All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 141, 14 March 1903, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

THE annual meeting of the Rifle Association always bnngs together a collection of interesting specimens of the genus homo This week's gathering, in the picturesque camp at Trentham, was no exception to the rule. It is a unique spectacle to see hundreds of men stretched along a mound of earth, shooting at targets with as much concentration as they put into theojr business life. Some are armed with the latest kind of rifle, and yet they rig a whole host of extras upon, weapons which are made to shoot accurately without any "fixings." And, the preparation, a rifle undergoes when its owner is going down to shoot' A box of tricks is opened out, the blacking-brush is applied touches of white are added, funny little gauges are set, and pencil marks applied. The windage is figured out to a nicety, the light is weighed, the atmospheric influence is measured to a fraction of a fraction, and curses are heaped upon a single blade of grass which obstructs the view or which casts a shadow from the rear. Oh, yes, the rifleman who is after the Belt is ?n m teresting cuss. Foremost in interest at this year's meeting, of course, was last year's hero. Champion Hyde, of Masterton. OnaLi Hyde does credit to a champion bolt, for he is tall and robust of build, and wears the lengthiest moustache' at tne meeting. His great gun rival of Ifiat year, Harry Hawthorn, was not a competitor this year, as the Treasury could not spare its smart calculator, who had had a long spell from office work whil ->t away with the Bisley team. But, thf Hawthorn family was represented by the youngest of the brothers, George, who had been shooting well for his club (Karon) during the season. It was freely mentioned at the opening of the meeting at Trentham that the Opaki Club would again secure the belt, and take it back to the Wairarapa— that Henry or King: would be the winner this year. So that with Hyde, Henry, and King the Opakis were making a strong claim * * Hyde had not been doing much for his club since he came back from Bisley, and he did not shoot up to his reputartion at Home. Then, King, of Opaki, won the district ohampionship at the Wairarapa meeting just two days before the Tientham meeting. The Southern contingent pinned their faith on Tom Jack of the Linwood Rifles, who hdd not only done remarkably well on Christchnrch ranges, but shot second to King at the Greytown meeting ld^,t week. Corporal Lester, of the Christchurch Engineers, and young SandfoH, of the Chnstchurcih City Guards, weie other marksmen who had the makings of champions in them. •* * * Taranaki put in claims with, either of the t\\ o Okey brothers, or A. Humphries, the New Plymouth crack, who has also won representative fame as a halfback on the football tield. Humphries, by the way scored the possible at the 200vds range (7in. bull's eye) in the teams match. Woodville sent down two cracks in the brothers Lovedav, one of whom (William) shot himself into third place for the Belt last year, and went Home with the Bisley team. Auckland 1 again sent down Carlson, who, at one stace threatened to win the Belt last year, and ultimately reached the seventh place. Captain Shepherd was

another Aucklander from whom something above the ordinary w as expected. * * ♦ Oamaiu had its McKenzie, Timaru its Waugh, Dunedui its Mills, Gore its Aysm and Shanks, Kaitangata the stalwart. Frazer brothers, Nelson its Ohing, Haw era its Atkinson (son of Major Sir Harry Atkinson, of political fame), Featherston its Feast and Bidwill, Pahiatua its tyro, Beetham, Palmerston North its Perrin brothers and Needham, Wanganui it® veteran Wmslade and Captain Charlie Sommerville (son of the Commandant of the camp), Patea its Carey, Lmton its- Crow, and Oreti its Dr. McKmght. * * # The surprise of the early stage of the meeting was the rejuvenation of "'Bill" veteran Wellington, shots who were Ballinger and "Geordy" Howe, two thought to have seen their best shooting days. They scored an equal number of points (90) xn the Wellington Match, but Ballinger' s was the best card, and George had to take second money. It is almost forgotten that Howe was a member of our Bisley team four years ago. Arthur Ballinger had also to be reckoned with during the meeting, for at the close of the third day he was well up, and that hasi always been the stage from whence A. B. became dangerous. Both brothers Ballinger have twice won the Belt, and twice running or three tunes afc intervals secures the much-en-graved trophy for all time. A third Ballinger ("Joe") also took part in the meeting. He is the elder brother of them all, but he was never m the running. "Joey" B. follows the old-old-style of lying on his back when shooting. * * * It is cheering to see the Wellington manager of Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs's business back on Lambton Quay once more. Some six months ago Mr. Burgess had two nasty falls the ♦ last and most severe being a fall o<ff the iron spiral stairs leading to the factory, and the result was that since that time until las