All Sorts of People

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1904, Page 3

All Sorts of People

ALTHOUGH it is only two years since the last Municipal Conference was held, theie weie astonishingly few familiar faces amongst the sixty gentlemen who composed the Conference in Wellington last week. Some of those who were in Wellington previously as councillors, oame up last week as mayors. All sorts and conditions at men were present, and a conspicuous featme of their conduct was the emphatic way in which delegates in the mass sat upon the individual boie when the latter became wearisome. Ine delegates had the most vociferous and sitdown-at-once order of dealing with the verbose that has ever been noted m colonial conferences. * * * Some of the members were decidedly /interesting prsonages, leaving out all reference to the legislators who were in attendance. Theie was Mayor Simpson of Foxton, who took nleasure in reminding his listeners that he represented the largest borough with the smallest amount of finance, and who was a warm "barraoker" for the country side when the Town v. Country cry was raised. The moist rapid speaker at the Convention was Mayor Fairbrotner, of Carterton a gentleman of goodly stature, and not unknown to Wellingtonians of the middle age as an athlete. The Mayor of Cartel-ton also gave evidence that he knew the Empire City and its affairs almost as well as he knew the hub ot the Lower Valley. * *■ * / Perhaps the most talkative, as he was vWtainly the lengthiest, delegate was. the gentleman who became known as "WangaiMu" (Councillor E. M. Liffiton), dark of visage, and a man of sound sense and much experience. The dapper Mayor of Ohnstchurch, who has grown Gray in the service of the Cathedral City, occasionally dropped into reminiscences of early Conferences of local bodies at which he sat with the late Mr. Fish and the late Mr. Harris, two gentlemen whose names were intimately connected with the municipal life of Dunedin and Wellington respectively over a decade. * * * / It rarely happens that members of /the "cloth" enjoy mayoral honours in New Zealand but eveiy rule has its exception. The Mayor of Dannevirke is Pastor H. M. Ries, who was sent out to Norsewood eighteen years ago by the German Lutheran Church, to take charge of the Lutheran mission in Hawke's Bay, wheie there was a growing settlement of that sect of religionists. The Mayor of Dannevirke is an interesting character, and was one of the least talkative delegates attending the Municipal Conference. He is a native of Denmark, but was educated in Germany, and is a master of the Danish, German, and Scandinavian languages, besides being; fmiliar enough with the English'tongue to use it in his frequent aDpearanoes in the pulpits of othei churches than his own. * * • / Pastor Ries is one of the most pub- ' lie-spirited of Hawke's Bay settlers. Though he has continued rierht down the years to act as overseer of the Lutheran churches in his province, and has regularly filled his own pulpit, he has not, for a neriod of over ten years, taken any salary from his flock. He has like St. Paul, earned his livine in private busmesvs — he is a dealer in vehicle^and has freely given his services to relieious

work. Besides this, a laige portion of his time is devoted to municipal woik. It is haid to say which local body he is not connected with, as he is a member of at least half-a-dozen such bodies in his district, including the Licensing Committee and Charitable Aid 1 Boaiid. Altogether, Pastoi Ries is a \ery busy man, putting in sixteen houis' work pci day, besides conducting his Sunday seivioes. /There is no love lost between CounVoillors Izard and Devine. Evidence of this was given at the Municipal Conference. Councillor Izardl had spoken very strongly on the charitable aid question from the point of view of a Benevolent Trustee. When the chairman, of our Benevolent Trustees sat down, the floor was taken by Councillor Devine, who said, with much emphasis, that he could not support the views just enunciated bv his fellow-councillor. "I dissent from Councillor Izard l " he oried', to which the latter retorted, in an equally strenuous voice, "You alw r ays do!" The emphasis with which the expression and the retort courteous were given "brought down the house." It may be of interest to add that Councillor Devine was for a number »f \f-ais chairman of the Charitable Aid Board which Councillor Izard had been criticising. V/ The burliest member at the Municipal Conference was Mayor Henry Da /is, of Ashburton, a gentleman who caused no little amusement by his reheaismg of the troub-les of a woman whose husband had run away. Mr. Davis's wend waving? of his arms and gesticulations with a pair of spectacles 1 during the narrative lent a diverting effect to his story. The most northern borough in the colony, Whangarei, was represented by Councillor James Jackson, a somewhat quiet Yorkshi remain . Sleepy Hollow was very much in evidence per medium of Mayor J. Piper, who had' succeeded to the maporalty after fifteen years' service as a councillor. Mayor Piper, who has recently returned from a> tour of the Old World, is a brother of Mr. Joseph Piper, of Petone. * * * Mi. Leanpnere Pringle, the operatic basso, who visited Adelaide recently, has oome in for a nice little amount through, the death of his step-father, Mi-. C. J. Barclay, managing director of the Commercial Bank of Tasmania. Mi . Pi ingle's mother divorced herself from her first husband, and married Mr. Barclay. * ■» * Major-General Hutton, the gifted linguistic panjandrum of the armless Australian Army, is going Home. Reminds us on every occasion during the late lamented 1 war foi the downthiowing of Britishers and the uplifting of the Chinese, General Hutton lost no opportunity of looking after colonials. Even at that time he was gifted beyond mere coloniaLs in the expression of virile anathema. One time, he inspected an extremely ragged collection of colonial soldiers, who were some hundreds of miles from everywhere. His method was to approach a man who was clothed in more dirt than shirt, and to say "Well my man, have you any veimm 9 " The man had invainably. * * * 'Have you another shirt?" 'No, sir " "Got any boots?" "No, sir " "Then, why the (stars, asterisks., hyphens, etc., etc., etc.). Then, the General would hunt un the officer in chai cc, and say 'Look here, Blinketty Blank, if these corrugated colonials don't get some blithering; stores bv 4 o'clock this afternoon, I'll send you to the Cape'" Then, the officer would go to his camp smiling, for there wasn't a hope of stores, except in Hutton's mind. Ah. he was a good friend to the soldiers, was Hutton Still, he was the inventor of mounted infantry, the most useful arm of the sei vice for guer--11a work.

