All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 120, 18 October 1902, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

NO little interest is being taken m the Hon. W. T. Jennings decision to resign his seat in the Legislative Council, to contest the new Egmont seat. Mr. Jennings is wellknown in Wellington, and he is, perhaps better known in New Plymouth, but he is most widely known nt Auckland. A compositor by trade, and for many years a frame-holder on the Auck land "Star," he afterwards became foreman of the "Star's" composing room. A leader in the Typographical Society, he became very prominent m labour circles in the Queen City. When the oreat wave of new unionism struck the colony, in 1890-1891, Mr. Jennings was one of the four leaders who floated into the Legislative Council When Premier Ballance decided that Labour should be represented in the Upper House, he chose a leader from each centre. Auckland was renresented by Mr. Jennings, Wellington by Mr. John Rigg (another compositor), Christchurch by Mr. Jenkinson (an engineer who was "called out of a boiler," as a legend of the times has it) and Dunedin by Sir Robert Stout's old friend, Mr. Bolt, a storeman. As the nephew of Mr. W. H. J. Seffern, Mr. Jennings during recent years spent a good deal of time in New Plymouth, helping the veteran editor of the Taranaki "Herald." On his uncle's death which occurred recently, the M.L.C., by legacies, became more than ever attached to the capital of Emsmithville, where he has now permanently taken up his quarters. * * * One of the Auckland interests which Mr. Jennings kept in hand was his presidency of the Tailoresses' Union, which, for many years, has been known throughout the colony as "Jeniungs's Union." The M.L.C.'s latest most-talked-of exploit was his taking sides against his labour-colleague, the Hon. John Rigg, on the tied-houses question. Mr. Jennings was the chairman of the Council's Select Commission which reported adversely upon Mr. Riggs Tied - Houses Bill. In the discussion the ex-Aucklander was a pro-brew-er, whilst the Wellmgtonian was a propublican. Percy Luke. — eldest son of Councillor John Luke, and nephew of candi-date-for-Newtown Charles Luke — has been having a good time in England, where he is gaining "finishing" experience as an engineer. He was one of the party of New Zealanders who went to London town to see the King m his golden crown. He struck luck all the way through his stay in the City of Big Smoke, for he never once got lost, and, whenever he wanted a privilege, he found a friend at hand to give it. He does not now believe all the tales he heard about London being as large as Australia. Because he met New Zealanders at every turn. * ♦ * On the evening of Coronation Day, he and Councillor John Smith were walking along Oxford-street when they heard shouts of "Kia Ora" A reply cry brought together a bunch of wandering Maorilanders, including young Mandel, <?on of Empire Hotel Man del On the Sunday afternoon following the adventure noted above, the young Wellingtonian was taking a walk abroad when he saw four khaki-clad men scrambling aboard a 'bus. "Tenakoe '" he veiled, as he also jumped on board.

And, one of the quartette was Trooper Frank Wylde, of Kumara, with whom Percy Luke had worked on the drederes down the West Coast ' * ♦ * Particularly fortunate was Mr. Luke on Coronation Day, for he was one of a party of nine who occupied a friend s chambers in a mansion commanding a view of the entrance to Westminster Abbey. From this coign of vantaee he saw the sight of his life. But, colonialhke, he had to get down among the crowd when the King came out of the Abbey, and there the young Welhngtonian yelled himself hoarse with millions more in greetings to the crowned King. "I was proud to be British!" was the finishing sentence of a description of the scene which he wrote to his people in Wellington. * * * Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, is rather in the public eye just now as a champion of Sunday recreation. The section ot the community which has been hit the hardest by that manly Adelaide speech of the Bishop's is the Wellington association for the advocacy of Bible- teaching in State schools. The association intended making Bishop Julius one of its star attractions at a great meeting to be held in Wellington before the general elections. But, since the Adelaidean eruption, "things are different l " It is a remarkable fact that since his arrival in the colony — he succeeded Bishop Harper in the Canterbury bishopric — Bishop Julius has delivered himself of striking utterances just before each general election. * * * In 1893, he was asked by one of the Isitt brothers to declare himself for Prohibition. His answer, which became a much-advertised watchword for the other side, was startling. "A Prohibitionist ?" he said. _ "Never! I believe in good beer and light wine '" During the local option campaign the volcanic Bishop— who was also a lover of My Lady Nicotine— advocated reduction, and the Prohibition party and his party had many a wordy combat. The next eruption of Mount Julius occurred just before the general election of 1899. An emergency meeting of the clergy of his diocese was called, and Bishop Julius exploded a bomb which brought the Prohibitionists to their feet singing "For he's a jolly good fellow'" He addressed the clergy "in the most pronounced manner" upon the liquor question. The publicans, he said, had refused to take warnings concerning the need for reductions in the number of Licenses and the better conducting of hotels. Therefore, the publicans had "forfeited ail claims to sympathy by their shameless law-breakmg," and, consequently, he (Bishop Julius) was going strong for no license ! Once more the Bishop came in for lively criticism, but h.3 went his way smilingly — as he will probably continue to do while he has got any smothered fire left. Lieutenant-Colonel and Mis Gilmour, the newlj -appointed leadeis of the Salvation Armj m New Zealand, whoweie welcomed by the Wellington division last Monday night, are well-known throughout "Army" circles in Australia. The Colonel is an able and popular speaker, and is very effective at platform work He worked for several years in Sydney, and was then transferred to Melbourne, where he acted as general secretary for Australasia. It was from the Melbourne headquarters that he was promoted to New Zealand. He follows Colonel EstelPs example in making Dunedin his headquarters for New Zealand, though why the central city of the colony is not chosen is hard to 'understand ' Anyway, this did not affect the w r armth of the greeting fnven by Wellingtonians to Colonel and Mrs. Gilmour.

