All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 139, 28 February 1903, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

EXPERT reports are generally duller than ditch v. ater. It is not always because experts are thickheaded either. It is the fashion. Now, Clement Wragge, the ' storm fiend," is never lugubrious, although he is suffering from a sore throat, gained at an altitude of 12,000 feet during an examination of a solar microbe. Mr. Ord Hume, the revolutionary band ludge, who did not use a shorthand writer or any of the methods set dow n for him is a man with, a sense of humour that would stand him in good stead if Mark Twain goes out of the industry. » * * Some of his comments on brazen notes lie heard in the Wairarapa — "Variation 1—Good"1 — Good" tempo, but very consumptive. Vanation 2 — No expression at all, and it just sounds to me like someone haiving a quiet midnight rehearsal underneath the bed with a wet blanket oveir himself, so that no one can hear him." Here are more samples — "Very tame very dry, very w eary very sad " ''A dreary exhibition," "I fail to recognise any expression at all from this player." "Quite sufficient to make one go to sleep." There are evidences that bandsmen who used to fill their uniforms decently have wilted since the Old Hume blast struck our shores * * * The Hon. W. Kelly. ML.C will probably, ever after the accident that sent him to bed recently, have a snecial antipathy to bullock-brained bucolics. It is a common game at sale-yards, •Rhen the bulk of the onlookers are standing on the rails, to start pushing your neighbour, whose turn it is to pass on the push tall the united strength of the whole row shoves some end man off his perch — preferably into a mud-nool. Possibly a cheerful pastime for a lot of country youths, but liable to serious consequences when a gentleman of great weight like Mr. Kelly is the victim. » „ * The Prohibition Party of Wellington has named a pretty strong ticket for the coming licensing ejections. There has been much negotiation, we believe, on the part of Secretary Isitt and his executive to get strong men for the position. Mayor Aitken was one of the first men approached, but he could not see his way to do any more of the "willing horse" business. As Mayor and M.H.R.. and head of a business house, his hands, he replied, were just about as full as he wanted them to be. Mr. John Hutcheson, late senior member for the city, was also approached, but business interests have been piled upon him owing to the departure of his partner for a trip Home, so he had to decline the honour which was to be thrust upon him. The gentlemen who have agreed to accept nomination are the Re-y. W. A. Evans, Dr. Chappie, Messrs. Arthur Hobv. John Smith, iun. and R. A. Wright. J The least known of this quuntet is Mr Wright and yet in religious and temperance circles he has been a prominent figure in the city and m Wellington for many years Before Poing into partnership in a job printing business (some three years ago), with Mr Carman, Mr. Wright was overseer for the "New Zealand Mail" for many years. He has done much pulpit and platform work as a preacher for the Church of Christ, and as a temperance advocate. Mr. Wright has also had political aspirations, and was a oandi-

date for the Suburbs seat at the time* Mr. Charles Wilson (then editor of the 1 Mad") was chosen to do the running for the Government. Mr. Hoby, who is a well-known dentist, is also a prominent figure in religious circles his hobby being to keep a fatherly eye over the young men who attend the Vivianstreet Baptist Church. * * * As it is essential to have a name beginning with "Mac" if you want to climb the ladder of success, so it is necessary to be called Clarke to be somebody in Melbourne. The Governor is Sir G. Sydenham Clarke, the late Agent-General in London was Sir Andrew Clarke the first Victorian baronet was Sir William Clarke, the richest squatter is Sir Rupert Clarke, thei newBishop of Melbourne is Canon Clarke, the most prominent member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange is Mr. A. Clarke, the Chief Australian novelist was the late Marcus Clarke, and "the handsomest Victorian matron" is Lady Clarke. Probably, it would be difficult to match this in any Anglo-Saxon community in the world. *• # * When King Edward got up to Balmoral, after his recovery from appendicitis and the surgeons, some tame ago, a special service of thanksgiving and so forth was held in the Castle Chapel. The officiating chaplain gave out the first huvmn thus "Among the — ah I — .special hymns, 'Peace, perfect -eace' — in the appendix." And the King exploded greatly to the relief of the congregation. * * * The late Mr. Thomas Cross would have probably been still alive if it had not been for bugs and fleas. On their account he shuffled off this mortal coil, and left a letter to his Sydney landlady saying so. Thus the suicide — "I am 73 years of age. I have travelled over Europe. America, and over a large part of Australia, and Australian society caps the climax. And how should it be otherwise when we take into consideration the materials that compose if 5 If I were to