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Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 127, 6 December 1902, Page 3

MR. J. J. Virgo, the British and colonial representative of the Young Men's Christian Association, has already won the hearts of the people of Wellington. He is not a dyspectio, lean, and hungry religious maniac, who gloats over the bottomless pit for erring youths, but a clean-limbed, upstanding, business-like fellow, with a clear eye and healthy mind, and a hatred of cant. He is a product of Glenelg, nearby Adelaide, and a temperature of 107 degrees "in the water-bottle" has not frizzled all the humanity out of him. * * * He is but thirty-seven years of age, and the latter number has had a necullar influence on his actions. He left home when he was seven and went to live with his grandmother. He learnt all he oould at the Glenelg Grammar School, and sighed for business at fourteen. He prospered mightily as a business boy for. in three and a-half years, he rose from office-boy to chief accountant. At twenty-one he was the head of the Y M.C.A. organisation in Adelaide, and at twenty-eight he started on his round-the-world tour to gather ipoints for a work he intended to out in his whole life at. . • * Then, in another seven years, he left Adelaide, to become general suDerintendent for V. M.C.A. work in Australia, and became the British and colonial representative of the organisation. All these years he was a strenuous athlete, and, if his looiks do not belie him, he can put up good work between the "posts" now. " Transpose the third letter of his name, and you have him aptly described. He is one of Adelaide's bestknown singing men, and for seven years (that seven again!) he took the bass solos in those magnificent oratorios for which the "holy city" is famous. He was one of the prize-takms; quartette in the V.M.C.A.. and led the Melbourne choir of 1000 voices during the Simultaneous Mission He is a caroable actor, and hapi had "big money" offered him to go on the stage. The well-known Geil, who was "around hyar" a while back (in Australia, we mean") begged him to come along with him, and offered him a large salary, but Mr. Virgo's young men want him nghb here. The business-like Virgo for the past twice seven vear< has held a Sunday service in Adelaide Theatre Royal and has talked to 250,000 people. He considers that America is "awa 7 ahead" as regards the position of the V. M.C.A. He pat married young and "it was the best da^'s Tvork I ever did," he says. Thoi=e Adelaade people gave h m £500 to come away with, and the combined musical societies of the torrid little town gave him a big conceit. He wears ouite a lot of jewel] erv does Mr Virgo — gold watch and chain, sovereign-case, rings, gold pencil, and so on, and these are presents from grateful people who have been indebted to him for being nut on the right path. A man so well-known 'and so ready to heH was bound to be fair game for the ''bummers" of the city He has a srood memory for faces. One day a srentleman of the leisured class, who love to bask in the sun on the banks of theTorrens, came up to his office with the usual piteous ta"le. The man was large and beefy and determined, for all

his professional whine. "I suppose you couldn't 'elp a nore cove along, sir, could yer, sir?" And, then the usual long-drawn-out tale about empty tuckeir bags and "honest graft." Had never begged before — never seen Mr. Virgo before either. "You were up here eight years ago, with a similar tale," staid the "boss" V.M.C.A. man. "Get'" The; 'man did not "get." Cornered, he was willing to put up a fight, amd became abusive. Mr. Virgo got a V.M.C.A. hold on the alack of the gentleman's moleskins, and a Glenelg football grip on the collar of a Torrens' bank coat, and persiuaded him to leave. Again one of the "give us a bob instead of a 10b" gentry was one day endeavouring to persuade an Adelaide business man to "part with a deaner." as he r,ut it. "Oh, go to Mr. Virgo," said the gentleman, pointing to the V.M.C.A. door. Mr. Y. heard the conversation as he was leaning out of a window. "Oh, I've been to his place, boss, and he ain't in." "You are a lovely liar, Jack Blank," called out the bass voice from above, and Jack, fearing: the fate of the "bummer" before-mentioned, streaked thence. If you are lucky enough to meet this Adelaide muscular Christian, you