All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 118, 4 October 1902, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

AMONG the many New Zealand bootmakers who have won fame, but who still stick to the last, is Mr. William Guise, referred to with bated bieath sometimes by members of friendly societies as "Billy." The retiring but versatile, bootmaker was only a year old forty-three years ago, but he has since overcome that. He wanted to go and kill pirates as soon as he was eleven years of age, and so he joined the s s Clyde, at Auckland, his native place, as a cabin boy. Pirates not being strewn around in very large quantities William took to the occupation which he has adorned ever since. In 1876 he went to work for R. Hannah and Co , and is still en — with the same firm. * ♦ But although William is strong on bootmakmg, he is much stronger on friendly societies work, for he became an Antipodean Oddfellow in 1878 and became Deputy Grand Master m 1887, and a "ear later become Grand Master of the Wellington district. He is also district auditor. As one of the comittee of citizens formed to consider the celebration of her late Majesty s Jubilee, William did loyal work, and his aptitude for organisation was recognised bv the Friendly Societies Council, and he was made a vice-president. • * • When Mr. Mackay retired, William promptly took the presidential chair. He also drafted the rules governing the Friendly Societies' Ihspensary, which was established under his guidance. They thought a lot of Mr. Guise's rules, and' offered him the billet of president, but he would not take it, being content to become a trustee. Afterwards, he became chairman of that council As president of the Friendly Societies Council, he thus holds the two highest positions within the gift of those bodies, and he is a proud man this day. • » » Last week's cable messages from Melbourne stated that the Victorian Labour Party had thrown over its support of the Hon. W. A. Trenwith, and would ran a candidate against him at the coming elections. Mr. Trenwith, who came to New Zealand some two years ago, on a special mission, with the Hon. Mr Best, is a bootmaker by trade. But, like our own Hon. Mr. Pinkerton he has not worked at the last and the bench since he went into politics what time the New Unionism wave struck the colonies, in 1890-91. When Mr. Trenwith joined the Victorian Ministry, shortly after his return from New Zealand, the Labour Party dubbed him a renegade — and now he is rejected of the Labourites. He is an able man, and a clever speaker, and it is likely that he will talk himself hack into Parliament again. * • * One usually associates the magistracy with bald heads and grey beards. "King" Adams is neither bald or greyheaded, is but twenty-seven years of age, and is the youngest magistrate in India. "G.F.K." is one of that bright bunch of boys owned by Mr. C. W. Adams, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Blenheim and from the time he cut some very ill-formed initials on his desk at Wellington Terrace school, his native gifts have pushed him onwards and upwrads. He naturally drifted to the Dunedin Hierh School, and the Junior University School and the results of his examinations made people think

highly of his attainments. The fact is, he came out top m any studies he undertook. . * • An Indian Civil Service coach at Home followed his career, and asked him to go to England to be prepaied for that awfully select and highly-paid seivice, and "King" went, as he could "cross the Poms Asmorum in the dark, and as "Hoc, haec, hoc was to him a lark," he romped through that civil service examination among a very smart crowd, and found himself bound for Jampur, in India, in a very short time, wiith his appointment for a magistracy in his pocket. He is m a good climate, but the authorities of the- torrid Empire know that livere must go at last, and "King" is coming home to New Zealand on a twelve-months' furlough next year. In the meantime, he is dispensing iustice, and sticking pigs in the jungle in his spare moments With twelve rupees worth of servants, a man in India is a regular nabob, and G. F K. is in India. » • • Of course, all the Adams boys have gifts. There is Arthur, 8.A., who wrote "Hinemoa," the delightful thing to whioh (and Alf. Hill's music) all Wellington has lately been listening. Then, of course, there is Professor C. E. Adams, the lecturer on geology at the Victoria University, and "C. E.," the secretary of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association and insurance man generally. There are others, also, but "King" is oiur present prey, except that it is a propos to mention that the youngest boy of the talented Adams holds a directorship at the Thames School of Mines, a school that has sent a good many talented boys away, including Dr. James M. McLaren, B.S.C. F.G.S., assistant geologist to the Indian Government, and a photograph of whom, together with "King's," is published elsewhere * * * Dr. E. D. Edwards, B.A. M.8., is anoth&r strenuous young New Zealander who thirsted for distinction and blood. His counterfeit presentment, m this issue, will show you that although he is not specially ferocious looking:, Mr. Justice Edwards sent him to Dublin University, and the youthful New Zealander lost no time in ~°tting all the knowledge he could at that famous seat of learning. Young Edwards took the opportunity that hundreds of young medical men grasped to study surgery under abnormal conditions, and went to Africa with Lord Iveagh's Irish Hospital Corps, serving nine months with it. He is trying hard for a fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons. At present he lives with Dr. Stokes, with whom he served in the African war. Young Edwards had a chance of probing for bullets in his own countrymen, and they speak hiehly of his tact and humanity. • • « Yet another Wellingtonian who is winning his way up the medical ladder of fame is Ernest Giesen, lately anoointed demonstrator for the year at Guy's Hospital, London. Ernest is a product of salubrious Karori, and is a Terrace school-boy, who won a Wellington College scholarship, and made good use of it. Ernest took to medicine like a duck to water, but he sustained no harm from dabbling in drugs. He learnt a great deal about chemistry from Mr. Leary, his brother-in-law, at Palmerston North, and then, as you know, he came to Wellington to go into the pestle and mortar Ime on his* own account. * • * Ernest had seen doctors riding about behind fast trotting roan horses, with bell-toppers and waxed moustaches, and he thought that he would like a trap and a bell-topper too, and hied him away to London. Of course he is not a Treves yet, but he wants to be. The "coach" to whom he went in London brief! v examined his mental arrange-