tell you the story or the settlement of Australia in accordance with my own knowledge of events, I would be called a crazy old fool. I could have all the money I want bv going to the bank for it. But I will not need money where lam going. I am fairly disgusted with Sydney, with its mosquitoes bedbugs, fleas, etc., and I will be going to some place where I will not be annoyed bv them. So here goes i_T. C. Cross." * * * Two well-known Wellingtomans, Miss Kate Wrigglesw orth and Mr. Gus Morgan (Neville), who have joined the theatrical profession, and are at present members of the Fitzmaunce Gill Company, now finishing a season in Auckland have been winning kudos for thenrespective impersonations in the different pieces staged bv this company. Mr. Morgan's "Victor Langlois," in "Work and Wages," is the best piece of acting in the piece. Miss Wrigglesworth does remarkably well in "Harbour Lights" and "Dr. Bill." This company has been doing; phenomenal business in the North. It is some time since Auckland has had such a season of melodrama. * • • Generally speaking, the productions have not been quite up to the standard. A want of rehearsal and knowledge of lines was noticeablei in the earlier performances but the company considerably improved tow^ards the end of the season. The repertoire comprises "Man to Man." "Work and Wages," "Harbour Lights," "Fedora," "Potter of Texas," and "The. Pointsman." Mr. Charles Blake is leading man to the Fitzmaunce Gill Company, and has made marked improvement as well as rapid strides, in his profession. He is a typical melodramatic hero, and usually scores heavily in his r>arts.

The New Zealander turns up in every walk of life abroad, and generally with a career of success behind him or her. We have heard how "Bob" Fitzsimmons, of Timairu (he is now professor of physical culture, New York), literally fought his way to the top of the pugilistic tree. Now word comes that Dan Creedon, an Invercairgill product, has ai'so won a fortune off his knuckles in the 1 Old Woild. Duong recent times, Dan toured England as a boxer, receiving never less than £75 per week, and during an engagement of three months was paid £150 per week. Among other patrons, the late Premier Salisibury took ai great fancy to the Invercargillite. Dan left the Southern town oi wide streets ten years ago, and was successful in Australia and America before going to Old England. • * * The cablegrams from Home the other day conveyed an intimation that Mrs. Eleanor Molyneux an actress had obtained a divorce. Many people wondered why this piece' of information was cabled out' to Australia and New Zealand. It happens that Miss Nellie Harper is remembered by not a few New Zealanders, and many more Australians, as a cle/ver actress. To New Zealanders, her dramatic career has been of special interest for it was in Oamaru that she first trod the boards. In those days, of twenty years a.co, Miss. Nellie Harper was an aspiring amateur, and made frequent appearances as an elocutionist. ** * • She played with the Oamaru Amateur Dramatic Club with such success: that when Miss Louise Pomeroy made her tour through the colony, the tragedienne engaged Miss Harper for her colonial and Indian tour. Then the Oamaruvian went on to England, afterwards leaving to take ut> an engagement in Australia. On the voyage out she accepted another engagement — marrying the medical officer of the ship. The married life of Dr. and Mrs. Molyneux was never a happy one, and, after many years, divorce has 1 resulted. She returned to the stage after finding that marriage was a failure. * • • * The Rev. Otho FitzGerald did not stay m charge of the little church at Wadestown, having now accepted the curacy of St. Michael's, Chnstchuroh. He goes to the Cathedral City to succeed the son of Bishop Julius, the Rev. J. A. Julius having become Vioar of Waikare. Mr. FitzGerald is remembered m Wellington a® the Vicar of St. Thomas's Newtown, where he laboured with much zeiail. He resigned his parish in South Wellington in order to become a missionary in Central Africa, but, after labouring there for several months, he was attacked by malarial fever, and had to beat a hasty retreat. The Rev. Otho then came to the conclusion, that there was no place like home, so he returned to New Zealand a few months ago. * * * The late Mr. Thomas Boon, so wellknown as labour foreman on the Queen's Wharf, for the Harbour Board, will be sadly missed. He was ever energetic in the discharge of his responsible duties, and in "off" times could be persuaded to spin a thrilling yarn of the stirring times of the Indian Mutiny. He had not long left the Army (90th Foot) when he oatne to New Zealand, and was engaged for two years in whatever his hands found to do. For twentyfive years he had been in the employ of the Harbour Board. Many time-ex-pired soldiers, who had fought under Major Wood (now General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C), came to New Zealand in 1875-1876, and the genial Tom Boon was amoas them. Both in his business and private relation® the deceased gentleman had made hosts of friends, and his untimely death makes a gap it will be difficult to fill.

