All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 176, 14 November 1903, Page 3

All Sorts Of People

THE Goveinoi's and the Commandant's aides-de-camp are regular competitors at the leaping contests at the Carterton Show. This year proved no exception to the rule, and the Hon. Mr. Hill-Trevor and Captain Campbell attended on both days, at no little inconvenience to themselves. On the first afternoon their eivent was made to suit theu- time, and even then they ]ust managed to catch the train back to town, when they attended the ball given to Lady Ranfurly, ait the Wellington Club. Next afternoon,, the two aides, as fresh as paint, were agam in the ring at Carterton. Mr. Hill-Trevor won the leaping match on the first day, having as his mount His Excellency's eldest daughter's horse, Bruno. Captain Campbell took second honours next day, on his own mare, Satanella. Both aides are good and keen horsemen, although the former s "seat" is hardly colonial. * * * A propos of curious "seats" adopted by good ndens, Captain "J^y" Hughes, a keen horseman, is decidedly ''tin-tacky" on a horse, yet "Jf^' scooped the officers' races m Africa wit\ httle troubto. Captain Kemna, V C who w ould at once be told to "get inside and pull down the blinds" if he logged down the Quay on his fiery mustang, won a splendidly-ridden race at Arundel, on New Year's day, 1901. ±le was on General French's staff, was a Hussar officer, and won his "pennortlh o bronze" in Egypt. ¥■ * Eudyard Kipling, who remarked, in words valued at several guineas a-piece, that forty thousand horse and foot w ere going to Table Bay, at a time when 300,000 men were wanted for the job, is said to be anticipating a visit to the colonies. By the way, "Stalky and C 0.," Kipling's school tale, is said to be the story of his own school lite. Me met an old schoolfellow a few weeks ago and the first words of the friend were "Well, I'm blessed if you haven t got on the same trousers you used to wear at school 1" * * * Kipling smokes most of the time he is writing, gripping the stem of his r>ipe in his loft fist. He invariably uses the same kind of pen, and has employed one inkstand for yeais. This inkstand is a curiosity. It has a large silver tray, and whenever he finishes a book or a piece of verse the title and date .nereof are engraved on the tray, so that it constitutes a sort of literary diary. Although not musical — he plays no instrument, and is not gifted with a good voice— he always composes his verses to music, marching up and down his study hammering out the lines to a tune. None of these things would be in the least important if anybody -ther than Kipling had done them. / Mr Wethenlt, Government Inspector of Machinery, is a wee bit unfortunate. Some day he'll probably get disgusted, and quit having anything to do with ships. After his castaway experiences in the Elingamite, and subsequent sufferings, it might be thought he would get a fair-weather job ashore. The other day, he was going aboard the Neapuhi , to have a look at the engines, when he slipped, and bruised himself m many places badly. If he recovered fro-n his Elingamite experience, he is bound to take no notice of a minor accident of this kind.