will notice no whine about him. He strikes one as be'ng a healthy hearty, business man of some kind, or a tirj-top hustler for somebody's comedy company. He's alive, is Mr. Virero. and he will make the V.M.C.A. in New Zealand a living thing. Good luck to him. » * * One can never be sure i oiv a-days as toi whether peace will be maintained at the sittings of the Wellington Education Board. Ex-Inspector Lee keeps a very vigilant eye upon Messrs. Hogg and Young, and Messrs. Hogg and Young are ever on the look out for sentences with double meaningg of the personal reflection nature from Mr. Lee. These are elements which must ever make for "scenes," and towards the close of last week's sittiner of the Board there was promise of a Homeric encounter. Mr. Hogo: had urged the Board to allow a country school committee to have cower to spend up to £2 in repairing damage done to locks and cupboards in the school house, owing to the burglarious labours of some intruder. Aim! Mr. Hogs went on to s>av he had another school in his mind which sadly needed an expenditure of about £S to "fix things up a bit" for the children. • *■ » Mr. Lee then had a word to say. He saw in these impromptu and out-of-order "good-naturedlinesses" of Mr Hogg the fulfilment of ■ twin? election prommses, made whilst that <■• luleman was canvassing his electorate' It was on a par with what some one he knew, who might canvass on life insurance business, whilst making inspections for the Board ' Then, the fat was in the fire, for the member for Masterton arose in his wrath and gave Mr. Lee "what for" upon matters which were base insinuations. And, the other members of the Board must have agreed with Mr. Hogg, for, when the matters of the £o were put to the vote, the ex-Inspector's "no" was the onl dissentient voice. Madame Melba has 'got home" on some of the snobs who in her pre-diva days, knew her not, and who elevated their noses in high disdain at the juvenile Nellie Mitchell. At a Toorak social affair recently, the great singer was gleefully talking to a crowd of old friends genuine "nobodies," whom Toorak, as a general thing, scorned utterly A gorgeous creature with whom time had dealt harshb' brushed aside the nobodies, and gushed tearfully "Don't you remember me, Madame ? I'm A. B." Madame searched the parchment face with her still, beautiful e^es, and merely eiaculated "You A. B. ? Good Lord !" '

Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, who has again won his seat in the House of Representatives by his return for Selwyn, is one of the "pleasant fellows of goodly wit" in Parliamentary- life. He can "say things" as few others can put them and yet remain "a nice chap." Mr. Hardy is a type of those Britishers whom European politicians wonder over. He can hit the Premier hard with critical words on the floor of the House, and meet him pleasantly in the lobby. Like the Premier, Mr. Hardy is a Mason, but Mr. Seddon is a youngster in the craft compared with the lenerth of service the elect of Selwyn ha® "iven to the mystic Order. * * - A good election story is being told about Mr. Hardy. On the morning of election day — 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday of last week, to be precise — Mrs. Hardy gave birth to a son. When the doctor informed the candidate of this interesting fact, the coining member for Selwyn was pondering on the possibilities of the day's poll. "Oh, aye; a boy!" he repeated. "It's a pity he isn't 21. His vote would have been of some use l " * • • "Smiler" Halesi, the wordy war correspondent, who describes a Kaffir girl's kiss as being "like a smack in the face with a wet saddle flaD," has a superb imagination. His latest is that he is a good war correspondent, having learnt war by fierhtina; with Sioux Indians twenty years a«"0. Smiler has interviewed people himself, and he knows the kind of truth interviewers are looking for. * ♦ » Mrs. Reid wife of the celebrated "fieororje Por^ie," one time Premier of New South Wales is one of Australia's most notable features. She ptudied for her M.T). decree, but Mr. Reid came alone in time to make her ehaimre her mind. It is said that Mrs. Reid can see a ioke. and that the whimsical Oppositionist practises on her before he crocs down to the House. If she laughs, (x. H. repeats the impromptu item for the benefit of the House. * • • The Fdnca+ion Board was sore'lv perple^ed