The Free Lance All Sorts of People

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 168, 19 September 1903, Page 3

The Free Lance All Sorts of People

IT is a coincidence, and one rare m legal lustoiy, that Judge Chapman, the Dunedm barrister just elevated to the Supreme Court Bench is the son of a former Judge Chapman. His Honor is not a stranger to Wellington, for, besides having frequently come up in connection with cases before the Appeal Court, he is the brother of one of our worthiest citizens, Mr. Martin Chanman (of Messrs. Chapman and Tripp). It has been" anticipated in the press that Judge Chapman is to take up the presidency of the Arbitration Court. Tins idea has been assumed apparently from Mr. Chapman's connection at one time with the Dunedm Conciliation Board, of which he was for a time the very able chairman. But, why should he succeed Mr. Justice Cooper m the presidency of the Labour Court? Mr. Cooper has given every satisfaction, and it is said that he is rather partial to Arbitration. Court work. He certainly has done the work with much enthusiasm, under adverse circumstances, and has become familiar with the scope of the Act. Mr. Justice Williams, the first president of the Arbitration Court, asked to be relieved of the duties of the office, in order that he might take a rest. He was succeeded in the presidency by Mr. Justice Martin, and the post was rendered vacant by the latter's resignation. Then came the appointment of Judge Cooper. r * * * In the retirement of Mrs. Hanoox from the position of attendant at the Central Public Library, both the City Council and the general public lose a faithful servant. During her six years of service, Mrs. Hancox who has spent most of her time in the reference library, upstairs, has shown courtesy and help to very many citizens and students who have had occasion to spend some time and research in the hall of silence. Mrs. Hancox, who retires from the municipal service at the end of the month, was a Miss Pinny, and a member of one of Wellington's oldest families. She is sister to Mrs. C. M. Luke and was a school teacher prior to taking up married life and library work. * * * A wire from the West Coast stated the other day that Mrs. James Suisted had passed away at Westport. The deceased lady, who was an authoress of more than local repute, was at one time well-known in Wellington. She was a writer of Parliamentary notes in the session of 1884, and has probably the pioneer in New Zealand of lady writers in the Gallery. For a quarter of a century she was a contributor of stories, sketches and poems to the "Otago Witness." Mrs. Suisted was an English lady and married a member of a Swedish family which settled in Otago in the early days. A, * *■ Mr. Otto Schwartz, the well-known Wellington authority on music, has had to deny himself a great pleasure when he sent down word that he could not carry out the duties of judge at the coming band contset, at Timaru. Mr. Schwartz has probably acted as -judge at more musical contests than any other man in the colony, and he is a favourite with brass bands. He was chosen for the Timaru contest by popular ballot.

He was at one t>me conductor of the Wellington Orchestral Society, and for years played among the society's instrumentalists. The Timaru judgeship resigned by the able Welbngt'oman has been given to Signor Squansa, who was the runnerup tor the post when Mr. Schwartz came first in the poll. The Signor is well known in musical circles in Dunedin, where he has resided ever since the big exhibition held there in 1890. He was brought from the Continent of Europe to lead the finei orchestra which was organised in connection with the Dunedin Exhibition. * # Nurse Norah Stevens left her many friends m Wellington last week to po to Durban for the sake of one man. During her three years' stay in the war-nven land, Miss Stevens was urp&d to change her name, but the Rangitikei lady was not quite tired of her spmsteihood. However, the persistent lover had his w a.y at last, and Miss Norah came home to say good-bye to the friends of her youth. This daughter of Mr. John Stevens, ex-M.H R. for the Rangitikei, joined the nursinstaff of the Wellington Hospital, and show ed great aptitude for the profession. Subseauently she joined the staff of the Nelson Hospital, where she became as popular as she was in the Empii© City. On the outbreak of the Transvaal war, Nurse Stevens was one of the first nurses to volunteer for service with the troops. She did good work over there, and was one of the recipients of cases of instruments presented by the British nation to the nurses at the front. She prizes this trophy of the war very highly. It was while serving with the troops that she met the gentleman whose wife she is about to become. Dr. Dalrymple is one of the British Medical Staff, and is at present stationed at Heidelberg. He could not get leave to come over to New Zealand to marry Miss Stevens, hence the reason of the marriage taking T>lace over there. Nurse Stevens' last work professionally in Wellington was the case of Dr. Grace, whom she attended up to the tame of his death. She left New Zealand laden with wedding gifts, which came to her from all parts of the colony. * * * This leminds us that another wellknown and popular member of the nursing profession is about to be married, and has just resigned her position on the staff of the Wellington Hospital for the purpose The lady is Miss Mabel Rochefort, and the happy man is Mr. Percy Denton, well known in the theatrical circles of America, Australia, and New Zealand. Amongst his* intimates he is called "Baby Denton," iust because he is built on solid lines. His full name is Percy Denton Cardew. Miss Rochefort is a member of a Nelson family w r hieh has given three daughters to servicei in hospitals. * * * The eldest Miss Bochefort was at one time on the staff of the Wellington Hospital. Later she took charge of the Otaki Cottage Hospital, where her work so impressed Dr. Mason what time the Chief Health Officer was in charge there, that he recommended her appointment to the charge of the Sanatorium for Consumptives, at Cambridge, where she now is. When Miss Rochefort received this latter appointment she was organising a private hospital in Nelson. That hospital is now in charge of the youngest of the Rochefort trio. There is romance in the engagement between the second Miss Rochefort and Mr. Denton, for it was whilst an inmate of the Wellington Hospital for many months that the American wooed the Nelson girl.