The incident of the record run Home fiom Wellington by the Gothic, achieved last week, remands us of a good story told by Mr. H. W. Lucy, the London journalist, with the Gothic's commander (Captain Kidley) as hero. As --o genial captain has many friends in Wellington, the story is worth telling. It was away back in the early eighties, when Captain Kidley was in command of the White Star liner Coptic, running between Liverpool and Ne.w York. The captain tlhen, as now, had a good baritone voice, which he used with great effect in leading the choir, at the services over which he presided on Sundays. * * *• On one particular trip the Coptic's pranoi \\ as more than "a bit off" — it was several tones below concert pitch. This worried the skipper a great deal, and he stalked about the deck pitching notes in all sorts of altitudes, longitudes, latitudes, etc., as he assumed various attitudes. "What's the matter, Captain ?" asked the lournalist, who was a passenger on the trip. "Well, you see," replied the skipper, "we are going to sing that favourite hymn, 'Eternal Father,' and I'm afraid of thei piano 1 " "What will you do about it?" "Oh, we must pitch 'Eternal Father' two bars higher, that's all!" replied the captain of the Coptic. * * * For some time past Wellington has been "entertaining an angel unawares." For the visits of great men, like angels' visits, are few, and far between. xtir. A. J. Mounteney-Jephson, who has been a guest at Government House during the Te&ter portion of his stay in the colony, is a fellow-countryman of Lord Ranfurly's, his father being an Irish squire, and landed nroprietor. Mr. A. J. M. J. came out to Wellington health-recruiting, and his first experience of the Antmodean life was anything but pleasant. He arrived at the time when the plaguensoare was on and when he landed he was instructed to report himself at stated periods to the Health Office. * ♦ * Now, though he had had considerable Continental experience, and knew what it was to put up with restrictions Mr. M.-J. thought that a prospective guest of a Governor was something above the law. But, he had to do with a department which knew no distinction of persnos when evasions were made, and when the high-toned tourist made for Napier a bit of blue paper went after him. It is a remarkable fact, and a strange coincidence, that the warrant was served upon Mr. j-h.-J. at Napier by a policeman who knew him "on sight," though this was the aristocratic tourist's first visit to New Zealand. The constable was a native of the town of Mallow, of which M.-J. senior was squire and lord of the manor. * # • Our distinguished visitor was fined £5 for evading the supervision law, and he has had a errudge against our "deuced bad laws" ever since. This state of things (or feelings) is very bad for the colony, because when he returns Home our visitor is sure to vent his feelings m ink. He is already an author and much-travelled man, having published a book on "Emm Pasha and the Rebellion at the Equator" and having journeyed through Darkest Africa with the redoubtable Stanley, who referred to him in his big book as "Poor, young Jenhson!" » * * Mr. Jephson is very highly connected, for he is not only ihe son of an Irish squire, but has for aunt the Countess de NouaiUes, niece of Lord Cromer ('the Anglo-Egyptian diplomat). The Countess was a great admirer of General Gordon, and she built the Gordon Boys' Home, on Bagshot Heath. It was her influence, plus the sum of £1300 which got young M.-J. on Stanley's staff. Our distinguished visitor