merits, and said they were in good working order, and advised him to lose no time. Mr. Gieson had to matriculate again m the London University, which, to a man who believed he had done with general knowledge '"swatting" years before was hard lines. Only two other colonials have ever won a demons trator<&lup at Guy's, and Ernest's friends are proud ot him. The announcement of Mr. W. E. Salisbury's ambition to be a member for Wellington City struck the city with a Mount Pelee shock of surprise. The great majority of citizens wanted to know "Who is Salisbury?" which is a great reflection upon any aspirant for political honours. Then, when the people who have a vote read Mr. S.s list of political beliefs, they wondered how it came to t>ass that a man with such a comprehensive platform could have kept out of public life all these years. "Surely, this is another Seddon come to judgment !" said those who knew not Sansburv. « * • But, who is Mr. Sansbury ? Well, he should be well-known to Wellingtonians, for he has grown grey in this city, and waxed not a little opulent in so doing. To some people he is best known as the uncle of Dr. Teare , to others, he is known as "that white-bearded chap who sometimes sits as a Jay Pee on the magistrate's bench." Mr. S. knows something of the inside running of our political organisations, for he has been an active member of the Labour and Political League ever since its formation. At the present time he is on the Committee of Management of the Thorndon branch of the Federation, and it is remarkable that his name does not appear on the ticket chosen by ballot of that branch. * * * There is great anxiety on the part of some people in Timaru to prevent the Hon. W. Hall- Jones having a walk-over for the seat which has been something of a pocket-borough for him ever since Mr. Turnbull gave up politics by "crossing the bar." It will be remembered that at the last general election our Minister for Public Works was returned with a majority which constituted a record, not only for New Zealand, but for the whole of Australasia. That majority has so far scared off all opposition to the member for Timaru, and not even the Prohibitionist Party has put up a dummy against him. * * » But, an active agitation in favour of the nomination of Mr. John Hole is going on in the columns of the "Timaru Post." Mr. Hole, who is a brewer, would be no mean opponent, and would most decidedly give the Minister "a run for his money." He is the ex-mayor of Timaru, and was returned to that office for several terms unopposed. He retired this year in order to give another man a chance of enjoying; the mayoral honour, and was immediately afterwards returned to the Borough Council as a councillor. # * • During the recent period when the war spirit was upon the land, Mayor Hole was a Jingo of the Jingoes, and he never missed an opportunity of rallying the Timaruvians and shouting himself hoarse for King Dick and the Empire. It apears that there is a feeling of discontent in a small section of his electorate against Mr. Hall- Jones, whom the discontents claim has not done enough for Timaru since he became a Minister. But, even if Mr. Hole stands, Mr. Hall- Jones is likely to romo in again at the head of the poll. • * * Mrs. Eggers, the organiser of a unique entertainment given by the Young Endeavourers of Constable-street last week, is an enthusiastic worker in the interests of foreign missions. Before taking up her residence in Wellington Mrs Eggers gave a costumed

