The Observer.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 48, 13 August 1881, Page 544

The Observer.

Saturday, August 13th, 1881. The fate that has overtaken the proprietor and editor of the Christclmrcli Liberty is creditable neither to the victims nor to the brutal larrikins who assaulted them. We have, however, foreseen for some time past that there would be a big row at the Liberty office before long. In a reckless desire to make his journal piquant, the Hebraic editor has cast aside all restraint, and deliberately facing a serious risk, allowed his paper to become a wholesale chrouiquescandale use of the paltriest description. "Oh, says some one, "here is the pot calling the kettle black." Not at all, dear readers, not at all. We plead guilty to many offences, and frankly admit that in the days of the Observer's youth Aye did things that should not have been done, and published several things which should not have been published. Those ■who know the Christchurch Liberty arc, however, well aware that we never, at our worst, went the lengths it has done ; indeed we should have been reduced to pulp long ago if we had. It will perhaps be remembered that when Mr Sidney Landeshut was allowed to leave Auckland and advanced a little money for travelling purposes we took from him his jewellry and a 500 dollar draft said to be drawn by a Mr Dewey on a well-known furnishing house in Omaha, Nebraska. None of us expected the draft to turn out good, though Landeshut swore most solemnly it was all right and stuck to this assertion even when to tell the truth could have done him no harm Avhatever. We, in due coxirse, forwarded the draft for collection, and this morning received a telegram to the effect that it ts a forgery. Our object in publishing this fact is not to give another instance "of how completely we were duped but as a warning to a number of people down South, many of Avhom have absolutely persisted in believing in Landeshut despite appearances and — experiences I + — . By-the-way, we hear Landeshut has been having fine times in Wellington and Duneclin, and made quite a host of friends by dint of talking freely of his attached acquaintances, Messrs M., L., and C, of Auckland. He has now been "travelling on the best" in America and Australia for over five years, and it is about time he was "nipped." We can't arrest him over this forgery- business because the news only comes by telegram, but the arrival of affidavits by the mail will put matters on a different footing. Therefore look out, Sid, my boy, for we shall show you no mercy. « — Before the scandal in connection with a Protestant clergyman has been finally disposed of, another case is reported, which is in some

respects worse than the former. The delinquent in this instance, is a Roman Catholic priest who was stationed at S. The woman on whom lie cast his amorous glances was Miss A., the teacher of the Roman Catholic school in connection with his church. They were naturally brought a good deal into contact, and after some time their intimacy became the subject of common scandal. More careful of their priest's reputation than he himself was, some of the laymen held a private meeting, and as the result of their deliberation made such representations to the higher authorities of their Church that the priest was removed to T. Some time afterwards a resident of S. paid a visit to T., and walking along one of the streets with a friend he was astonished to meet Miss A. In order to assure himself that he was not mistaken, he asked his friend who the lady was whom they had just met. "That," was the reply, " is Miss A., the teacher of the Roman Catholic school here." Seeing that the breath of scandal had joined together the names of the priest and Miss A. while they were living at>S., why in the name of common sense, vto say nothing about religion, was she allowed to follow him to T. ?

It may not be generally known that during the last two or three years New Zealand and Australian theatre-goers have had a member of the English nobility appearing; before them in the person of Mrs Morton Tavares, the specialty actress. This lady is a niece of the Marchioness of Nornianby, and Lady Mount Edgcumbe ; and the train of events which led to her appearing on the boards of the Colonial stage might be woven into a nice little romance. With the bluest of Normou blood in her veins, it is not to be wondered at that her augnst relatives took every care that the young lady's affections should not be set on an unworthy object, and at the age of seventeen, in all the glory of youthful loveliness, her corps of preceptors was composed of the plainest-looking pedagogues that could be found between John O' Groats and Land's End. Her French master was Morton Tavares, whose great ugliness, together "with his skill as a teacher of the true Paris accent, were his only recommendation. Strange to say the youthful pupil, with the strange perversity of her sex, fell in love "with the tutor ; they eloped, and the strangely -assorted couple were made one flesh. The aristocratic relatives of the young wife at once disowned her on account of the mesalliance, and Morton and his bride were thrown on their own resources. After wandering about for .some years, very often feeling the pinch of poverty, they found themselves in Queensland, of which Colony the Marquis of Nonnanby had recently been appointed Governor. The Marchioness, hearing that her wayward niece was residing in Brisbane, speedily held out the olive branch of peace, and Tavares and his wife were constant visitors at Government House. We are at a loss to know the immediate cause of their taking to the stage, but it Avas during their residence in Queensland that they became devotees of the Thespian art. They became very popular caterers of amusement to the public, though very few, if any, of their many auditors ever knew their romantic history. Mr and Mrs Tavares, we may add, were frequent visitors at Government House, Wellington, during a portion of the Marquis of Nonnanby's stay in New Zealand.