Mr. H. B. Kirk, who will occupy the chair of biology at the Victoria College, from next month, has practically been nurtured on science, for he belongs 1 to a family to whom it is as the breath of life. The new professor received his preliminary education at Auckland College, and his later education at Wellington College, and is only the fourth, colonial student to be awarded a university professorship, the usual process being to import a man from Home, as if local talent were beneath oon.tem.Tit. From the time Mr. Kirk took his degree, in 1882. and also first-class 'honours in zoology and botany, he has filled in his spare time, including holidays, in the study and teaching of biology. • * * He tells us that some of his earliest recollections are of a sense of f ascunation in the study of "Darwin's Descent of Man " and the Origin of Species. We do not. know many thirteen-year-old boys who would become enwrapt in the theories of protoplasm, but then there are but few professors 1 of biology born, and still fewer made. Mr. Kirk haa put in the whole of his life in attaining scientific knowledge, and in the position he occupied in the Inspector-General's branch of the Eduoatian Department, he has had many opportunities for research which, of course, will be much increased when he assium.es his new position. k .' • • * His father, the late Professor T. Kirk, was the greatest authority on New Zealand flora, and the talented son has been engaged since bis father*s death in editing hi® "Students' Botamv of New Zealand." Another member of the distinguished Kirk family is Mr. Tr W. Kirk, biologist to the Agricultural Department. The new professor has been known to break out as a spinner of yarns sometimes, and if you catch him ii> the humour he will tell you the ■story of a distinguished German professor who pursued seaweed in a scientific manner at Lyell's Bay. The two learned gentlemen might have been seen one sunny afternoon, with their scientific trousers tucked above their knees, searching for a specimen of bulbous seaweed upon which is found a small parasite. « * * The German gentleman poked about, and gathered some uniniteiresting-look-mg sea refuse, but wihout identifying the mierosoop'o animalculse he was after. The scientist stood in about six inches of sea, with his hands on his bare knees, looking with a piercing glance at his legs. Examining them with close attentron, he remarked : "Ach, I cannot see yon single parasite. Neim!" Well he ought to be thankful in that sandy region. Any professor, and' especially Mr. Kirk, will tell you that psychology is not "the study of fishes" or "the diseases of plants," although in certain examination papers which have recently been sent in to the Department a sixteen-year-old student avers as much. Mr. Kirk is not only well up in biology, but he has garnered up ai good deal of material for fun in the course of his biological studies. • • • Our congratulations to the newlyelected president of the New- Zealand 1 Ironmasters' Association, which sat in Wellington in annual conference last week. Mr. John P. Lake, who succeeded another Wellingtonian (Mr. W. Cable) in the chair, is a member of the firm of S. Luke and Co. Limited. The Luke family, which came to Wellington many years ago from Cornwall, has taken no small part in the religious, social, and public life of the Empire City. Mr. Charles Luke, the senior member of the firm, is an ex-mayor of Wellington. His younger brother, John is following in the municipal steps of Charles, and there are people who say that he also has an eye on the mayoral chair. Since he became a member of the City Council, Mr. John

