea, or talk New Zealand bush than society smalltalk. Is he reconciled to the compaiative dulness of an undeveloped country o There is- no dulness with such a congenial task before him , for his heart is wrapped up m the country he intends to make his permanent home Dr. Wohlmann is an Englishman, born at Hertford, and educated bv his father, the principal of Hertford College His people came from Nuremberg, two hundred years ago, and brought the name He earned much experience at Gust's Hospital, in which great institution he lesided for five years. He is a skilled surgeon, and holds many medals and certificates of profieiencv, and made deep researches in the causation of rheumatism, with special regard to the bacteriology of the affection. V * * His views weie scofted at, but he hammered awc^u at the sublet and wrote many books on it. These are now accepted as the highest authorities In the latest woik on the 'System of Therapeutics," there is no mention of New Zealand medicinal springs. It is the highest authority on the subiect and contains references to every hot water bubble in the world, those of New- Zealand excepted. The doctor darkly hints that the omission will be rectified in the next edition. If Dr. Wohlmann can persuade the powers that be that the shocking vandalism that is carried on in New Zealand is the surest way to destroy its attractiveness that the climate of Rotorua is one of the finest in the world, that,_ above all, the country is eminently suited for a curative holiday around for the wealthy and liverless of the old countries, and that heaps of money well spent would mean added wealth, he will be happy. He could not be miserable, anyhow. It is not in his line, but the Government has full power to make him the happiest balneologist on earth. * * * ' Mrs. Hairison Lee, the Victorian temperance advocate, renewed her acquaintance with Wellington this week. It is thiee years since the comely nohcense advocate first came to our colony, and earnestly urged Wellingtoniaais and others to strike out the top line Possessed of a pretty wit, a large repertoire of anecdotes, and a keen sense of humour, Mrs. Lee< can get moie smiles to the five minute® out of a mixed audience than many a professional comedian. Nor is her earnestness to- be questioned. Under the pen-name of "Colonial Quizzo," the fair Victorian has published three brochures of humorous writings in dialect describing "Mrs. Pumpkin's Visit to Town" (Melbourne), "Mrs. Pumpkin in the Country," and "Mrs. Pumpkin Again." These booklets have had a wide circulation, not onjy throughout the colonies, but in the Old Country also. Mrs. Lee is also the authoress of a serious book

on "Marriage, Heredity, and the Social Evil," which has run into several editions. Since her last visit to Wellington, Mrs. Lee has been conducting missions in Wales, England, and Scotland, on behalf of the Alliance of Great Britain — the same organisation for which the Rev. Leonard Isitt is working. Mrs. Lee has 1 just concluded a lecture tour through the South Island on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, and has now changed Islands* with Miss Balgarnie, the English advocate engaged for the local option campaign. Whilst in Christchurch, Mrs. Lee took the war right into the enemy's camp, and created something of a sensation by "holding forth" on the lawn at the Grand National meeting ' "Truth" said the the lady had no sense of the fitness of things. Everyone agrees, anyway, that she is a harassing Harrison Lee. * * * y ' 'Mr. Allan Orr has decided to contest one of the city seats at the coming general elections." This announcement in the dailv press was inevitable after the statements that Allan was being brought out by the Drivers' Union and some others. For the man who runs the secretaryship of half-a-dozen unions — more or less — all thin°[s are possible, and easiest of all a nomination for a general election contest. Mr Orr starts with one big advantage — he has had columns of free advertisements in the Wellington papers owing to his many appearances before the Conciliation Board and the Arbitration Court. * * * There is no denying the fact that Mr. Orr has done good work. His fiorht foi the betterment of the tramway drivers and guards was well done in a good cause, and for a class of men who were not in a position to fight their on n battles. His organisation of the Drivers' Union was also a, good bit of generalship amongst a class of men most difficult to organise. There is scarcely any need to introduce Allan Orr — no one ever thinks of calling him "Mister" or anything else but "Allan." He has been more or less prominently before Wellingtonians for some twenty years. * * * There was a time, twelve or fifteen years ago, when he was the very active head of an anta-Chinese agitation. But John went on smiling blandly, and selling sugar a half-penny per lb cheaper than his European neighbour — that half-penny was a far greater argument for John than all the utterances and publications of Allan against the Celestials' methods of trading. In national politics, Allan Orr has been an enthusiastic barracker for the Ballance and Seddon Government, and if Premier Seddon had only followed his henchman Allan's advice as to how to run the city — Wellington would long ago have voted solid for the Government. At least, that is what Mr. Orr has avowed. As this paper has previously stated, Allan Orr is a human dynamo of suppressed energy, but he is going to let himself loose on city electors very soon. * * * Mr. Wm. Brannigan made anything but a successful debut last week at the Victoria Hall, Adelaide-road. That meeting must have weighed pretty heavily upon the debutant's mind, for he was filled with something of importance, and a great deal of nervousness, when Chairman Flux introduced the young man from Kilbirnie. William was going to straighten out the town, and set the reservoirs on fire, but. — he had left his notes at home! His first attempt at oratory broke off suddenly in the middle, leaving William soeechless in the middle of the stage, trying to make "head and tail" of some rough notes which refused to give him a sound peg to hang his argument® upon. The audience — which was small, and composed mainly of the Ratepayers' Asso-