Harduige-Malttay ib busy teaching elocution in Wellington to all soit® and conditionk. Her pupils lange from, school-girls to clergymen. Miss Maltby is cleaily entitled to the thanks of chui oh-goer>. She purposed, with the aid of hei pupils, producing locally, in November, "Sweet Lavender," but some of the pupils have left Wellington, and others have been ill. Therefore, she has not been able to arrange a new caste. The production of "Sweet Lavendei" is temporarily postponed. However, she intends giving a recital in November and it will embrace a one-act costume play of the time of Garrdck. Theie died at Timaru the other day a,n old colonial identity, Mr. Andrew Hart who was not unknown some yeairs ago in Wellington. He joined the Customs 1 Department away back in 1867, served for a while in Wellington, went to Timaru, was temporarily at vanouis times in Wellington and Dunedin, and spent most of his after life as Collector of Customs at Timaru. He retired from the service less than three yea.is ago, and passed away in his seventieth year. - * * * ''""Another active delegate, who plucked up courage towards the end of the seswas Mr. A. Bain, of Invaroairgill ; and, of course, the Mayor of Nelson had something to say, and said it pretty often. The silence of a Piper is a tiling as yet unrecorded * # * Among a batch of five persons who were sentenced by the Chief Justice lafst week, in the Supieme Court, was VJaines Malkm, alias Woods, who received a sentence of nine months' impiisonment for having three overcoats for the possession of which he could not give a satisfactory explanation. Maikin is one of the cleverest and most interesting rogues that the Wellington section of our detective service has had to deal with. Early in 1898 he organised a gang of expert till-robbers, sneak thieves, and house-breakers, which, for quite a time, defied the breaking-up abilities of the police force. * # * was the head of the gang, and, perhaps, the cleverest of its members was a Sydney-sider named Mary who came over to Wellington with her enterprising husband to operate here, she as a till-robber and he as a pick-pocket. But, hubby very soon got into trouble, being caught with his hand in another fellow^s pocket one night at a performance given by the Flying Jordans, and he v,a.~> 'sent up" for twelve months. It was then that Mary became a Malkinite. The bi caking up of the gang was eventually secured by the pertinacity and sleuth-like tactics of Detectives Broberg and Nixon, then, and still, known in the force as "Big Bro" and "Young Nick" — both of whom were then serving their probationary period as acting-de-tectives in Wellington, and who seized upon* the Malkin campaign as an opportunity which was going to make their career. * # * /They succeeded, after many nights "soent in rubber slippers wandering all over the dark and lonely portions of the city, in breaking up a strong combination of five, every member of which changed his or her address about twice i. week, and held their conclaves in the hushv confines of the Botanical Gardens. The arrest of Malkin, in February, 1898 was of an heroic nature, Broberg's statui c standing for much in the encounter. The big detective's' achievement wa*. broueht immediately under the notice of Commissioner Tunbridge, who had just then arrived in the colony, and "Bro" was very rapidly and deservedly promoted. Three days after Malkin 's ariest Mary Turnham was also laid by the heels, and was "sent up" for a term of three months. Subsequently, she returned to Australia.