There was a time when the annual meetings of the shareholders of the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company were noted for their protracted and stormy sittings. Last week's meeting, closing the twentieth year of the company's history, was most businiesslike m its procedure, and was over in half-an-hour. Give shareholders a dividend and they will give directors peace. The meatine was oresided oveT bv the' Hon. C. J. Johnston, chairman o f directors who gave a good account of his stewardship. The meeting reelected Messrs. Arthur Warburtom (the well-known city man) and A. E. Gibbs (rquallv well-known in social and business circles) to the directorate. The most active of the shareholders — by the way it was remarkable to see a lady shareholder (Mrs. Prenderville of Karon "i in attendance — was Dr. Knight, one time associate to his uncle, Sir James Prendergast, what time th© latter was Chief Justice. Dr. Knight was the mover of a motion that the directors should receive another £200 a year allowance and thei motion went through, after the usual annual protest against extravagance on the r>art of Mr. Kebbell. If the latter gentleman was made Colonial Treasurer for a year or two ' If ever the Premieir has to use the pruning knife, he should call in the services of Mr. Kebbell, who is one of Wellington's most careful guardians of the purse. *• * The shareholders, before dispersing, paid a well-deserved compliment to Messrs Heeles (general manager), A. E. Donne (secretary, and Ramsden (mill manager\ for these o-entleanen have laboured in the interests of th© company at home and abroad, through calm and storm. Mr. Heeles has been something of a mascot to the oompanv, for since he assumed charge, some eight years ago, prosperity has smiled more and more upon its transactions. Under his management, also, there has been development along lines of enterprise and energy. May success continue. Last w eek we noted the formation cf a new bowling club on the heights of Kelburne. But the very latest-formed bowling club is that just established in the valley of the Eutt. The list of officers for the Hutt Club contains many prominent citizens. The president is Mr. W. G. Foster, well-known in banking and pastoral circles, and chief executive officer of the Assets Boaid. The vice-presidents are a well-known trio, Messrs. W. Mowbray, Orton Stevens and T. Wilford, M.H.R. * * * The secretary, Mr. G. Chapman, is one of the best-known and most popular men in the valley, an enthusiastic amateur photographer, and an enterprising business man. The club has an ideal treasurer in a bank manager, Mr., S. C Barraud. Its committee is composed of a very representative group of men. Medicine is 1 represented by Drs. Mason and Hector, the Civil Service by Messrs. G. Allport, J. H. Eliott, and W. Mowbray, and business 1 bv Messrs. W. Hendry, Chapman, and Stevens. The Hutt Club should certainly have a prosperous career. * ♦ •» Dr. Pomare the Maori medico, has a tough time with his coloured brethren sometimes. To save a child's life, at Nuhaka, recently, he ordered hot-water fomentations. The Maoris are forbidden, by some ancient ordinance to use hot water. They may use hot stones. The wily medico, with the generalship that distinguished his warrior grandfather, said cold water would do. He got the Maoris to make stones hot, soak a cloth in cold water, hold it on the stones until it steamed, and then clap it on. There is a Maori' life saved on account of this little bit of generalship.