Luke has always shown a very active interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of the city, and his engineering skill hae been of practical service- to the Council m its consideration of the tramway and other big questions which have been to the fore of late. • * • The many friends of Mr. David Smith, late of Wellington, will be pleased to learn that he has been promoted from the position of assistant receiver or land revenue to that of accountant m the Lands and Survey Department, Auckland. Whilst in Wellington, he was a prominent member of the United hookey team, which secured champion honours last year. He was a keen sportsman, and very popular with those who knew him. • • * Mr. William Carnngton Smith Heale, for eighteen years manager of the London Chartered Bank, remarked in a Melbourne Court the other day that his wife earned good money, and kept him ir food. He was chiefly remarkable, the police said, for having no visible means. He was usually seen carrying bits of firewood round in a gunny bag. He had been in the colonies since 1848, and had managed many financial institutions. Three months! * * * Major Dunk is out for the mayoralty of Palmerston North. The Major was well-known to Wellingtonians in the days before he received his majority volunteenngly, to coin a word for the occasion. In fact, the step was given to Captain Dunk as a reward for the energy and enterprise shown by him as a recruiting officer and organiser for several of our South African Contingents. He was in camp in Wellington on several occasions with our troops, but did not go further than Queen's Wharf with them when they left for the front. Mr. Dunk was in business in Palmerston North for many years as a master saddler, but retired from business two or three years ago. # *■ * The Lord Chief Justice remarked in court, ait Colonel Lynch's trial • — "Arthur Lynch'si own account of himself was that he was an Irishman, a British subject, born in Australia, and previously resident in Paris. That was his 1900." If the Lord Chief Justice is not an Irishman, he ought to be. The surprise of the week in the city ' has been the appearance of Miss Ettoe Maginnity with the Williamson Musical Comedy Company. Though, why the going upon the stage of this talented amateur should come as a surprise is a surprise in itself. For Miss Maginnity has been a shining light on the operatic and dramatic stage in Wellington these years past. Her handsome presence and fine contralto voice have been popular elements in successful seasons of the Wellington Amateur and Dramatic Company. She won our regards in both "lolamthe" and "The Gondoliers," and her commanding: lolanthe was also admired in Auckland. Wei have no doubts whatever about her success under Mr. J. C. Williamsons management, and v,e shall watch Ler career with great interest. • • • Miss Maginnity is a Wellington girl in ©very sense of the word, and is the daughter of a gentleman who was one of the most popular of our merchants. Mr. Maginnity nere. who bv the way, could sang a good song m his time, passed away several years ago. Mr. Jack Maginnity, his eldest son, was an accomplished pianist, and went away some six veais ago with the Trebelli Concert Company to California, where he settled down m business. As for Miss Ettie, she goes on the lyric stage under her ow n name, and made her debut on Monday night. Although she is m the chorus just now, there is no doubt her talents will ensure her solo parts very soon. * • • It is always gratifying to record the successes of young colonials. Mr. Harry Dean Bamford, the young Auckland lawyer, who was called to the bar at the age of twenty-one, has, three years later, taken his degree as Doctor of Laws. He is probably the youngest man in New Zealand holding the degree. Dr. Bamford passed his examination while working hard at the everyday grind of a law office, and he has been engaged in routine work with Mr. A. Hanna, of the Queen City, for many years. * * * This brilliant young soholar is the son of a lawyer, Mr. Edward Bamford, Registrar of Deeds, at Auckland, the grandson of a lawyer, and the great - grandson, too. Occasionally, he bursts forth into poetry, or critical prose, and had a reputation as an essayist at the Auckland College. He is a fluent speaker, and is one of the most promising young lawyers in New Zealand. Dr. Bamford looks no older than half a hundred senior college boys to be seen any day wearing their school colours.