week he was away from the office. Mr. Burgess spent several months reouDerating at Rotorua, and the baking of the waters and bathsi in the thermal regions has literally set him upon his feet again. * * ■» The growth of Freemasonry m Tarana,ki of late years has been almost as remarkable as that of the dairying industry. Perhaps, the latter fact accounts for the former. There are now seven lodges in different parts of the ' garden" province. Hitherto, Taranaki has, Masonically, been governed from Wellington, but the Grand Lodge has decided to create a new district, and Bro. F. P. Corkill of New Plymouth, has been made the Grand Superintendent of the new district. Mr. Corkill is the head of a successful auctioneering firm, and he has been closely identified with the development of Taranaki. He delights in the fact that he is a Manxman by birth and is proud of his great enthusiasm for the most ancient of all secret societies, in which he has already held many high positions. The new ly-chosen Superintendent is wellknow n in this city. * * * It is said that the late Mr. Rolleston had no sense of humour. Also said that he had. This tale is in support of the last assertion, and the reader is left to judge as to the wit of the statesman It was during the rumpus over a b'g error in the Public Works Statement. Mr. Seddon said he really didn't know anything about it, as he was asleep at the time it was read. Mr. Rolleston "The hon. gentleman Sir, says he was asleep — asleep. Sir his conscience was asleep — the sleep that knows no waking'" The House simply roared, and even Mr. Seddon went into fits of laughter himself.

William Brown, of Cambridge, deserves a line of passing notice in these sordid times. Mr. Brown had an old age pension. But, he is mot one of those men who believe in. milking the State for all it is worth. Finding, last week, that his saivings and a small annuity that he had provided for himself in his days of activity would provide him with 10s a week for the rest of his life, he appeared before the Magistrate and announced that while he was glad to have the pension when he needed it, he was now able to do without it. All honour to him. A less scrupulous person might have found means of disguising the savings, and sticking to the pension. • * » London cable messages told us, last week, that Mr. Alfred Ellis, of Stratford, had sold the European right® of his eerg-preservmg process. Some twelve years ago, Mr. Ellis was very well known in Wellington for he was at that time firstly sub-editor of the "New Zealand Times," and then editor of the "New Zealand Mail." He had been a chemist before taking to journalism. He was succeeded in the editorial chair of the "Mail" by Mr. Charles Wilson, now chief of the General Assembly Library. Those were the days when Captain Baldwin sold out the "Times ' and "Mail" to a syndicate of Government supporters', the Hon. W. P. Reeves becoming managing director of the business just prior to Mr. Wilson'? coming from country to city journalism. » • » Mr. Ellis succeeded Mr. Wilson in the chair of the country paper which the future politician and librarian, vacated to come to town. Country journalism proved too slow for Mr. Ellis, who went back to his original business and became a manufacturing chemist in Stratford. He went Hwie recently to exploit not only his egg-pre-serving process — from which he had great expectations — but several other patents w hich he had been working unon for some years. Among these is a voting machine which he claims will prove a very great reformer at election time if adopted. * * * "Waipiro" is the authority for the statement made in a Y/anganui paper that the women of New Zealand will possibly be disfranchised shortly, seeing that their vote is having such a bad efteot on beer' "Waipiro" is also of opinion that, even if all women should not be disfranchised, the woman's electorate should be a separate count, just as the Maori electorate is, and that members should be returned representing them only ! The original writer does not seem to realise that disfranchisement of women would mean civil war. * * * " Wellington came out with triple honours and responsibilities at the Medical Conference, held at Nelson last week. Dr. Collins being elected president of the Association of New Zealand Doctors, Dr. Mason editor of their monthly organ, and Mr. H. M. Gore secretary of the Association. The Medical Association is known as the closest corporation in New Zealand, and the unity of combination is as complete a® a weddingring. Dr. Collins is to be congratulated upon the honour just received, and the Association is to be conerratulated also unon its choice. He is one of the cleverest of the colony's medical men. It is almost forgotten that Dr. Collins was one of Wellington's foremost and most enthusiastic cricketers, and he has made many a good score, m vigorous style, on the Basin Reserve. He is rarely seen at the nets now-aniays. but he never misses watching a food game. Mr. Gore is also a cricketer, but is better known as a tennis player. Dr. Mason is that same gentleman who is watchful over the general health of the colony.