A curious story reaches us from Sydney through the medium of a gentleman just arrived "from that city. Our informant does not vouch for the accuracy of the narrative, and simply gives it as it was related to him. If the yarn be true, it may account for Earl Clanwilliam's recent illness. That nobleman, says this gossip, has a skeleton in his cupboard, in the form of a divorced wife, who has been separated from him for some years. All our readers are doubtless acquainted with the history of the supposed piratical cruiser, the Ferret, recently seized by the Victorian authorities in Hobson's Bay ; and they may remember that Henderson, the captain of the suspicious vessel, was accompanied by his wife. This lady, so the story goes, turns out to be the unfaithful consort of the noble commander of the Detached Squadron, whose indisposition was caused by an unexpected meeting with the ■woman who once shaved bis name and honours. Truth is stranger than fiction, and even should the story turn out to be only au emanation from the fertile brain of some guileless cornstalk, there is enough romance in it and its surroundings to enable a writer of the Ouida or Wilkie Collins type to build a commodious three-volume novel from its details.

One would have thought that, after the • various unsavoury scandals with which the name of the Liliputian "Pinafore" Company 1 has unfortunately been connected, Mr Pollard would have sacrificed a good deal rather than

give the public further cause for gossip. This, however, cannot be the case, else why do we find him mixed up with a person of little Vaughan's calibre in a contemptible, and worse still, an abortive and most foolish attempt to do an injury to his late partner, Mr Walter Keynolds. Of course we know, and the j>ublic knows also, that Mr Pollard imagines (quite mistakenly, as it happens) he has been illtreated by Mr Reynolds. Admitting, however, that this was a fact .and not a fancy, his attempted revenge was an absurdly childish one, and in its result has proved a feather in Mr Reynolds' cap and a slur on his own reputation. No doubt little Vaughan was the principal culprit concerned, and Mr Pollard is to some extent punished formixinghimself up with such a paltry busy-body. The fact seems to be that Vaughan had a grudge against Reynolds for opining that he was not a proper person to associate with the "Pinafore" children, and this business of the 9s 6d change appeared to otter a favourable o])---portunity for paying it off. All might have gone well if Messrs Pollard and Vaughan had not been overheard arranging the scheme by a person with more tongue than discretion. Mr Reynolds got wind of it, and the conspirators Avere cleverly euchred.

If Mr Pollard does not wish to scatter the reputation of his troupe, for prudence and circumspection, to the winds, he will be more careful how he allows every Dick, Tom, and Harry, who may have a penchant for the little "Pinafores," to associate with them. We are perfectly aware that, prior to the existing intimacy, Mr Vaughan was turned off the stage and rebutted in a number of Avays that would have completely annihilated a less obtrusive personage. It is, however, just these very creatures who force themselves into all sorts of places, where they have no business, without invitation, and are impervious to hints that ■would suffice for better bred men, who should be promptly shown the door. Not only are they utterly destitute of sense and injure the children by gifts of Brummagem finery, and flattery of the most fulsome and injudicious character, but they absolutely prevent persons who do possess some social status from taking a friendly interest in the troupe. A man does not care to run against his grocer or his milkman when he goes out, and, strange though it may seem, there are some people so absurdly fastidious as to not to care about being brought in contact with Mr Percy Vaughan, save for business purposes. We have nothing to say against or about Mr Vaughan as Mr Vaughan", indeed, but for his marplot interference with a matter in no way concerning him, we should never have mentioned the fellow. Facts, however, speak for themselves. When the " Pinafore " Company came here first several families belonging to "currant jellyism " were favourably impressed with the children, and showed them hospitality. Where are these friends now ? Why, gone, alienated. They couldn't stand the rows, and the gossip, and the scandal. Moreover, as things have been here, «o they will be everywhere else unless anew and a healthier regime is adopted. It is no use preventing the children going out with ladies or gentlemen for fear they "should be pumped." "There ought to be nothing to pump. If (as we said before) the public once suspect that there are phases in the Pollard management which will not bear the light of day, the company must inevitably go to pieces. This has been evident enough during the past few days, for, though the " Cloches de Corneville " is an unquestionable success, many people won't give it their patronage. Without doubt the prestige of the troupe has been seriously injured, and only the greatest care and a determined resolve on the part of Mr Pollard, sen., to be frank, generous, and above-board, can repair the damage.