Bishop WiLdon, of Calcutta, who is coming to New Zealand for his health, has worked for many years for the abolition of the "suttee." In case Lance leaders should know nothing of the custom, it consists m the voluntaiy burning to death of a widow on the funeral pyre of her husband. Women — 'from five to fifty years of age — cheerfully stand on the pyre, and get slow ly roasted Men whose wives pre-decease them do not observe the religious rite, w hicli is a pretty fair indication of the position of women m the Indian Empire. Only certain sects observe the "suttee." * * * Mr. R. Bentley Young is the least iro-fessional-looking avant courier who has toured this colony. In fact, the travelling representative! of the Hawtrey Comedy Company looks a typical British tourist, and the average colonial would pick the knickerbockered one for a gentleman farmer on sight. There is nothing of the bouncing, slap-on-the-back, how-are-you advance agent about Young, of England. He has gone up and down this colony, and in and out of our printing offices, for some years — and he is as politely British as ever. But he is just about to shakei the dust of the colonies off his boots, having been engaged by our erstwhile visitor, Wilson Barrett, to go Home and help run the Barrett season in the World's metropolis.. Happy Young ' Lucky Barrett ! Unfortunate Hawtrey ' * * # Mr. Hawtrey is taking his misfortune kindly. He has written to Mr. Young, saying many nice things about his connection witih the company. Also, the company have p/ese-ited their photos to the gentleman who goes to England by the lonic. Mr. Young has been in the colonies for fifteen years, and, as all his people are in England, he is, as he says, 'intoxicated" at the prospect. The boat is timed to arrive in Enerland on Christmas Day. We shiver. * * ■*. Earl Beauchamp is happily colonised. The surprising advice of a British peer, who publicly said it was time to throw old-fashioned methods to the w aids, and old-fashioned machinery to the scrapheap, is a hopeful sign. Fact is that British manufacturers, as a rule, have fat banking accounts enough for themselves, a comfortable "dot" for their daughters, and a little for their sons. They desire not to be bored w ith anything new. Expansion of trade is not a national question. It is parochial and personal in England. "My grandfather was rich father was richer, I'm gathering in a nice income, and I don't want to bore myself by pushing on in the rushing, Yankee fashion." We don't think peers who are not in trade w ill do much good by the scrap-heap argument It is the men who are in trade w hose opinions and contributions to the scrap-heap are going to weigh in the expansion of the Empiie's tiade. In Mr. G. Tullv, the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral Society has one of the most courteous of presidents During the two-days' show at Carterton, last week, Mr. Tully was übiquitous m carrying out his duties, and took great delight in showang off the Society's improvements to not only distinguished visitois, but to anyone who came as a stranger into the Valley. He found an able and affable first lieutenant, also, in Secretary Moss, who showed much improvement upon, previous secretaries as an organiser. The member for the district (Mr. W. C. Buchanan), himself an ex-president, was also very much m evidence, but ex-M.H.R. Hornsby was conspicuously absent. As usual, that active local politician and ex-mayor, Mr. G. W. Deller, who is one of the Society's two vice-presidents, was again the genial host at the board of good things, as smilesome and as jolly as ever.

His many friends will have regretted the continued indisposition of Mr. Joseph Laehman, Wellington manager for Messrs. P. Hayman and Go. Mr. Lachnian is one of the best-known city men, and has, for many years, been identified with Wellington's 1 concerns, though he has not ' come out" in its public life. He has been particularly interested m sport and pastime, and is a liberal supporter and something of an enthusiast of cricket. That he may make a quick and satisfactory recovery is the wish of a host of friends. * * * The choir of St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Buckle-street) honoured its choirmaster the other day with a welldeserved presentation. Mr. W. McLaughlm is one of the most enthusiastic of musicians, and since taking charge of St. Joseph's choir he has reorganised that body, though not without some differences of opinion. He has not confined his enthusiasm to Church circles, however, for he has organised not a few musical functions for the Liberal League since taking up his residence in the Empire City. He also accompanied the Parliamentary party down to the South Sea Islands, as one of the party's musicians. Prior to coming to Wellington, some three or four years ago, Mr. McLaughlin was in Central Otago, where he was closely identified musical matters, including brass bands. # * * Mr. James Robert-son, who has been appointed delegate of Court Sir George Bowen, at the triennial district meeting of Foresters, to be held early next month, at Palmerston North, has for years been an enthusiastic A.O.F. man. He has long been the secretary of the lod^e he is to represent. Mr. Robertson is sometimes confounded — by those who know not the two men — with Mr. David Robertson, because the two Scots of the same house are public men. The big, braw David is a Benevolent Trustee , his less braw, but equally canny, namesake is a member of the Education Board. David is an engineer, and the owner of a foundry . James is also an engineer, but in a modest way, and he is also an inventor. So that both sons of Scotia are a credit to their land and their families. * * Timaru's loss is Martons 1 gain, in the\ departure of Mr. Hobart Tennant to ]om his father in business in the Northern town. Mr. Tennant, up to last week, was a member of the clerical staff of the South Canterbury Farmiers' Cooperative Association, and, prior to leaving that Association, he was presented with several marks of esteem. He was a popular Timaruvian, of which town he is a native, was a member of one of the contingents which served the colony in South Africa, and played his part well on the running track and the football field. His father, prior to leaving Tunaru to settle in Marton, was, for many years, secretary of the Timaru Harbour Board, m which office he was succeeded by a Wellingtoniain, Mr. Bardsley. * * * Curious to consider that Emperor Wilhelm, of Germany, is a Field Marshal in the British Army, and an Admiral of the British Navy. Maybe, he'd get a command if the two powers ' o;ot to holds" ? If not, why does the Throne throw these rather stupid honours around ? At the age of seventy Her late Majesty was 1 a colonel m a British dragoon regiment and Queen Alexandra is at present a light cavalry officer, being a colonel in the 11th Hussars ("'Cherry Pickers"). The regulations are that officers shall wear the uniform of the corps to which they belon"- Queen Alexandra, at sixty years of age, in a blue frogged tunic, crimson otherwear, patent-leather jack boots, and spurs, is too funny. Nobody knows why the dear old Army does these extraordinary things 1 .