missionary concert, and the result was that she had to repeat the concert in all parts of the Queen City. Mrs. Eggers is proud of the fact that she is a native of Niue, one of the South Sea Islands, and the feature of the entertainment given under her direction last week was a number of tableaux illustrating scenes in the Islands, with native hymns and songs rendered in the melodious Niuean tongue. Mrs. Eggers is the daughter of Mr. Head, a trader almost as well-known in Auckland as the Savage Island group, where he settled in the very early days. Mr. Head was one of the small party of Europeans who entertained Premier Seddon during King Dick's trip among the Islands. * ♦ * Mi\ Robert Gardner, the musical director of Mr. Harry Riekards's No. 2 Touring Company, which entertained Wellingtonians so cleverly last week, has been long associated with the vaudeville stage in Australia amd with Mr. Riokards'. This is not hia first visit to New Zealand ; indeed, he has been through the colony several times. Mr. Gardner is the "poor wandering one" of the Rickards minstrels, for he is kept ever on the move. His longest stay in any city during recent years has been five months, and he has been deprived of all the pleasures of home. * * • This sort of luck is all the harder seeing that there is a charming better-half, and a bouncing three-year-old son and heir, who is known in the profession in Sydney as "John Bull junior." Mr. Gardner has just received word that he is to stay in New Zealand on the completion of the present tour, and await the coining of No. 3 company, of which Strong Man Sandow will he the star-of-stars. "J. B. junior" and Mrs. Gardner are coming over to the colony to keep the "poor wandering one" company during his extended stay here. * » * The Retter family, of Johnsonville, has had much sympathy extended to it over the death of Len Retter, who was a trooper with our Eighth Contingent, and who lost his life in the famous "drive'" at Bothasberg. Hie Excellency the Governor brought tears to the eyes of the members of the family who were present at the Johnsonville School last Wednesday afternoon by his touching references to the dead trooper when unveiling the tablet erected by the scholars as a memorial to Len. * • * Among those present at Wednesday's ceremony, was Trooper DArcy Retter, Len's brother, who fought side-by-side with Len in the trench at Bothasberg. DArcy tells of an incident of that wild night. During the engagement Len, after being hit lost his rifle. Emptying the oartridees out of his bandolier into his hat, Len said to his brother, "I've got some fight in me yet — give me my rifle !" Mr. W. H. Field's comment was that "if a man had to die, what better death could he have than Len Retter'sP" » * "Do you know Hell Fire Jack?" was the startling question, asked a witness in the Magistrate's Court the other morning by Lawyer Jellicoe. "Of course I do," replied the witness, who was a cabby. "Everybody who knows anybody in Wellington knows him !" "Well, I don't!" retorted the lawyer, whereupon the witness smiled an unbelieving smile. The case before the Court was one in which several cabbies were charged with having used some sandpaperish language, and as H.F. Jack was a witness for the prosecution, and Mr. Jellicoe was defending the culprits, the lawyer proceeded to suggest that the warm-region sobriquet of a well-known Jehu was bestowed upon him on account of his use of sulphurous language. But, it was found that this was not so. The cabby with the fiercesoundin~ nick-name is a quiet-looking fellow with an ordinary everyday nrohi-

