PERSONAL PARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 135, 18 January 1908, Page 1

PERSONAL PARS.

Sir John Madden, Chief Justice of Victoria, will scarcely feel flattered at being reduced m status by the "Free Lance." "Judge Madden" forsooth. The genial Knight might feel inclined to sue for libel. j »x. * ■ A political tip down South, fs that Tom Mackenzie, who has ratted on the Masseyites and joined Joe Ward's boodle brigade, is to be New Zealand's next High Commissioner m London. Tom apparently didn't rat for the sake of ratting. * * » New Zealand's heaviest man is Angus Cameron, retired butcher of Turakina. Angus is 32st 121 b weight, and is 6ft sim high. His health is of the best, but it is doubtful if he can do a hundred yards m evens. Anyhow, he's sj jolly chap, ,£nd "Truth" .doubts if there is any "one he can give weight to m the Dominnion. . . a * _•-* They say that Bay of Plenty Herries, Jimmie Carr oil, Tom Wilford, Allen, M.P., and Major Pitt of Gisborne, eclipsed themselves at Rotorua on a recent Sunday by singing "iLcadj kimdly light!" at Parson Bennett's sacred service. The casual looker-on says they seemed as though they had lost their souls m the duty. at * * Bill Lee, alias Baron Plunket, and, by some act of Providence, New Zealand's Governor, is at Ngongataha, trout-fishing. At anyrate, he was there, and it was expected of him while out there to live in* a saloon railway carriage, which was to ifc/o side-tracked for him. Why doesn't' he camp out m thorough style ? Perhaps the mosquitoes are strong on blue blood. Mr Nelspn Ilhhgworth has an- interesting study m hand just now— an ancient Maori lady from the King Country. The old wahine is ' said to be nearing tljfe century, arid without flattery We must say she looks it. iShe is a splendid type of the race all the same and the authorities have done well m commissioning Mr Illingworth to perpetuate her features m marble. * » * Gilbert P. Hoskins, treasurer of the Fuller Circuit, and recent manager at the Dunedin end, goes, or is gone, on a well-earned six weeks' holiday. Gil. P. is likely to spend a few months m Wellington when John Fuller, senr., goes globe-trotting. Ben will probably take a managerial hand m Auckland for a (While. Anyhow, good luck and ' an enjoyable holiday to Gilbert P. Hoskins. * * , i* The New Zealand "Free Uance" is. distinctly unkind to Mr Jack Barr,. who has just paid a hurried visit to. Wellington. Jack was under the impression when he gripped ' us by the :■ hand, that he was a member of the"Sydney Daily Telegraph staff," but he must be surprised to find that he is mistaken. "Free Lance" says Jack is on the "Herald" staff, and, of course, "Free Lance" knows. **■ ' ■ Ex-Federal Labor Leader Watson is still receiving considerable of the limelight of publicity, his future intentions being the source of much spe- ' culation. According! to one authority j the "Australian Star," an evening daily m Sydney, has been purchased by the proprietors of the "Bulletin," who intend to run • it as a. morning daily. The same journal states that Mir Watson, the ex-Labor leader j will edit the new venture. Mr Watson was at one time a compositor on the "Star." * • ■ » "Dick" Stewart, J. C. Williamson's popular representative, has his classic features on exhibition m Wright M'Gregor's show-rooms. This doesn't mean that Dick has turned himself into a side-show or anything of that sort, but just a high relief modelled by Mr Nelson Illingworth. is on view there. It is a splendid likeness, and does the artist credit. Mr Stewart's friends all congratulated him upon the possession of the work. A study, "Lillith," and a bust of Lady Ward, by M,r Illingworth, are also on view. * * * _. Mcßobie, manager of the "N.Z. Times," .is said to have emerged successfully after a sqpabjile with Canny Carncross, Chairman of Directors. M,cßobie, it appears, wanted things to his liking and not as Carncross would have 'em, hence the "bust-up." Carncross is a medler, but all the same there are some who have it that he will yet succeed m working Mcßobie out. Not alone *is the squabbling confined to the commercial side ofthe concern. The' subs have lately bucked up against Grev-' : ille Smith, leader writer. Kirby resigned m haste and hot temper, but was prevailed upon to withdraw his resignation. Things are not goirtg'too smoothly, it appears, and a big flareup all round is expected any day. ■Anyhow, let's all be cheerful*