ciation — sat sympathetically watching William flounder. Then, some fi lends advised the would-be member tor Newtown to "have another go." * • Taking another grip upon his notes, William began to pour out hundreds of thousand*, and millions of gallons of watei, until his audience began to gasp at the figurative showers. Then, William grew suspicious again of his own figures, and the audience felt sorry for the poor figure he presented. He assured listeners that he could vouch for the correctness of his figures — those which he had left at home'— but, but— somehow they were a bit awry. "You 11 never get into Parliament if you go on like that'" was one cheeiful observation made from the audience. William answered back that he was coming to that bv-and-bve "Have a drink, -Bill ' was another bit of advice offered from a grevbeaid in the back seat. * * * I've got the wiong notes, gentleman," said the nonplussed orator, again. I've left the others at home because I came away in a hurry " 'Never mind, Bill, take a rest, and let Mr. Barber eive us a talk," said a friend of William's from the side seats. There were energetic cries for ' Barber 1 " from the Ratepayers' Association, but Mr. Barber drily remarked that he w-as not out for talk Mr Brannigan had paid for the hall, and he (Mr. Barber) had come to learn something from his rival. William, of Kilbirme, then made another start, and got into Karori dam. As he could not find his figures upon this phase of the speech that was to be, he went on to say that he approved of Solomon's dam. "Shame'" said a voice, "you shouldn't use bad language." * * * The secretary of the Ratepayers' Association or someone sitting near him, said, as there were no ladies present, the use of the w r ord dam was in order. A late comer wanted to know what caused Solomon to dam Karori, but no one took the remark seriously, save some who laughed till they cried. The audience brightened up when William began his exposition on dams, but he was understood to say that he could talk better on the subject if there were not so many people about — and if he had not forgotten his notes. Then, another brightening up came wheaa William forsook his notes and said he would talk as a practical plumber. "Now, we'll hear something," said an admirer of the ex-inspector of water taps , " 'cos Bill's nothing if he ain't practical!" Well, William must be the other thing, for his practical talk ended abruptly with the familiar statement that he had "left hi® calculations at home!" * * * Then, the meeting — within fifteen minutes of its beginning — started in to provide its own entertainment, with William lookine on from his seat on vie stage. "Willie" Tustin, another aspirant for the Newtown seat, expressed his willingness to give something whilst Mr. Brannigan collected his- thoughts. "Mine's a beer !" said one voice and another interjected that "he understood Bill was paying for the hall, and there warn't to be no bloom in' collection!" Willie Seeundus was allowed to take the platform, and grot alone; serenely until he began to tell his audience "something they didn't know " "Sit down, Willie," shouted burly Builder Seymour , "do you think me are all ignorant but you'" And Willie Tnstin sat down. * * * There were more cries for "Barber," but he sat silent. Then the "Father o' Newtown" ("Sandy" Wilson) began reminiscences of the days when he was a

member of the City Council. "Those wur the grain' days, aud he had men on the Ceety Council in them days'" He knew ail about the Wamui "doms." "Don't swear, old man, don't swear!" cried a horrified voice, and the remainder of "the Father's" speech was drowned m shrieks of laughter. He left the Slatform shaking his finger angrily at [r. Braniugan's party. "Give Bill another show'" came a cry from the body of the hall, and William Brannigan srot off a phrase about "a birdcage of ratepayers" holding back the best interests of the city. If those m the birdcage persisted in refusing more water, then they would be disfranchised. There would be more opening of drains — ("More expense!" oned a lugubrious voice from the Ratepayers' Association) — there would be drainage and have ter come back to the old lie have ter cum back to the hold lie drum Bill'" and William retired, in a shout of laughter, to search his pockets again for the lost notes. * * ■* G. H. Baylis said it was "up to him to have a go in," and he kept the meeting simmering for twenty minutes, when he was called upon to "give other men a show." Secretary McAlpine (of the Ratepayers' Association) was very much In evidence as a questioner. Then, came emphatic calls for Councillor Barber, and this time he was successfully drawn. But, he would not talk politics. Whilst Mr. Barber was speaking, yet a fourth candidate for Newtown's seat came in, and very soon, there were calls for "Bob McKenzie" — and Bob had a brief "say," closing with moving a vote of thanks to the chairman and Mr. Brannigan. The chairman said Mr. Brannigan's party had proved "more entertaining than Gerardy/" and the RateDayers' Association declared that it had been better than Dixs — and cheaper ! * * * Mr. P. J. O'Regan, of the square jaw and the keen intellect, has threatened to "come out" for Wellington, and, from what is known of this determined ex-Parliamentarian he will put every ounce of his energy into the fight. The stalwart P. J. looked out on the great world of Charleston for the first time in 1869, and he has 1 since found that there is ai lot of happiness to be knocked out of life and hard work. He was brought up far from the madding cshool crowd on a farm in the Inangahua Valley, imbibed his education from rippling brooks and any books he could lay his sturdy hands on, and, as soon as he wasi of statutory smoking age. his love for public affairs became a passion. * • • P. J.s first essay into print was in 1889, when he found refuge in ink, and made out a very fair defence for the Cape Foul wind strikers. His