One of the special press correspondents at the New Zealand Bisley during this and 1 last week was ex-Bandmaster W. S. King, of Oamaru. He has always been called "Bandmaster" King at the annual meetings of the Rifle Association, but next year he will have to change that cognomen, as he is no longer a bandmaster. Mr. King, who won the Champion Belt at the Wanganui meeting, in 1899, lived in Oamaru from his youth up. He was a fellow-appren-tice with Federal Labour Leader Watson, in the "Mail" office the Hon. Geo. Jones, M.L.C., being "boss." In the course of time, young King: became the crack trombone player of the Oamaru Garrison Band, when Mr. Jones was bandmaster. Ultimately, Mr. King succeeded the M.L.C. as wielder of the baton. As a trombone player, he always remained King winning five solo contests with his favourite instrument. He took his band to three contests, and won the colonial championship with it at the 1896 contest. » * * Mr. King, a few weeks ago, left Oamaru, to become a journalist, joining the staff of the Canterbury "Times." Among the work he is doing for the Christchuroh weekly is a department for bandsmen, and he has taken the appropriate "Trombone" as his 1 pen-name for that department. But, the ex-cham-pion has also taken to writing ud his other hobby, and, under the name of "Trigger," is making an endeavour to rival "Bull's-eye" Eastwood in columns devoted to volunteering and rifle-shoot-ing. Bandmaster King has had an exceptional career as a rifleman. An enthusiastic marksman for years, he first attracted attention in 1891, when he shot into third place for the Champion Belt. He came out prominently again at the Auckland meeting, in 1897, when he shot into sixth place. * * * The following year, on his own range (Oamaru), he went back to the eleventh place, but, as already stated, he came out on top in 1899, at Wanganui. He won the coveted belt that year with the handsome margin of 32 points ahead ot the runner-up. There was no meeting in 1900, owing to the war spirit being abroad. In 1901 the Bandmaster could get no nearer than fifth, and last year he finished fourth in the aggregates. This year his divided duties as pressman and marksman have led to his downfall. * * * In the foregoing paragraph, mention has been made of "Bull'seye" Eastwood. Shooting men and volunteers, from Auckland to the Bluff, know "Dick" Eastwood, who is best known as "Bull'seye," of the "Weekly Press." Like his newest rival, "Trigger" King, Mr. Eastwood is (or was) an "intelligent compositor." He has been away from "case," however, these years 1 past, and now-ardays he occupies an important position on the literary staff of the Chnstchurch "Weekly Press." For some fifteen years, "Bull's-eye's" notes have been a feature of the "Press," Mr. Eastwood going to endless trouble to inform and entertain his thousands of followers. * * * You had only to follow the energetic one along, the ranges at the rifle meeting last week to find out his popularity. From every hand came the greetings, "Hello, 'Bull's-eye' !" "What oh, there, 'Bully Boy!"' ""What, 'Bull's-eye?' Delighted to meet you again, old chap!" And this authority among riflemen knows them all by name, and quotes their records, and swaps reminiscences on sight. With the exception of last year, Mr. Eastwood has attended Rifle Association meetings from time immemorial, and he still looks young enough to go on attending them. * * » Mr. Alex. Muir, a lengthy young Soot from Kilbarchan, a town that did itself the honour of producing Georgie