claims the personal friendship of t!he Ozarana of Russia, with whom he was wont to play on an English seashore when Princess Alix of Hesse (Queen Victoria's second daughter's child) and he were boy and girl together. He was present at the Ozar and Alix's coronation, what time he held the important post of Queen's Messenger. Truly, Mr. M.-J. cam say to the ordinary stay-at-home colonial. "My dear old" chap, you do not know whom you are talking to!" fo"- "the things he has seen and the places he has been" and the great ones of the earth he has met have been the happenings which occur to no mortal of common clay. * * • "What is a centurion, dad?" asked a small boy last Sunday morning. To which the father, who had just been reading the Saturday paper, replied — "Why, child, old Charley Pharazyn!" A propos, at the Hospital Sunday demonstration, later in the day, two ladies were discussing the "coming of age" of the centenarian. "Why, he is simply a marvellous man," said one. "I went to see him the) other day. and he was going to send me his photograph. And I was astonished to see how well he looked. He can't stand much, you know but his face is remarkably well preserved, and his skin does not look a bit as old as you would expect. And, there he was enjoying his cup of tea and cake just as much as any of us!" * * * Mr. Pharazyn was at one time a member of the Legislative Council, and, if memory serves us ri~ht it was Pharazyn pere about whom Tom Bracken once wrote a " Paddy Murphy poem from Lam ton Kay," in which he advised the Queen to "make Pharazyn a barrownite!" The story of how Pharazyn pere dropped out of the Council, and so made way for Pharazyn fils, is interesting. The old gentleman was keenly interested in an election which was being held in Wellington many years ago. He voted in the Exchange Hall booth, and later on voted again, absent-mindedly, in another booth further up the street. * ♦ ♦ The law was looking for a victim, and absence of mind was not taken as an excuse. Mr. Pharazyn was fined £100 for double voting Naturally, the most potent, grave, and reverend seigneur in him was seriously affronted. He could have kicked himself for having done this foolish thing, but he decided to kick the colony and the Government very hard. He had been hurt by the law, and to the law he turned "to get one back" on the law. Being a careful settler, of lhalf-a-century's residence, he had amassed much wealth, and when the end of time came to him his estate would have paid the colony a fat round sum in dues. He resolved that the colony should not benefit one penny piece by his death. He, therefore, called together his family and prospective legatees, and divided his property and his wealth amongst them straio-ht away. When everything had been legally fixed up he smiled with much satisfaction — and has gone on living ever since ! Such is the story. * ■» * There were some enthusiastic connoisseurs of Art at the opening of the Academy's fourteenth exhibition last Saturday. The show was not marked by any one picture which gathered a crowd about it debating whether it was or was not Art. At one time, Mr. James Nairn used to drop in a -nioture of the impressionistic school, and there was much discussion upon its merits and demerits. But this year Mr. Nairn shared the dignity of vicepresidency with ex-Magistrate Wardell, and he went around free and unfettered, criticising, and not being criticised, and answering: the many questions as to why he was not represented. The featture of the exhibition wag the collection

of work from Sydney-si dens, and it w as, generally agiee'd that two studies ot heads by Julian Ashton ( 'The Bush Poet" and "The Monk") weie the best things on the walls. The president of the Academy (manysided Dr. Fell) conducted Lady Ranfurly round the exhibition. Sir Robert Stout, who came straight away from a Saturday afternoon sitting of the Supreme Courts was to be seen deep in conversation with Mr. John Duthie beneath the shadow of young Goldie's portrait of the Hon. "Wully" Swanson but whether art politics, or business was the subject under discussion, the Lance would not like to venture to say Cantain Alexander who accompanied Lad" Ranfurly, and who has a fairly good eye fora picture, was overheard alteinatine paints a,nd music in a talk with "Hinemoa" Hill The conmoser bv the way. had a .special interest in the exhibition, for his sister, Mabel, had several pictures on view Miss Mabel Hill was one of Wellington's most promising artists until Mr. John Mclndoe (of Dunedin) woed her aw ay from Art to matrimony. Still, her hand and e^e have not lost, their artistic cunning. •» * * Vice-Presiideint Wardeli was one of the most appreciative critics at the exhibition, and Miss K. Holmes —whose opinion upon, painters and painting is not to be ignored—took especial delight in the exhibition art brasses. Captain Barclay, by has detailed interest in the work shown gave evidence that all his education had not been devoted to an equipment for war's alarms. From his remarks upon portraiture, he must at some time or other have studied the arts m foreign parts. Around and about all hovered indefatigable and learned Secretary L. H. B Wilson, who was called upon whispenngh' at times by tihe uninitiated to point out "which were oils and which were painted with water!" • • - The Countess of Ranfurly must be reckoned among the colony's orators, and, after her admirable little sneech on art, delivered at the opening of the Exhibition of T>ictures last Saturday afternoon. Lord Ranfurly must look to his oratorical honours. It takes a little screwing up of courage, even on the part of a "Governess" (as the "bushie" r>ut it) to make a speech, but if Her Ladyship felt nervous she certainly did not show it on Saturday. An artist of more than average attainment herself -—-as more than one) of her eifrht matures hung on the wall at the exhibition proved —Lady Ranfurly also has a critical eye for a good picture*. Her expressed opinion, therefore, that she has noticed a steadily progressive attainment in art in New Zealand, as observed by her at the past five exhibitions of our Academy, should be distinctly Mircouraging to lovers of the big thinqj of few letters and a large A. * # * Mr. John Orewes writes —"Sir, —My attention has been directed to a r>aragraph in your widely-circulated and generally-interesting journal, in which you say, 'Mr. John Crewes, chairman of the Conciliation Board, and a candidate for Newtown, who spoke several words at the rate of one per minute, said some people had not got a shilling to spend on this kind of thing.' I presume that the "thing" was admission to the meeting to welcome the Premier back to Wellington. Now, sir, seeing that it was intended to have "Hinemoa," bv Mr. Hill and ai company of distinguished artists, an address' and presentation by Hig Worship the Mayor, and a reply by the Premier, I should have considered the man who would have spoken of the reception ceremony as have told your readers that I spoke of it a