There was quite a party of interesting people who said good-bye to their friends and relatives last Saturday afternoon, just before the Warrimoo left Queen's Wharf, for Sydney. Mr. Albert Cohen was to be seen, taking temporary leave of the chairman of the Press Gallery. The Rev. Mr. Izard, brother of Councillor Izard, told 1 his sister-in-law how much he had enjoyed his furlough, and how sorry he was to have to go back to his station in the Straits Settlements. Near by were members of the Adams family, who had come down to see Magistrate Adams off. The latter is the youngest son of the chief surveyor of Marlborough and 1 therefore younger brother of Cecil and Arthur (the poet) who are well-known in Wellington. The youngest Adams had so brilliant, a career that hei is, in. his early twenties climbing the luoky ladder of the Indian Civil Service, beiginning with a magistracy. * ■* * Members of the Working Men's Club came down to see ex-nresident Jack Stevens off. Bank clerks were clown to give a final shake of the hand to Mr. L. S. Dudley, who is en route to ioin a bankiner house in Capetown. Jnst as the Warrimoo was about to cast off her ropes, Mr. Efelver was seen rushing down the wharf to have ~ last word with his o>ld apprentice. Mr F. W. Collins who is al*o after better luck in South Africa. There was a patherino 1 of player*? to see Mr. Collins "off the premise's." He had been given, a send-off by the Chess Club the previous evening:, and gave a halfpromise there that when at Johannesburp- he would have a "fco" for the South African chess championship. ♦ * * There was a sound of revelry by night at the Working Men's Club last Friday. The oocasion, of the joyful sounds was the sending-off of the expresident of the olub, Mr. J. G. Stevens, who has resigned his desk in the Native Department of the Government service, in order to make a journey to the Old Country. It might be asked, "Why rejoice over a popular man's departure. The answer at the Working Men's Club would have been, "Why not rejoice? Jack is going Home to something good ! And we are all glad because he is glad to see us glad." Mr. Stevens was one of the most popular of the club's presidents. He succeeded Mr. Paul Coffey (father of William of that ilk), and has been succeeded in turn by Mr. Eberlet, the resent occupant of the office. # * * One of the most remarkable developments of the modern Maori is in the direction of golf. Fancy an affinity between the Soot and the Maori! The only difference is one of distance. The links of St. Andrew's are historic to the Scot; the links of Napier will become historic to the Maori. For it was upon the Hawke's Bay links that Kurupo Tareha, son of rangitira Henare Tomoana, won the championship of Maoriland from the pakeha cracks last week. The runner up, Nicolaus, is a young English golfer, who was greatly fancied in the contest. Tareha % who played a great game against the very best of the colony, is not the only member of his family who has wielded the niblick and the driver and the brassey with honour. * * * His Amazonian cousin, Mrs. G. P. Donnelly, of Hawke's Bay, is a mighty driver, and that lady's comely daughter, Mrs. Perry, is the lady champion of her province. The champion of Maoriland is a "fine figure of a man," and he was one of the young chiefs who were selected to represent their race in the Maori Contingent sent to the late Oueen Victoria's jubilee celebration. Tareha'si brother was also a member of the Jubilee Contingent.