Mr. A. J. McCurdy, one time of the telegraph service, has been, making a name for himself as a compiler of records since he became colonial organiser for the New Zealand Farmers' TJndon. He started out on the road on the Ist of February last, and since that time he has travelled 12,000 miles by rail', 600 miles on foot, he has driven 800 miles in vehicles, voyaged 700 miles by steamer, and ridden 300 moles on horseback. His friends have long been aware of "Mac's" great energy, but even the most sanguine of them could not have anticipated his capabilities of achieving such a record as that ouoted above. * * * The Rev. W. Tuck, who is taking such a prominent part with Petone people against the Licensing Bill, is a young man who wants to get on. "Billy" was, before the spirit moved him towards the Church, a very capable book-keeper for a coaching firm 1 on the Northern goldfields. The budding parson frequently "barracked" for passengers, and wasn't a bit above struggling manfully with a couple of portmanteaux. People at Petone wonkier where the parson learnt to ride, for parsons, as a rule, are not good equestrians. "Billy" "drives 1 no tin-tacks." Mr. Tuck's father was a prominent civic official in the Waikato years ago, and had no intention of making a parson of a boy who then showed no inclination to be anything of the kind. * * * You don't know the Rev, Cocker, do you? He was 1 born to be a comedian, but drifted into the Church. He comes from the North of England, and brings the "burr" in all its pristine beauty. He is an ardent prohibitionist, and his courage is not of the Dutch variety. Although Mr. Cocker is quit© serious on the Licensing Bill, he looks as if he might break out into a song and dance any minute. He wears a moustache of the "cheveau de frise" variety, and has a head of the "bullet" type. Also, he is beloved in Wanganui, mainly because, although he is a good man, he is 1 not puling or sanctimonious. What he has to say, he says without any trimmings or fireworks, and you may depend that if he is/ an enemy of the Licensing Bill he is going to fight. He was the secretary of the Methodist Conference held in Wellington last year, and plies a pen that isn't a bit parsonicaJ . * * * Amongst the delegates attending the Baptist Conference, now sitting in Wellington, is Mr. H. H. Driver, one of Dunedm's representatives. It is almost forgotten by the churchgoers of Wellington that Mr. Driver was at one time in holy orders, and was in charge of our Vivian-street Church. In fact, he was succeeded by the present occupant of that pulpit, the Rev. C. H. Dallas-toe. Mr. Driver had to resign tliie ministry for his health's sake some ten years ago, and from the pulpit he went to the book-stall, taking up business in the Edinburgh of the South, whence he oomes to the Conference. * * « Mr. Laurenson, M.H.R., knew a policeman who had over thirty billets, and did nothing. Thus is either rough on the policeman, or merely shows that the people of his district are law-abid-ing folks, who don't come under the tlnrty-secen eyed Argus's eagle glance. A propos of policemen, the Lance knew a trooper of police who had been twenty-four years in one spot, who had never made an arrest, and mho hadn't been on a horse for five years through indisposition and fat. It was a lawless community, everybody drank heavily, horse^stealing was rife, and "guns" were worn. Perhaps the "guns" were the reason for the "rest" that fifteen-stone trooper took. We desire only to illustrate the fact that Mr. Laurenson's policeman can easily be beaten at "loafing."