Porgie Reid, leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament, has left his native heath to tread the rocky road of Lambton Quay. Fully extended, he is seventy-three inches long, and is the brother of one of our most modest citizens, Mr. James Muir, hydropathist, photographer, and general Scotsman. Before Alex, left the employ of Campbell and Sons of Glasgow the firm gave him a gold watch, and his mates at "plaidie" a bag. It is understood that the recruiting sergeant of the Wellington Highlanders is after the young man with a real Scotch accent. A local firm captured the recruit before he left the city of ships. * * * ''Daddy" Lohr, once the prince of theatrical agents on these shores, may be getting plenty of ease and contentment out of his new career a® keeper ot a waterside hotel in Victoria, but he will never be embarrassingly noh unless he mends his ways. Listen to Edwin Geach, Who dropped in upon his old chief the other day —"Lohr should never keep a pub.— he's too good-heart-ed he shouts for all hands and gives away more than he sells Never takes money from me, and I daren't leave it in an old sock on the counter. Never saw him take money all the tame I was there, although plenty came and went, looking less thitrsty for their visit. ♦ * * 1 The Press Association which held its annual meeting in Chnstchurch last week has chosen Mr. George Fenwick for its President. Mr. Fenwick, who is the guiding genius and managing director of the "Otago Daily Times and "Witness" Company, is no stranger to the presidential chair of the Association,, for he has several times filled the chairmanship. Mr. Fenwick is one of the brainiest pressmen of the colony, having the double capacity of being a, good business man, as well as an able write:. He not only runs the important business end of the Dunedin morning paper, but he is also the literary chief ot the concern. Mr. Fenwick also takes a real interest in the everyday affairs ot the Southern city, and his voice is occasionally heard from its platforms. • ♦ * A news item about Mr. Chamberlain, not cabled bv the Press Association, comes to us from a South African correspondent. It appears that the Empire's Joe and two servants drove from Elandsfontein to Johannesburg in a Cape cart, in order that the great statesman should see the veldt. Mr. Chamberlain was attired in the universal white coat and wide-brimmed hat. Passing the farm of Grootfontein, a Boer rushed out of his house and implored the party to give him a hand to drag a bogged ox out of the sluit. • * * • But — " commenced Mr. Chamberlam's servant. "We'll go and see about it," interrupted the Empire mender. Solemnly stated that for half-an-hour the sexagenarian statesman and his two servants tugged at a rope fastened to that bullock's horns, and eventually landed him high and dry. One of the servants, thinking he would give the Boer a parting paralyser, asked the owner of the bullock if he knew who his unpaid labourer was. "Nay," said the Boer nonehalantlv. "It is Mr Chamberlain'" "Yah soh?" And turning to Mr. Chamberlain, he asked him if he could spare a pipeful of tobacco' Joe had won his heart. Kaiser Wilhelm, of Germany, is marvellous. One week we read of him contributing biblical oriticism to the chaplain of his navy, another preaching a sermon to his troops, taking charge ot his ships as an admiral of the fleet, writing a poem in his spare moments, or advising the world what it ought to do so as to approach German form. Of course the great Kaiser is a "sport" to the heart's core. He usually p-oes sporting in a tight uniform, without a bend in, it. Also, he runs after his game in top boots and spurs, and it is presumed that the royal photographers are planted at spots where the young man is likely to kill his game. • * • In a recent number of a London illustrated, William, in a white uniform, and a "contingent" hat, is killing a dead pig with a bayonet. The pig looks to be a fine, sound Berkshire, of good breed, and no doubt the royal butchers got the finest specimen they could find for the royal bayonet thrust. Don't you think there is something wrong about the modem society that gushes effusively over the prowess of a monarch who gets photographed while poking a bayonet into cold pork? * * * "Mr. Madigan" might have been talking of the new socialist element in Wellington when he recently remarked to bis, friend — "If there was only two mm lift in this world, Snadd'n, an' wan was a capitalist wid a hunderd pounds more thin, th' other, number two wud be ai sochlist, and he'd niver rest till he'd grabbed th' balance iv wealth. Thin they'd swod names an' th' fight ud be raysumed."