When the champion wi estle>r of New Zealand looked into the Lance office, most of the staff faded away under the table, and ejaculated "Great Soott!" Bob Scott is a Scotch New Zealander, is bft 3£in from sole to summit, and weighs fifteen stone seven pounds. He used to be sixteen stone when he was twenty, but the poor fellow is thin now. He began wrestling when he was two, and, as a oatch-as-catch-can baby ehampiotn there were no Southland kiddies who co<uld take his lollies or marbles away from him. Since; he was seventeen, Bob has been throwing tons of flesh about, and always, with success. Bob, when not wrestling, is a carpenter, and has had charge of much bridgebuilding work. He has wrestled with one-ton stringers, as well as with the "snags" of the sport. v/Robert is the eldest in his family There are eight girls, and seven boys, so that the house is hardily ever disturbed by burglars, especially as all of them aie of athletic build, and capable exponents of the art of sel-deenoe. Bob is now thirty-five years of age — in his prime. He has a terrible stretch of arm, and a chest measurement of forty-two inches normal. He doesn't believe in heavy-weight lifting but uses 14-Jlb dumb-bells, doesn't drink anything alcoholic except a dram of sherry, and smokes a cigar on Sundays. He has played "forward" in the Gore and other football teams, and the other side always details several men to watch him. * *• * /Mr. Scott has successfully taught wrestling, and the best wrestlers in New Zealand after (himself have been his pupils. The late Harry Dunn, who styled himself "champion wrestler of the world," was beaten by "Bob," but there are so many Turkish, German, Russian, and other kinds of world champions around who won't try holds with the New Zealander that he is probably the best man at the game on earth. When he won the Fuller £10 the other night from Pearce, who is described by "Bob" as a wrestler of the highest class, he had been onJy out of bed a week, after a bout of mumps ! * • • x/ A recital of his wins at wrestling, stont-putting, tossing the caber, boxing, and so on would 1 run into too much space, so you can see his scrap-book if you are anxious. In appearance "Bob" looks as if he wouldn't consciously hurt a fly, and he never loses his temper. He tells us his father was Scotch. Said the old man — who was a great athlete himself — when the boy was seventeen: "Rabbie, laddie, go to the spoorts, and see whit ye can dae. Here's 1 a pund. Noo, see and diomia spend it a." Well,. "Bob" went to the "spoorts," and brought back £8, which, like a dutiful son, he handed to dad. Dad gave him £2 as a reward. Since which he has earned a good deal of money for himself. • • • Dow le "ain't no small pertaters," you bet. A recent utterance from the gentleman who left Australia for good — Australia's good — "General Booth is a good man, a very good man, fit to be one of my lieutenants." * * ♦ Charles Gore, who has been chosen to replace Mr. F. M. B. Fisher in the tennis team which is to represent the New Zealand Association in Australia, is perhapsi better known as a cricketer than as a wielder of the racquet. All the members of the Gore family — daughters as well as sons — play tennis well, but it rarely happens that a man has represented New Zealand with both bat and racquet. Mr. Gore is on the staff of the Wellington District Land and Survey Office. Mr. Fisher, wiho is now in business as a land and commission agent, and who had to refuse a place in the tennis team, is an ex-Wellingtonian, being the youngest -on of "Our George."