The Builders' and Contractors' Association of Wellington is a very solid institution, and has done good work for its members and the. building trade generally during the several years of its existence. Another annual meeting was held last week, and there was a foregathering of interesting men. Some of those present helped literally to lay the foundations of the -bmipire City, and the majority have had a large hand in the construction of the present-day Wellington upon those foundations. The Association s new eat president is Mr. Donald McLean Who is he? Why he is Donald McLean Not to know him is "to be one's self unknown." Although only age, many a fine building in Wellington stands as a manument of Donald s raitnful work, and if you happen along to the Wellington bowling green on a batr urdav afternoon, and see the kitty oeing kissed, -~u will most likely find that is Donald's contract also. * * * The vice-president for 1903-4, Mr Geonre Luke is one of the newest generation of flourishing builders. Ihe recently-formed firm of Luke and Cooper is making a name m building circles, and under its a>gis houses are going up in all directions. Mr. Luke is the youngest of the well-known Luke brothers The foundry was a bit too cropped and grimy for George Luke so he took to the open-air Lfe of a builder. Mr. W. H. Bennett was reelected secretar- an office he has capably filled for several years. inns eentleman has been identified * ith the building trade in Wellington, from Ins youth up, but last year he took on his biggest venture when he secured the contract for the erection of the new Customhouse, opposite the -Berry Wharf. Mr. Bennett is getting on well with his big job. * * * The Association's treasurer is Mr. George Emeny, who- has also been prominent in our building circles these years past. George used to be an enthusiastic cricketer, but he is too busy getting on in the world now-a-days to think of wasting his time with a bat trying to make runs. His delight is to score with estimates. Another well-known gentleman has taken up the auditorship, viz., Mr. W. L. Thompson, who is a past president of the Association, and is gradually climbing the ladder of success in his business. The committee .s composed of a very strong trio — Messrs. James Trevor, James Russell, and A. Seamer. The last-named gentleman is iust out of the president's chair, and his fellowcommitteemen have also been presidents. As for "Jimmy" RusseP you may search Wellington high, and low and -we'll refy you to find a soul who will say a single word in his disparagement. • ■* w The death of the P*ev. W. G. Parsonson, removes from Methodist circles one of its best-known pastors in this colony. Like Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout, Mr. Parsonson was born in the Shetland Islands. He was born into the doth, but was trained for commercial life. He travelled some before coming out to Auckland, in 1881, and afterwards laboured in Dunedin, Oamaru, Leeston, Sydenham, Hastings, and St. Albans (Christchurch), passing awa,v suddenly, at the latter place. He had the literary gift, and was one of the best-read men in a sect noted for its well-read men. Mr. Parsonson was president of the Wesleyan Conference in 1897. * # * The St. John's Ambulance Association has taken a forward step in appointing Mrs. Annie Holgate to tend the destitute deserving si ok of our city. Nurse Holgate, who is just now on the staff of a private hospital in Christchurch, is well equipped by education,, training, and experience to carry out the duties of a ministering angel. She has worked with success not only m the hospitals of the World's metropolis, but also among the poor in the slums of London. We wish Nurse Holgate and the St. John's Ambulance Association every success in their work of alleviating the nancrs and pains of the poor. * * * Now-a-days a record-maker is a man of some standing in his particular community. The fact of being the youngest operator of up-to-date boot ma- j chinery in Australia is something worthy of note, and to a Wellington boy : this credit is dne. Slater Staples is the son of Mr. William Staples, head of the old-established firm of Messrs. W. and J. Staples and Co.. boot manufacturers, ' Ghuznee-street. Two years ago Slater was a rmpil at Wellington College ; to-day he is one of the most 1 skilful operators on the Goodyear ma- ; chinery. Last week the young expert left for Australia, via Auckland, for a. three months' tour of the boot factories. Whilst in Auckland, he installed the w r hole of ai plant of the latest American machinery in the Trenwith boot factory.

Mr. G. Arnold Ward, who is a civil engineer, and also editor of the Ba,y of Plenty "'Times," warns the world that Waimangu wall probably play up to suoh, an extent some day that the disaster w all exceed the ones whi eh devastated the Straits of Sand a and Martinique. Mr. Ward remarks tha.t before the Rotomahan/a ("miscalled Taranera") ' eruption, of seventeen years ago, the earthquakes shook up the lake bottom, which partially collopsed, letting down an immense deluge of water on the sources of ordinary thermal activity. If that water had not been theioi, there would have been no catastrophe. The lcsultant steam did the tuck. # * * The old lake was a pretty puny affair. The new lake is six miles long, and three broad — ten tunes laiger than its forefather. Since 188b, this has been filling with .water. There are no outlets, these having been gradually filled up The water pressure on w eak spots (under which there is normal thermal activity) is increasing. Mr. Ward anticipates large cracks in the lake bottom. It is from beneath the lake that Waimangu gets its pow er. When, the big craoks come, and the waters of Rotomahana percolate , up she goes, and Martinique 1 will be outclassed. This is simply Mr. Ward's scientific theory. Mr. Ward w ants to avert it, by simply draining the lake. If there is no water, there' can be no catastrophe. He thinks that £25,000 would be well spent. He thinks Rotomahana is waiting for those subsidences to go off, and he wants people to go on living — that's all.

The death of Charlie Hugo, which happened last week, in Auckland, caused no surprise, for the reason that it had been expected for a considerable time. Months ago, Charlie was an inmate of the hospital, suffering from a complication of complaints, and it was recognised that his case was hopeless. He died at the residence of friends. In his later years (says the " Observer") Chailie's luck was decidedly " out," but there was a time when, in conjunction with his wife, Miss Priscilla Verne, he ran one of the most successful minstrel and variety shows in the colonies. He was a burnt cork comedian of the first water, and besides being able to sing a good song, was a bom humorist. Some years ago Miss Verne divorced him, and he has never done well on his own. * * * It is a singular thing that two men who had often played to each other on the corner, Johny Collins and Charlie Hugo, were both hopelessly ill in the Hospital at the same time, and died within a fortnight of each other. Both were popular men on the stage in their day, but having played their little parts in the drama of hie, they have now gone the way of all flesh.