The lady post-mistiess of Riverlea, near Haw era, has not been retienched, as she has been bleeding the country lo the extent of £4 pea- annum tor work which takes some hours in each day, including Sundays. This is to be maivelled at. Instead of putting a firm foot down on such expenditure, the lady's salai-y has been increased to £12. * * * Those humorous little pranks played by officers of the> "Household" regiments, recently enquired into by "Bobsi," reminds us that the Army has always been noted for the intellectual amusements favoured by its most exalted members. You remember, of course, the tale told by the late Colonel Fred. Burnaby, of the "Blues," of "Ride to Khiva" fame, the chopper-o.ff of Arab heads at one blow, and the champion strong man of the Army p Some silly subalterns once induced a couple of tame ponies to walk upstans into the Colonel's sleep ins; quarters, lashed them to his "chairpoy " duly attired in nightcaps, and w aated results. • • ♦ Although the giant carefully carried those two ponies downstairs, through the officers' mess-room, and threw them into the barrack square, there was no courtmartial. Neither was. there a courtmartial, or any forced retirements when some extremely smart and high-born subalterns of auxiliary cavalry raided a furniture emporium, took the firm's biggest "pantechnicon," and trundled it to the top of the steepest hill in a, garnsoai town. Neither was there a,ny fuss made when some giddy linesmen eixtracted all the piping from the street lamps, and blew up an empty building with gunpowder. Yes, the seivice is certainly improving.

Mr. James Freyberg, the timber expert, is glad that the Government rinds tree-planting by convicts is a success. He remarks that only in May can that useful tree the totara be raised from cuttings, and he suggests the employment of female convict labour in this pleasant and not exacting occupation. The Lance, as far back as January, 1901, convinced that the employment of male convicts at tree-planting would have good results, strongly advocated it. * • * Henry Law son, the poet, who fell over a cliff at Manly (Sydney), and hurt himseilf, seems to have recovered his grip of things 1 and of himself. It is cheering to the New Zealand friends of the smart writer to know that, although his accident threw him out of the running for a while, he is now capable of keeping up the supply of "copy" for Australian and English periodicals. 'Twas thought Henry would go back to London, but Mrs. Lawson, who knows drought-smitten Bourke, a spot fit. only for camels, remarks that she would only live there on £1000 a year, and that she likes Bourke better than London ! » * # His Excellency the Governor, who visited Admiral Famshawe, on the flagship, on Wednesday afternoon, w r as an object of much curiosity to the crowd of seamen., firemen, and sightseers generally. The crowd was waiting for the Admiral, so when the Governor stepped ashore from, the cutter, the Cockney coal trimmers were persuaded that they beheld the man who will not live in that architectural horror, Admiralty House, at Auckland. "Oo'si the covey wiv th' w 'ite fevvers, Porky 9" asked one. "'Im 9 W'y. that's ther bloom-

in' Admiral, o' corse. Ain't 'c a bit o' 'orl right?" "G'arn," ejaculated a gnmy denizen of the stoke-hole, "tihe bloke wiv the busby (Lord Northland, of the Guards) on is the Admiral." At last it was decided that Lord Northland was Lord Ranfurly, and Lord Ranfurly was Admiral Fanshawe. and beer was substitued for the blood that miorht have been spilt over the dispute. * * * M.H.R. Bedford, the youthful senior member of Dunedin, in a lecture on gambling, horse-racing and sport generally, recently said that they made a mam hard-hearted and selfish. Yet it is an actual fact that if a subscription-list goes around, the man who isi a financial prince one day, and a txauper the next, will shell out more handsomely than anybody else — providing you catch him on his prince day. * * * Digby, alia® "Fatty," Grand, one of the mem suspected of the shootmq- of Constable Long, in a hotel at Auburn, Sydney, if he happens to come through the embarrassing situation he finds himself in, will probably someday adorn the peerage. Anyhow, he is telling the police that he will figure in "Burke and Debrett" later on. The police are not so sure.