v/ Seats on the Victona College Council are apparently in demand, judging by the fact that three candidates are aitei that vacated by Mr. A. P. Seymoui, ot Picton, the well-known settler, who had been on the Council since its inception. Of thethiee candidates, two <ue wellknown, and the other not so well-know v, in the city. Mr. Joseph Mackay was in charge of Wellington College up till some eight yeais ago, when he letirecl to a faim m Taranaki, and wais succeeded bv Mr. J. P. Firth. Mr. Mackay has been prominent in local government since he became a farmer, and has done active service on his County Council which he has been presenting at the Conference in Wellington this week „ * * * / The seoond candidate, Mr. H L. James, 8.A., is well-known to everyone who has had occasion to use the Grenera.l Assembly Libiary. Mr. James was a schoolmaster befoie he became a librarian, some twelve ot fourteen years ap-o. Mr Richard McOaillum, who "completes the" trio of aspirants for the seat on the, Council, is a successful barrister practising at Blenheim, ot whieli place he has been for some years mayor. He had the good taste, some -nme or ten Tears ago, to many one of Wellington s fairest daughters and sweetest son<rsti esses. Miss Grady, eldest daughter ot the popular jeweller * * * , Councillor Evans, of Wellington, who v/vas honoured with the presidency over V the dozen delegates to the recent Charitabl Aid Conference, held his team well in hand, and brought the business along at a smart pace. Indeed, he was specially complimented for his management of the conference by Mr. Miller, the big and burly chairman of the Dunedin Charitable Aid Board, who said, drawing upon many years' experience, that it was no easy matter to drive a team of such Scotchmen as foregathered at the Conference. This same Miller by the way, was a man ot some weight in the counsels of the delegates, and, though he spoke not too"frequently, he passed easily for a Solomon from the south. It is a remarkable fact that the Dunedin Board did not send a single remit to the Conference. * * * /The Auckland delegate was a man. of lActave mind, body, and tongue, the gay Garland having something to say upon eveiy subject brought up, and bi ought forward not a few subjects which were animatedly debated. What Mi. Garland does not know about Charitable Aid and hospital work is hardly woith learning, still, ho admitted having nnpioved his education iv Wellington, especially per medium of Dr. Mason, oi the Health Department. Another conspicuous promoter of business ait the Confeience \va-> Mi. Manhire, a Chnstchuich master painter, and chairman of the Board which promoted the Confeience A man of few woids, he would lay a very bie proposition on the table with the 'brief introduction "There is no need for me to say anything upon this subiect, gentlemen, you are piobablv as familiar with the trouble as I am, and I'm willing to let it go at that '" * * * / Mr. E. Shaw, the best shot in the /North Island at the last yearly test, who was injured at the Upper Thames by a powde rexplosion, is not an excontmgemter as telegraphed. "Ned" is a contractor, and a sergeant in the Ohinemun Rifle Volunteers. He is probably confused with his cousin, Fred, who is an ex-contingenter "Ned," whose eyesight is reported to be permanently affected by the explosion, is one of those tiue shots, who disdains the use of aid to shooting. He doesn't possess any verniers or wind-gauges, and he gets off his shots without lying on his waistcoat for ten minutes. He is a particularly stalwart, well-set-up fellow, and shot at the last Trent ham meeting, winning substantial pnze money. It is to be hoped that the accident is nc' so serious as at piesent appears. / Lord Plunket. according to the Auckland "Herald," had a six-column tune in Auckland the othei day "It is very beautiful," he remarked to General Babington, and Auckland people love His Excellency already. The Governor had a look round the Veteians' Home, and he remarked, with a reminiscent sigh, that the dormitory aicoommodation was a good deal better than that of the college of his boy-days. J joV^ Plunket, who gives no indication in liis speech that he is Irish — although his face tells the tale — has taken the trouble to learn the "dear old Irish tongue," and he tried it on an old Hibernian warrior who had once used it. Although the old chap was duly gratified, he didn't understand it. Still, many of the Empire's old Irish soldiers knew enough of their language to understand the Governor. He examined their medals, and all that sort of thing. He has also promised to do anything for the veterans in his power, so that those who believed that the warriors who were dug out by Lord Ranfurly, and brought into public notice and respect, would drift back into oblivion again, will be agreeably disappointed.

Mr. King O'Malley, Victorian M.H.R., has asked peimission of the Government to erect tents on the lawn of Parliament Buildings, so that he and other politicians may live theiein duimg session. His reason is that he and some others are very poot , and they cannot stand the racket on their 'screw."" He is in deadly earnest, and is only waiting the necessary peimit to sink the first hole m the lawn. He says that the poor politicians are the chaps who do the work, and it i>> laic for the rich ones to put in moire tame than they can help in the House What a boon those political tents would be foi the peiegnnating 'swagger," deadbeat, or Domamiac. ■m • * About that cable in which it was stated that a copper lode had been discovered in Lancashire by an "eleotnc ore fmder" named Williams. When, in the ea,rh' days of Australia, a few men asserted that they, with the help of a forked twig, could go into the backcountry and locate water, the droughty inhabitants snoited deiisively. However, Charlie Stewart, a South Australian identity, mooned around with a bit of a stick inland fiom the west coast, surrounded by scornful bushmen. Chaihe's stick "dipped" all right, and he remarked, "Bore here, and you'll get water at about a hundied and sixty feet." This was on Kapawanta, if we lemember rightly, fifteen or twenty yeaisi ago They dug, and the watei was there all right. * * * Charlie had to be paid a letamer of £50 to leave Adelaide, and a fui ther £.50 if he struck water, which would be worth many thousands to the backcountiy squatter. Although "Charlie" could so easily find water, he didn't use it to any alarming extent. Consequently, while the "fifties" lasted he wouldn't use his twig. Many Australian children, given the twig, have located water, but the gift isn't universal enough to cause much opposition in the trade. You may laugh at the idea, but the fellow who has been presented with unlimited water where none was before available doesn't laugh at the "divining rod."