v Mr. Joseph E. Evison, who passed away in Sydney on Saturday last, was well-known in Wellington, and^n other parts of New Zealand. His career was a, chequered and a strenuous one, and in his time he had contrived to see a good deal of the world. From school he went to sea, and, as a middle, and subsequently as an officer on Chmia tea clippers, he gained much varied experience of the Far East. Then, the sea, palled upon his restless and adventurous spirit, and he took the Queen's shilling and entered the Army -as a trooper in a Huss-ar regiment. In that capacity he took part in Sir Garnet Wolseley's famous Abyssinian camoaign, and had his full share of its rigours and privations. * * Mr. Evison was a keen observer of men and thongs, and, as a natural result, he had garnered up a great fund of information and anecdote, which, in later years, made him first-class company, and was used with telling effect m his writings. He first came to New Zealand on a lecturing our on Freethought subjects, adopting "Ivo" as his professional name. In Auckland, he was persuaded to leave the platform, and try his hand at journalism. He edited for some months a trenchant weekly paper, styled "The Rationalist," and then came on to Wellington, and took up work as a press Parliamentary correspondent. He soon made a reputation for himself as an incisive and versatile writer, and that reputation he extended when he became editor of the "Catholic Times/ into which he put some capita! work. * * * From- the "Catholic Times," he moved to the editorial chair of Christchurch "Truth," and finally he 1 went across- to Sydney and became a regular contributor to the "Bulletin," to which he had been a casual contributor for some years previously. In 1899, Mr. Evison came back to Wellington to launch and edit the "Critic." But, this venture did not prosper, and, after some months, the financial backing it had received was withdrawn, the "Critic" shut, up shop, and Mr. Evison returned to Sydney. He fell into ill-health, and for the last two years or so had been a martyr to internal cancer, so that death must have been a happy release from his sufferings. Poor Mrs. Evison, a most amiable little lady, who endeared herself to all who knew her, is left unprovided for and friends in Wellington

have started ai subscription fund for her benefit. It is- hoped that the friends and acquaintances of Joe Evisoni, a clever, good-hearted fellow, who, if ai hard-hitter and a keen saitanst, was also a fair fighter, will respond freely to this appeal on behalf of his widow. * # * Sir Joseph Ward was hurried from Otaki to Wellington, by special train, the other day, in an hour and a-half. There is a sort of "beat-us-if-you-oani" touch a.bout the Wellington and Mana>watu Railw aiy Company, evidently. Government Railway trains will be doing extraordinary trips like this if the officials are not. careful. * * * Mr. Walter Kirby, the sweet and soulful tenor of the Melba concert party, is an Auckland boy. His father. Mr. William Kirby, was one of the noted politicians of the place, and when any of the local members had anything particular to say to his constituents, William Kirby was pretty sure to bob up serenely at the fag end of the meeting with his little budget of fire-cracker questions. Then, the temperature would rise, and things would get lively until the Kirby episode was over. Walter Kirby never imbibed any politics. His mother died while he was an infant, and he lost his father while still a little lad. His bringing up, therefore, devolved upon his eldest sister, who was choir-leader at St. Patrick's Cathedral. * » • Young Kirby had a remarkably fine voice*, and was well-known, as a child prodigy in Auckland, his musical services being in great request. When he was about ten or twelve, his sister took him away to Sydney, where his musical training was carried on under tthe best auspices. Subsequently, he went to Melbourne', when t.ne Dowager Laxly Clarke took great interest in his career. When Melba came along, Mr. Kirby was brought under her notice, amid she liked his singing so well tha* she engaged him for her New Zealand tour, and also promised to use her influence on his behalf if he chose to push, his fortunes at Home. This the New Zealand artist has resolved to do, and at the close of the present tour he will proceed to England im the same boat with Melba. Mr. Kirby gave a concert in Wellington some years ago, and on that occasion won great praise, but little cash. As the French say, he had not then "arrived."