Ghrisrtoburch City Mjissioner Turiw er is being asked to do more work— visit the hospital patients on behalf of the Methodist wowsers. Poor devils ».,-.. * » . During the holidays the Governor (haw), Colonel Tuson (haw), and other members of the Vice-regal party (haw), fished at Tarawera fon two days ('haw), and caught nothing (haw). * * * Microbe Freeth, so it is alleged, intends to start a new daily paper at Hastings. Poor Hastings. Anyhow, it was at Hastings that Harold came to grief, and it's up to a William the Conqueror' to wipe out the insignificant insect Freeth. a * « Stout, Chief Justice ; v Findlay, At-torney-General ; and Jackson' Palmer, Native Land Court . Judge, actually went fishing at.Rotorua on a Sunday and caught seven fish, six of which succumbefl to the rod of the reckless S Robert. There was nobody about to be scandalised. * * a Ministerial movements during the holidays : Timi Carroll" put m two days at Rotorua, astonishing the natives. McGowan inspected the stinks of the thermal region with a dour North of Ireland visage. Joll- Miller was seen one evening at Ngongataha hauling m an cleven-poun^er rainbo^v trout with a Durham ranker fly— beaming, sunburnt, and skinned, and with a bottle of whisky, m the stern of the boat. ** ; * Mr Charlie Cimino, whose smiling visage makes even fair weather sailors forget that such a thing as seasickness brings discomfort to man when he hands their tickets- across Messrs /Huddart Parker's Wellington counter, took on a voyage himself tho other day. It was a matrimonial barque /he set sail m, * and Miss Quirk formed the rest of the crew. If Charlie can continue to look as happy after marriage as he always did" before, then let it never be said that marriage ds a failure. And so mote it be. * * a John Fuller, sen., leaves for a world-tour next month. John, sen., first came out to Australia with the Pavilion Company (which opened at St. George's Hall, Melbourne). The eading artists m the Cd". were :— Jolly John Nash, Herr Renier (with his electric orchestra), and his daughter Lilian, the girl rifle shot, the "Two Mikes," Saddler Morton, and others. John Fuller for a long time was the reigning attraction with" Jos Billins' Victoria Hall (Melbourne )-\ show. Mr Fuller will do the Red?. Sea on the homeward swoop, and return through- America and Japan. Whilst away he will be on the look* .' out for attractions for his New Zealand vaudeville enterprises. * ..*.. a The death of Edward Hanlan, exchampion sculler, recalls an amusing incident m connection with his first visit to England. Hanlan was then on 1 the very brink of his great carr cciv and to his facial and physical appearance even -the rowing' men of England were strangers. It. so happened that on the morning after his arrival- m London, Hanlan strolled , down to the boat-sheds on : the j Thames, and became an interestod spectator of several amateur crews at practice. Then the funny thins* happened. One of the feur-oared; crews were a man short, anti, aftec waiting for some time for th*' laggard to put m an appearance, the remalmier of the crew wer._cred if they could pick up a substitute. They. didn't know Hanlan from "a sheet oS-.'.bin," tout as he was watching the proceedings intently, they concluded that he might know sometkins | about tne game, and accordingly aslcjed him if he would fill tke vacant j seat. : " * • | He told them he could "row a bit." arid that ho would do his best, and | with that they made a start. On the journey up tlie river they wonder|ed how "a mug" like the stronger managed to do so well ; but m the • run'back to the sheds they- p'ass*\i thfe wordyqwetly to have a lark with him and go for all they were worth. But the faster they went, the more ronifortable was Hanlan m 'comparison.: He -seemed to fairly pull the boat inside out. and by the time ther lynched the sheds he was the only fresK man df the crew. The other thrf»e were "all out," and, with the littles breath at his command, one nf the triplet ventured to ask the stranger x who he was, at the same time intimating that they might rive bim a place m the crew permarirnllv ; f he cared about it. "Mr name is Edward Hanlan." came the rnnW ":>ms I'm not thinking of hanging a'^oufc these pairts too Ion?, or I might ob?;.<re you." He chucklrd and wWmh! them a cheer* good morriin-c as.. ho left for breakfast, sarin*; that ho had hist come from Canada to ro—* Ned Trickett, and that, after all, h« didn't think he would be abln ir* ?x* ctov their offer.