the other day over the trills and trmnble«i of a sehor>lrn«i«sfer. who was at si"*"es a^d seven? with his pnmTPit-tp-e. Tt wns orenerallv ac^eed that the npwlv-<^|pptpd membpT for + hp Wairarana CMr ■RiT^anan') aptly described the p^cnliT-JtiAs — ' the T>air+v under di«cusjn'riTi w^pn Tip said that "he is itist as ffirpp_f><->T~>prrw : ? a man as a man d" well hpl" T^« Bn-vH toot time too+ill further consider this particular difficulty. * • * It is interesting to note to what an extent the M.H.R. permeates the local bodies of Wellington to-day. The Education Board has two members of Parliament in Messrs. W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa) and A. W. Hogg (Masterton), and the balance of party is equal, Mr. Hosrg being as staunch a Seddomian as Mr. Buchanan is an Oppositionist. The Land Board only has one Parliamentarian mow, m Mr. Hogg, Mr. Stevens having lost his seat in the House. By the way there has been a vacancy at the table of the Land Board ever since Mr. Henry Field (then member for Otaki 1 ) died. Is it not about time the vacancy was filled? On the City Council, tlrne senior member for Wellington Oity (Mr. Aitken), and the member for Newtown (Mr. Barber) have seats. And as at the Education Board, the balance of party power is eoual His Worship representing the "Outs " and Mr. Barber the "Ins." The Harbour Board is full of politicians for the Ms H.R who monthly "tuck their less under the mahogany" in Mr. Fergusons o^cps. are Messrs. Fisher, Aitken, Wilfnrd, and Wood (Palmerston NortM and the legislative Council has the Hon. T. H. Fraper for its representative. Not a bad record for our local bodies '

Mr. W. Staples head of the bootmanufacturing firm of Messrs. W. and' J. Staples amd Co., has just brought to Wellington the honour of the vice-pre-sidency of the Federated Boot Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand. The association, which embraces the trade from Auckland to Inyereargill, ia a quietly- working body, which doe® not announce its business from the tops of the columns of our newspapers. For instance, it hold a most important conference of delegates at Auckland the other day. yet not a word about the solemn conclave was secured by the usually enterprising: prossmen of the Queen City of the North. » ♦ • All that transpired for the public'sinformaitdora came out at a meeting of the Auckland Employers' Association, at which, Messrs. Frostick (Cbristcburch) and Kingslamd (Inveroargill) stated that the boot manufacturers had that day entered into a mutual pledge that they intended doing something practical towards enooura,ging local industry. They had acree to wearing no imported article. Their boots and clothing would, for the- next three years, be of New Zealand manufacture. But sofar as the Lance can discover, these gentlemen did not enter into a pledge that they would not indent or import American or Australian boots! • • • However, let us sret back to t>>e newlyele«Tted vice-president of the F.B.M.A.N.Z. Mr. "Staples, and his brother "Tim." were trained in that freat British centre of bootm airing, Leicester. William cime out to the colony firs* — that was thirty years a^o — and Jim followed Inter. After some e-rpprience in Chrhtonnroh William S+^plpr joined his younger brother in Weilincton. They worked in Mr. A. Lindsays faotorv for a while, and then R+^r+ed "oni their own." From those two rvairs of hands the present business in Ghuznee-sfa-eet has frown utv their factory to-day employing sometininrr liV e 120 ha^ds and bemc eauinned with the latest American labour-saving machinery. ♦ * * The boot manufaeturersi elected Mr. A. H. Bridge president, and decided that Wellington should be the place of next year's conference of delegates. Mr. Bridgjear is, and has been for some twenty years, in. charge of Messrs. Sargood and Co.'s large boot factory in the Edinburgh of the South. It is interesting to note here that the junior member for Dunedin (Mr. Arnold) was, for many years, a dicker in th« Sargood factory, of which Mr. Bridger is "boss." The ex-president of the Association was Mr. G. A. Coles, of Auckland, and the first president — for it is only three years of age — was Mr. J. A. Frostick, one of the ablest men in the trade in Australasia. *■ * ♦ Mr. Frostiok is now the secretary of the Association. He is the active member of the firm of Skelton, Frostick, and Co. , and