bitian-sounding proper" name. He won has H.F.J. name because ot his skill m the "good old early days" in driving a six-liorse-team in a Cobb and Co. »* * * Stall another appeal for the cash of Carnegie Two weeks ago it was the Waunate Library Committee which decided to ask the Lord o1o 1 Skibo to give a donation , last week the Napier Corporation decided to follow the South Canterbury example. The terms unon which Mr. Carnegie offers donations do not seem to be understanded of the people who are sending begging letters. He does not, under any conditions, give donations to be spent upon books. His grants are for library buildings only, and the public bodies receiving the Carnegie grants must give a pledge to voluntarily tax themselves to the extent of 10 per cent, of the amount he gives to provide a fund for the up-keep of the library building. Corporations, notindividiiaJs, must make the application for grants, and there must be good guarantees ere Carnegie cash is obtainThe name of Mr. Alec Hill is familiar to that large coterie of the music-loving people of this colony, who are ever on the alert for something fresh in colonial composition. Mr. Hill, who settled in Wellington seven years ago, was always conscious of a certain musical inspiration, which, in latter years, found vent in the well-known harmonies to which he has given his name. Among the many compositions issued from his nen may be mentioned "Rosemary," "Shadows," "Love's Language," and "Crossing the Bar," some of which have been sung publicly in Australia and New Zealand by Miss Jennie Opie Mr William Paul Mr. Ernest Fitts, Mr. Percy Denton, and others. Mr. Alec Hill is also wellknown in tht? communities of sport in this colony. He holds the position of president of the Oriental Football Club, member of the Committee of Management of the Wellington Rugby Union treasurer to the New Zealand Kennel Club, and is an ardent student of golf. It is remarkable the luck some men have in getting prominently into view of the public eye at the psychologicail moment. The latest instance is the case of Mr. "Tommy" Taylor, of Christchurch. Towards the end of last year, Mr. Taylor, who had been the hope of the Prohibitionists, amd a thorn in the side of the Seddonites, left on a trip to England. He had apparently dropped out of mind when he dropped out of sight. The other day he returned to the colony — unheralded. But, during a chat with a Southern newspaper man, he mentioned an item which he had read m a Melbourne raper reflecting upon Premier Seddon. The item was telegraphed throughout the colony, many editorial articles were built upon it in the press, and Sir Josenh Ward contradicted it in Parliament There was the luck of Tommy Tayior' On the strength of that, advertisement he may possibly command a seat in the House at the elections. Sweet are the uses of advertisement. • - * The political game in Wellington is already becoming interesting. Newtown Liberals are awkwardly situated in having a richness of choice. Councillor Barber came to them as 1 a surprise packet, and he has been working like a whole cartload of fireworks. Mr. Luke is rather relying upon his known support of the Government Part^ in the past. However both candidates ara filled with a lively hope that things at present mixed will be straightened out "when Dick gets back." It is said that "Bill" Branigan. who was lost in the Karori Reservoir, is a non-starter for

the Newtown Stakes — and 'there are others" who are likely to get off the track before nomination day. In the city it is still persistently said that Mayor Aitken will yet go in the ticket with Messrs. Duthie and Atkinson. There was a rumour that Councilloi Evans would come out, but, as he has gone over Sydney way for a month, there oannot be anything in it. "I will bet you a new hat," said am active Leaguer, the other day, "that if George Fisher goes in Pat O'Regan goes in with him. Pat is worth 6000 votes easy'" Another footpath politician declares that when Mr. Wm. McLean gets his automobiles out "he'll go so fast none of the other candidates will get in sight of him at the poll'" The Executive Committee of the Veterans' Home Fund has undoubtedly taken a very wise course in having given Captain J. G. Hughes, D.5.0., a roving commission as an organiser of entertainments for the benefit of the fund. There are many people in the colony who give voluntarily to every good and deserving obiect, but, there are very many more who like to "see something for their money." This latter class will be tapped by Captain Hughes, who has a special aptitude as an organiser of social affairs. He is an exceedingly popular man and well liked in all circles. # Through his connection with the First and Eighth Contingents, and havin" acted in between whiles on the Commandant's staff, Captain "Jack" ha>s come m touch with a large number of people, so that, no matter to what part of the colony he he will find friends

ready to help him. Then, again, he organises with the imprimatur of Loid Raniurly, who is the promoter of the Veterans' Home scheme, and this fact will prove an "Open Sesame" for the gallant Cap tarn, plus his own personal popularity. * * * How many of the many thousands of people who have journeyed to or from Lyttelton on the U.S.S. Company"s ferry boat Rotomahana would suspect that Captain Manning — the man. on the bridge — had a sneaking regard for the stage 't A few of the solemn-vis-aged skipper's friends are aware that he can talk Socialism "like a book," and they know that tliisi isi one of his r>et subjects. But, of late, he has broken out in afiesh place. During his thrice-a-week visits to Lyttelton, for some months past, he was seen to hurry at an unusually quick eait into the recesses of that salubrious seaside suburb, and emerged hours later with a bie smile on his usually solemn face. * * * At tames hei would hurry down to the Rotomahana at a late minute. What was it all about? Well, the secret came out last week. A party of Lyttelton amateurs gave a performance of "Casite," and their coach was the oapfraan of the greyhound of the fleet ! Captain Manning could not see the performance out. He could only stay to the close of the second act. But, on his arrival in Wellington next morning, several telegrams were handed to him. They read — "Third act, like others, ereat success. Thanks to Manning'" The captain of the Rotomahana now-a-days can talk "Caste" by the page but he is by no means one who tolerates caste.