vulgar scoundrel, that should have been kacked out of the council-ioom m which the reception was discussed I did not so speak, nor did I say anything like wliat yon have siaad that I did." The Rev. Archibald E. Hunt, the missionary who is visiting New Zealand after fifteen years of work among the cannibals of New Guinea and the frizzy-haired denizens of Samoa, carries in a rather worn face the suggestion that mission work is not a bed of roses. The tropical sun has browned his skin to a dark saffron colour, and one easaly imasines that his thoughts often wander back to pictures of skulls, thigh bones, and other reminders of his home." He He has a partiality for islands, being himself a native of St Heheis, Jersey He got his theological know ledee at the Hackney Theological College London and, m 1887, the London Missionary Society said he could go to New Guinea to test the appetites of the gentlemen with a partiality for "long pie " * * * He went to Samoa, and stayed there five years, got over his new churn stao-e, and worked the limejuice out of his system. Then, he succeeded Rev. Lawes, D.D., at Port Naseby as secretary and treasurer of the mission. He likes the New Guinea natives, who are really not bad chaps, even though they do break out into cannibalism sometunes. It is a sort of sacred 1 ite w ith them, this man-eating and the chief reason of it is to collect ornaments in the way of skulls for their "dubu" houses. The gentle natives will not hurt a white man if he does not interfere with them, but should one paleface injure them they will revenge themselves on the neott white who happens that way. * ♦ * In 1901, when the Rev. J Chalmers was killed, the natives were havin^ a big time. They had built a, "dubu" house, and badly wanted a feast and some skulls. A special providence put him in their way, obviating the necessity of going out to hunt for prey. Mr Hunt was one of the expedition sent by the Government to investigate the massacre of the missionary. Mr. Hunt had the melancholy satisf action of securing the skull of the murdered missionary. The missionary has visited houses which contained 10,000 skulls, and he says that native women and children sleep in huts containing: these gruesome "ornaments." m * * It is not to be supposed that the missionaries of New Guinea seek only to

instil our particular religion into the natives. They educate them not only in school subjects, but m industrial pursuits, and it is not improbable that they may have that blessing of civilisation, an arbitration court, of their own some day if they are good. It is curious to know that the men of small physique in New Guinea have the best brains, and that the monsters have veTy little "grey matter" at all. Mr. Hunt's particular "beat" had sixty miles of a frontage, and he penerally went around in a boat, although sometimes 1 he "biked," and frequently rode on horseback. If" he intended to return Mr. McLean was bound to have sold him a motor-car. * * * The dark-skinned paleface has four children, none of whom he has seen for some years. White children born, in New Guinea are sent to England, as soon as possible away from miasmatic and native influence, the latter of which is n,ot always for the best. Mrs 1 . Hunt, whose health has been broken by tlhe humid climate, is now in England, and the missionary himself has given up his good work on account of her health. He purposes settling in New Zealand, where he hopes to c:et a Congregational church. Bv the way, Mr. Hunt is not parsonical looking. He does not wear the regulation "cloth" o<r the white "choker," but he wears a heavy overcoat on a Wellington "hot" day, which is frigid compared to a "cold snap" in cannibal New Guinea. The Lance wants to know why May Yohe and her American Colonel Strong should be deemed important enough -^ersonages to be worth a cable message through the Press Association om the occasion of their marriage. May Yohe has been a gay and giddy yo-ho girl right, down through the period since she captivated the moths that nutter before the footlights of London musichalls. When she became Lady Hope she failed to find dignity, but has remained May Yohe throughout the piece. * * ». Taking to the stage, after a hopeless effort of refo>rm on the part of the great family into which she had married, she "mashed" the soft-headed son of a hardheaded sire, who once was Mayor of New York. Both young Strong and Ma^ Yohe got out of America under a cloud of scandal. And this is the couple whom all the world is informed by cable have been married ! Yet, tihe Press Association refuses to suspoly the result of a fight between "Bob" Fitzsimmoos.', of Timaru, and America's best pupis'