adeptness was noted and noteworthy, and lie sprang from, letters to the press to the editorial chair of the "Reef ton Guardian." We believe that the young OR., whether by pen or word of mouth, always said exactly what he thought in plain, wholesome language, and he later transferred his inky affection to the "Inangahua Times." Then , by a natural course of events, he drifted on towards his merited doom. In 1893, a bye-election took place for the vacant Inangahua seat. Sir R. Stout beat him on the post, but the large square youth was not discouraged. * * * Sir Robert, standing subsequently for Wellington, P. J. became Inangahua's lepresentative at the general election when he was in bis twenty-sixth year. He was reelected in 1896 for the Buller electorate. He again tried his luck in 1899, and was thrown out. His very strong views on some nhases of the land question may, or may not, have been the cause. Then, he took to law, and he has been imbibing its dryness ever since. Although he has once failed for his law examination, he does not know what failure means, and it mi^ht be just as well to get his license ready. The man is a born fighter, and if he has a conviction he will hammer away. He is sweet on the unimproved value rating, and when he is not talking about it he writes pithy argumentative screeds on the subject. Sometimes, in lighter vein, h© pens satiric and humorous stuff, and the best evidence that it is readable is that no editor has been known to waste-paper-basket it unless it trod on the editorial pet corns. Whatever P. J.s views may be, and some say they are eccentric, the man's face is a mirror of his soul. He is thoroughly sincere, and honesty in politics won't hurt. *' * * Captain "Jimmy" Mitchell, of the Tenth Regiment, who came back on crutches, and in the Montrose, on Tuesday, has a tale to tell. "Jimmy" the son of that well-known sportsman and breeder of blood-stock, Mr. J. D. Mitchell, of Hawera, went to the front witli the First Contingent, and shared in what he still believes to have been the hardest part of the; campaign with that small and variegated fighting machine. "Jimmy" came home apparently to shake hands with his friends, for he went back next day with a commisfsion in the Sixth, and got into some very warm corners. * • * On January 3rd last, at Rotterdam, the gallant Hawera man was in advance of the column, and the gentle Boers (who always snipe from behind rocks!) swept at a mad charge over his troop, leaving him with a bullet hole through his shin, but ultimately getting cut up

by Captains Morrison and Fred. Woods and Lieutenant Lewin (all New Zealanders). When the Tenth landed, and encamped at Newcastle, "Jimmy" joined it, with, his present rank. It was here that he sustained the accident that made crutches necessary. » * * A pony, that had made a name for itself by trying to kill a Kaffir, was "presented" to him, as the boy probably thought he would give the white "baas" a chance of getting hurt. Riding from town to camp, Captain Mitchell "rooted" the animal to persuade it to wake up. It "slewed" and fell, breaking the officer's leg, which is by no means well yet. Captain Mitchell, before he left New Zealand, was a noted gentleman steeplechase rider, and he has always had an eye for a horse, especially a horse belonging to the enemy. He won't be able to ride* 'chasers for some time. * * » "Charlie" Crowley, the juvenile Boer, whom Captain Mitchell has brought home, and whom he intends bringing up as a jockey, has a history. The small pale Dutch youngster has lived among singing bullets for some time past. He was commandeered by General Joubert to hold horses outside Ladysmith early in the war, and he knows what it is to have half-a-dozen horses pulling different ways when the Lee-Metfords sing their nickel-plated lay. Being taken prisoner, and released, Charlie joined the First Contingent, and saw service with the Second and Third also. * * • He stuck to New Zealand, for he was on every trek in which the Sixth were engaged, and was looked upon in some degree as a "Mascot." He met the Ninth at Vereeniging, and afterwards joined the Tenth, when, Captain Mitchell, having seen him ride like a centaur saw possibilities in him. Charlie Crowley's father was an Irishman, who died long before the war. This is how several local people found out that Captain Mitchell shot him dead, and lassoed the child. His mother was a Dutch woman, and she, having married a Cape Boer, Charlie left for the front. The little Dutchman, in a smart suit of khaki, knows a good deal about soldiering by now. As his heart is wrapped up in horses, he will have lots of chances of seeing what he can do with the New Zealand "paarden." * * * "Will" Dallaston, a school teacher in his serious moments, composer when in his leisured moods, must have felt delighted with the homage paid him last Friday in the Vivian-street schoolroom. If "Will" was too modest to own to a pleased feeling, there was no hiding the pleasure felt by his reverend parent, the Rev. Charles Dallaston. For the-Tung people of the Baptist Church produced an original cantata, the words and music of which were the product of young Dallaston, who also saw the piece through as conductor. * * * Young men, especially in this (the spring) season of the year frequently break out into verse, but it is not given to many to compose even a modest cantata such as the Dallastonian effort, "The Mountain Track." It proved clever and melodious, and its production was received by an overflowing audience, who declared that they wanted to follow that track some more. If inemoiry serves me rightly, "Hinemoa," by Mr. Alf. Hill and Arthur Adams, is the only other cantata written and produced in Wellington.