PERSONAL PARS,

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 1

PERSONAL PARS,

•j£s great many Maoriland papers don't even dignify Ben fTillett with the title of "Mr."-

Passed over at the early age q£, 4o years, C. E.. .Calcutt. assistant manager and chief salesman for the Loan and Mercantile at Christchurch. He was an exceptionally capable officer, and had been m the employ of the Co. for 25 years, except for a brief period when he was m partnership with the present manager, and Mr E. G. Staveley. Deceased, who was associated with a number of sporting institutions, was deservedly popular m commercial and other circles. *** ' .

Lawyer Oscar Alpers, of Christchurch, who appeared m some of the notorious 'bookmakers' cases lately, had the audacity to allude to the betting proclivities of King Ned when he was Prince of Wales. He had no hesitation about playing the game with the bookies. One would think that King Ned had . abandoned the pastime since he took on the crown and put on extra frill by: the way Alpers spoke, but he likes his little* gamble as well as anyone else, does Ned, especially when his own gee-gees are running. It is true that his royal nibs doesn't walk up to a cheap, bookie and say, "Lay. me half-a-crown on Ham Sandwich." What! betting he does is done by deputy.

Mr Robert Noble, who toured NewZealand with the John F. Sheridan Comedy Company on its last visit two years ago, is now m England, and private advices record his steady! success since his arrival m. March last. The young New Zealander is well .known m the North Island, having qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist m Wellington before he attained his majority. He early grew tired of his profession, and left for Sydney, where, after some hard vocal study, he signed on with Mr .John F. Sheridan, and was with that comedian for close on two years. In February last Mr Noble left "The Widow" on completion of the Westraliari tour, and shipped to London, where he placed himself m Mr Frank Weatherby's hands, and is now doing well m England.

An old Taranaki identity m Mrs Wells, relict of late Ben Wells, passed away recently at the hoary- age of 81 years. Ben, for some years, was editor of the "Taranaki News," and wrote a "History of -Taranaki." Mrs Wells was born at Good Easter, near Chelmsford, m Essex. She arrived m New Plymouth on January 6th, 1852, m the ship. Lord William Bentick, a well-known emigrant vessel. Mr and Mrs Wells, with their family ... lived at Mahgorei till the Taranaki war broke out, when they went to Nelson as refugees, the family returning to New Plymouth when peace was c stablisfred. Mrs Wells made several arduous voyages m her later years,, taking three trips to America. After the death of her husband m 1881 she accompanied her married daughter. Mrs McLean, to the ; States and lived m Washington territory for some " time. She once came over on a visit, but went back to the. States again. Finally she came back to New Zealand 1895 and here remained until her dea.th.

What kind of a cove is Sergeant Barrett who roams Christchurch streets with stately tread and makes the coppers earn their bread. He is a martinet and seeme to revel m the

role. Yet there was a. time when strictness wasn't a virtue with him ; a time when he didn't care a darn, and when he could go deep sea fishing m beer with the- best of 'em. But the scene has changed, and if a man is seen standing with his hands behind his back m the street he is at once peremptly reprimanded ; he must hold his hands so. Also, if, while on his beat, a man walks alongside him for a few yards and talks Barrett at once reports the peeler to the Inspector for "gossiping"—a terrible crime, truly. A constable can't shoo a man away because he catches up to. him and talks to him as they walk along the footpath. Can he biff him m the jaw and tell him that he is tempting him (the constable) to commit an offence against the regulations ? But what a small-minded person is this bully Barrett to report such a thing to the Inspector ;• and what kind of a top-dog authority is old. Mary Ann Gillies to listen to such venial faults, and encourage Sergeants to report to them ; and on top of all to waste his time reprimanding these "criminals" who say it's a fine day. to friends whom they meet on 4he street.. Gillies should really have more sense. The public don't know what coppers have to put up with at the hands of a fellow like Barrett, who is trying ;to wriggle himself up the ladder of promotion like a damned convex-bellied swamp eel. Barrett told a cop t'other day that he mustn't yabber on his beat ; the Sergeants could "do all the talking required. Quite so, and they apparently can do all the crawling too, .