' Of all the visitors to New Zealand within recent tn.ies, no one man gave our colony so great an advertisement as did Mr. H. Demarest Lloyd, whose death occurred thei other day, at Chicago. Many \Velhnigtonia,n,s will remember the woolly-haired gentleman from the United States who had such an avidity for news and interviews concerning the operations of the New Zealand labour laws. He was one of those virile Americans who, having once taken up the pen, caji never cease the use of it, even though he had attained to affluence and had no further need to pursue his profession of journalism. * * ■* In his latter days, the Philadelphian was very much gn en to the w riting of books, and it was with his book on New Zealand bearing the striking phrase ' A Countiy Without Stukes," that he ga.ve us so prea,t an advertisement. This book w <js quoted and reviewed the w orld ov&r, because it sot forth m clear-cut English, and in a sensible and judicial strain, the position of affairs* as they prevailed in New Zealand when Mr. Lloyd investigated matters over heie some three years ago. He was a kindly, genial lover of humanity. May he rest m peace. * * * Sir Thomas Lipton is still a business man. He purposes ligging his Shamrock I. as a schooner, employing her to take "scrap iron" to South America. Sounds almost as if she were going to carry contraband of war, doesn't )t ? Scrap" metal ch p Almost as bad as using a disappointing and worn-out thoroughbred to haul a dray. * * * Mr A. J. McCurdy is still organising the New Zealand Farmers' Union. New Zealand farmers are supporting him tooth and nail. There is nothing like union. It is strength. Mr. McCurdj 7 was recently in the Ashburton district, and intended lecturing. He is a good lecturer, too. Epigrammic, practical, and humorous. Ec found that the farmers who want to push things ahead so much hadn't engaged a hall. He engaged a room, and a surging crowd of five farmers listened to him. As no one of the great audience offered him any hospitality, the colonial organiser went to the railway station, and slept on some bags of coke. The Farmers' Union may become a power in the land some day. * # * The eagles have gathered from north and south, and the object upon which their eyes and thoughts are fixed is the new Licensing Bill. The eagles here referred to are the chief brewers of the colony, headed by Mr. Moss Davis, the brewing magnate of the Queen City of the North. A great effort is being made by the '"trade" to secure fixity of tenure for licenses, and that is why Mr. Davis and hjs party are straining every effort to secure the ps.ssa.ge of this Bill, which provides for all local option polls to be taken at six-yearly intervals. * * * Gratifying to leain from Sydney ' Sunday Times," that Mr. Seddon has not been Premier in name only. "He has not retained office as the tool of a section of the House. He has led, and, despite faults has led, on the w hole, much better than the average. Premier." Still, the Sydney "Sunday Tames" pro^ phesies that King Dick will shortly be in opposition. The Australian press, however, doesn't know everything. * * * Sir John Logan Campbell sa,id to the ladies who visited him or. his eightysixth birthday that there was nothing the matter with him except that he was losing his sight ' Nothing P Auckland people think a lot of the old ' Doctor." The ladies said that they hoped his life would be a prolonged and shadowiess one, and that he would live to see another generation who w ould thai-k him for his great gift of Maungakiekie (Cornwall Park). So very nice were the ladies to Sir John that he lemairked "I always understood that 'Vanaty thy name is woman,' but I understand to-day 'Vanity, thy name is John Logan Campbell''" Perhaps, if some of Wellington's mighty men were to hand out a park or two ihe ladies would come and dote on them too.

Mr. J. P. Willis, v, ho lives, bieathes, and talks typewnteis and fishing yarns, lias changed his brand of typewriter. He has shifted his bundle from the New Century Typew liter Company to the Yerex, Barker and Fixilay Company. Mr. Willis will take charge of the typewriter department of the> firm mi Wellington and he will probably bring has restless activity to bear on. the business. Mr. Willis is an Australian who has a love for his adopted country, even though New Zealanders are not so keen on fishing and fishing yarns as the Walers." He has imbued many Welhngtomans w ith his ow n enthusiasm during the few years he has been here, but he doesn't let schnappers stand in the way of typewriters. Messis. Ye rex, Barker and Finlay are to be congratulated on having captuied a bom hustler of the Willis typo

Donald Macclonald, who wrote 1 '"How We Kept the Flag Flying," and corresponded rather brilliantly for some AustiaJian papers during the war, is going m for politics. He threatens to stand for a Federal seat at the conning Australian elections. More war. * T- * Doctois do not, as a rule, love friendly societies. No wonder. A draper doesn't love the buyer of a Is ll^d cotton blouse w ith the fervour he expends on the aristocrat who cheerfully pays £3 10s for a 12s 6d silk garment. To quote an extreme case, ai Dunedm medico explained recently that quite a lot of persons earning £5 or £6 a week belonged to friendly societies, and used the lodge doctors on every occasion, fiom cut fingers to cancer, and croup to congestion of the brain.