is as enterprising as he is energetic. The Skelton-Frostick establishment is run on the most up-to-date American methods, and, though as keen as mustard as a business man, Mr. Frostiok has the reputation of being a model employer, being fair and liberal in the treatment of his workers. Yet, whenever the trade has been before the Arbitration Court Mr. Frostiok has been the leading advocate for the manufacturers, who have found him a very clever "counsel for the defence." As the award which governs the trade expires next May, and the recent conference appointed three delegates to conduct the new c before the Court, it would be passing strange if Mr. Frostick were not again the leading advocate for the manufacturers. When the firsfirst demands were filed by the operatives Mr. Frostick was the leader of the oase for the masters, and Mr. Arnold led the case for the men, and both leaders

put up -ftliaiti vas termed "a pietty fight." The next tight before the Court is to take place at the Wellington sittings, so tfafljt we will know all about it \\ hen it takes place next year. * * * All Ket, Esquire, barrisitei-at-lau , looks queer on an envelope, but the New South Wales Chinaman of that name has won his legal spurs and the Supreme Court prize of £40, recently. Ket is the first Chinaman in Oceania to qualify for the law, and he will be a boon to market gardeners, opium smugglers, and fau-tan. players. This learned Obinaman lost his father a while back. Although some travellers tell queer stories about the treatment of w lyes bj 7 the guileful Chow, it seems Ah Ket, senior, died of a broken heart after bearing the loss of Mrs. A. K. for only tw o days. Mr. James Moore, the Seamen's Mission/er lias been twenty-six years at his particular line, and, although he has never been a sarilor, there is a breezy way about him that smacks of the salt and open sea. He is a Londoner, and he knows the language of both ends of the "Big Smoke." Perhaps, the most interesting part of Mr. Moore's life is the long time he spent disguised as a sailor, wandering about the haunts of Jack Ashore, and picking up points. He was appointed to the work by a Royal Commission, and it was part of his task to frequent the "pubs." He has seen sailors when they have not been shined up with "bestyaller." » * » Mr. Moore did not drink rum when he was ''pubbing it." "Y'avn't seen a cove in a long, brown coat 'aye yer, mate ?" was his style, and he would wander through the place, and take mental notes. At Lowestoft, Bristol, and Poole, the alert missioner missioned for many years, and then Headquarters 1 sent him out to New Zealand. He has been a success in Wellington, and has made tihe mission here a. real live thing. Mr. Moore gets many letters from seamen, or, as one correspondent calls them, "rolling about tarpot." ''We have no namby-pamby religion stuffed down our throats," writes one man, and calls the concerts given to' the 'boys' "first-class music and <n>od, sensible talk intermixed." • ♦ Mr. Moore tells us that an incorrect impression of a seaman's outing under the eye of the mission was conveyed by a paragraph in the Lance of November loth. He says distinctly that there was not a Kings Birthday, or any other day, "kiss in the ring," or any other games of a similar nature. "Jolly Miller" was the nearest approach to it on the programme. Still, games of the kissing kind 1 are often desired by and giddy sailors. To this, Mr. Moore ■ays : "Ton go to Hamstead Heath sometimes when yon are at Home?" "Ay, Guv'nov!" "What would you do if a strange mam maul a xl your mother or your sister about?" 'Td 'it 'im in the janr?" And then Mr. Moore points the a/r>i>lioation. Then,, again, it is not merely an "annnail" gathering, as was stated. Every public holiday the tars roll ut> and have a good time. * • • Mr. Moore says that on no occasion after one of these outings hale a sailor been found drunk, so that the moral influence has' been very great. At their meetings long-faced sanctimony is avoided, and the missioner does not indulge in a string of nautical terms that sailors like to get away from. He tells a story about a parson at Home, who wanted badly to let the sailors see he was conversant with matters pertaining to the vasty deep. Mr. Moore had taken a half-drunken sailor along to hear this gentleman and had put him into a seat. "I go a fishing," remarked the would-be