Charles Edward FookeS, who died at Ashburton on Sunday, was an architect, surveyor and engineer/ 9I some tonnage. He came to Majpriland m '51 and settled near -Christ* church, subsequently engineering nianyj of the public works m Canterbury.* Later he shifted to Ashburton, gnd was associated with th^e. Road Bbsuji and afterwards the Borough. ' Council m • a professional capacity. He^ was engineer to. the Council at the 'time of w death. ; Deceased was greatljfi ridiculed when he undertook to engineer and carry out the first open water-race system m the county on behalf of the late Mr C. Reed, of WesterfieW, but his critics, sopft recognised the feasibility, and acK vantages of the scheme, and it was afterwards emulated by the ' County! Council.

J. A. McCulloug-h. the discharged workshop's man, is still m a violent state of ■ publicity at .Christ-church.-Mac wears the bump of continuity under his hat. and he talks seven, days a, week m various parts Of the Canterbury province. The public is getting tired of. the same old yarn, which is getting baggy at the knees, and wants ironing out, and more frills stitched on to it. The gentleman, who is out of work, was more perfervid than usual on Saturday night when he was presented with st purse of soys and a dressing; case, and a brooch for his fair lady. Incidental^ he expressed a hope that? the State workers would join some political organisation, for no ObYernment would grant desired reforms to their advantage until it was compelled. Incitement to open rebellion, this.

Noted that m the vasA majority ol cases very wealthy people, instead ot distributing .largesse. jcturing, their life time, hang on to their cash and allow it to accumulate, andj make ' a splash on their death-bed. The late Allan McLean, who died at Christchurch, left over half a million. Ho belonged to sturdy stock and x lasted until v.r was 86. His big mansion m Manchester-street North,- next the Catholic Church, is one of the sights of the city, and many took .it for a huge, beautifully built convent.' On* of the main features of his will is the provision made for reduced gentlewomen and their children, i? any. It is indeed pathetic to see. A paupered lady, reduced to impecuniosit^ trying to battle for a crust, and must have realised it. His big . mansion is set apart as A home for these needy women, and a handsome home it will make. He leaves a third of his" fortune m all for their keep, and a strong Board, composed of all sorts of people, is appointed to manage the institution.; which is something new m Maoriland. The testator has defined whaU a * gentlewoman . is— rather an invidious task. In two words he has properly styled her a "reduced aristocrat." At any rate she is to be well Ib.oked after. But women of the low-: er strata, and their children under; ten, are to be afforded relief also at the discretion of the Board: The relatives of the deceased drop in '. ibc the remainder of the money, and it is understood that a certain young girl now living m Chris|churclr" will come under that category. '

The "Grey River Argus" has ths following concerning the death o£ John Donnellan, sou of Mr PatrickDonnellan. of Nelson Creek, the. said! death taking place at Klondyke, three: years ago :— Deceased left Nelson Creek for Klondyke some $welve years ago, and went into partnership with a Mr Monkham," a residenti of Christchurch, m a mining claim.They were doing very well when i^in Donnellan was killed m the shafty The two men were like brothers, and the sudden death of Mr Donriel* lan was a great blow^. to his mate--He was determined that he would not leave his mate behind when he left for New 'Zealand, and got the body embalmed. Mr Monkham, had decided to leave Klondyke as soon as the claim was worked out, expecting that it would take twelve months, but the claim- had a longer life, and it is now close on three years. Mr Monkham wrote to the relatives of. deceased telling them what he intended doing, and last week they received a cable from Sydney notifying Mr Monkham 's arrival. Mr ►Patrick Donnellan at once proceeded to -Wellington and yesterday .Me Monkham with the corpse arrived m the Empire . City. A telegram - k received by Mr Noonan yesterday from Mr Donnellan stated that the corpse was- m a good state of preservation,, and he had got a medical certificates allowing him to have it taken anywhere. The corpse will be brought to Greymouth by the Arahura on Monday, and will be interred m. the Greymouth cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Monkman, ., whose thoughtful action m getting the body embalmed and his "loyalty to his mate not to leave his dead body m a foreign land, is worthy of the greatest praise. Mr TVlonkman will arrive from Christchurch on Tuesday morning so as to be present at thtf funeral*