By-the-bye, we see that a contemporary gives currency to the mis-statement that Walter Keynolds, in the course of the arbitration with Poilard, said he would ruin th«» "Pinafore" troupe through the press, which he had under his thumb. This is quite untrue. Keynolds is naturally a conceited man and probably thinks lie has a" lot more influence with the newspapers than he in reality possesses. He is, however, not an ass, and would never think of cutting his throat by making such an insane assertion in the presence of a reporter. We were there at the time, and what Reynolds, who was temporarily driven clean oiit of temper by Pollard's stubborn refusal to listen to any reasonable terms did say Avas this, "Well, there'll be no "Pinafore" Company a month hence. I shall make public all I know and squash you" Then one of the arbitrators added, "Understand Mr Pollard you can't blame Mr Keynolds for whatever course lie takes now. He has made several reasonable propositions and you won't listen to any of them." On this Mr Pollard changed his tone, and in ten minutes an arrangement had been come to.

To the Editor : Sir,— Since a person signing himself "H. C. Brook, A. A.," has had the rashness to reply to my first •' highly improper" letter, I feel constrained to write another and still more "improper" one. I charge him with uttering a deliberate falsehood. He has many times stated definitely that he is an A. A. of Cambridge, he has said so more than once in

my hearing; and now being forced into a corner, lie publicly contradicts himself, throws over Cambridge, and swears by Oxford. The assertion that none but prodigies can succeed in passing the A. A. examination before attaining the age of 20 years, is simply unmitigated bosh, a childish and ridiculous attempt to magnify the importance of the distinction. A person intimately known to myself passed the examination in question at the age of 16, and gained second-class honours in English language and literature. , The matter in dispute, viz., whether " H. C. Brook" is entitled to put the two letters A. A. after his name or not, can be easily settled. He has merely to produce his certificate^ and get some trustworthy person to publicly state that he has examined it and is satisfied as to its genuineness. The certificate is an oblong piece of parchment about 10 inches by Bi, on the face of which is distinctly set forth that the Oxford Senior local examination has been passed by the holder and that he is thereby admitted an Associate in Arts. On the back is a detailed list of the subjects in which the candidate succeeded; and the whole is subscribed to by one of the Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford. If "H. C. Brook" will not produce such a document it is because he cannot, having assumed a title to which he has no right whatever. My sole purpose in thus addressing you, Mr Editor, is to expose what may be an impudent fraud. —l am, &c, Vigilans.

We have been informed by several persons from the Thames of the circumstances which led to the recent prosecutions against the local brewers, Messrs Ehrenfreid Bros, and Messrs Brown and Campbell. The different stories differ slightly in detail, but the following may be taken as a substantially correct account : — Some time ago the first-mentioned firm gave an increase of "wages to a young man in their employ named Joseph Jennings, but subsequently saw fit to reduce it. Jennings made some strongly -Avorded objections, and was in consequence clothed with the garment yclept "the sack." Out of revenge he informed the Collector of Customs, Mr E. F. Tizard, that his erstwhile employers had been in the habit of defrauding the revenue by using over and over again beer duty stamps, and on an investigation being made at several publichouses, it was found that the accusation was a true bill. A very large section of the Thames people regard Jennings' action as mean and contemptible in the last degree, Mr Louis Ehrenfriecl having always treated his recalcitrant employe\?it\\ an almost paternal solicitude. Jennings is a member of the Naval Brigade, and when the part he had acted became known, there was a generally-expressed wish that he should be requested to leave the company.

We entirely dissagree with tlie Herald's flatulent leader, pitching" into the lieeeption Committee for not worrying the Squadron to come on here after all. Such a procedure would not only have been most undignified on the Mayor's part, but might have made us the laughing stock of England. People should remember that Auckland, in the eyes of the outside world, is "very small potatoes," and the idea of our thinking our desires sufficiently important to overset the plans of the Imperial Government would seem intensely funny to the good people at Home. It is not New Zealand, bear in mind, that the Princes are ignoring, but simply Auckland, and dispassionate outsiders will probably be of opinion that as the Squadron could not call at Wellington and Lyttleton it is just as well it didn't come to Auckland.

"Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest." This proverb was fairly well exempliHeel at the departure of the good ship Halcione. A large majority of the saloon passengers by that vessel had their passages Home paid for by subscription. Surely nothing could be move indicative of the open-hearted generosity of this community, and also of their super-abundance of the needful, than the fact that we introduce people to our shores free of all expense, give them a hearty welcome, and then if they wish to return supply them with saloon passages Home again. Of course, so many more come than go, that we cannot afford to pay saloon passages out. But there are at the present moment so many doleful accounts being sent Home from this colony re hard times, inability to get employment, etc., that we think too much cannot be made of the fact that we give a hearty welcome to the coming and at the same time treat right royally the partingguest.

The only answer we have received to oifr queries about the City East School is contained in the folloAving note from the Great Bashaw in command :— " Mr Worthington requests Mr JPulford to withdraw his advertisement from the columns of the Observer and to send his account." Need we say that on the receipt of this missive Mr Pulford was, with difficulty, prevented from putting up the shutters.

Here is an item about our friend barber North, the Wellington levanfer. The 'Frisco Neios Letter says : "A distinguished looking gentleman walked into the Health Office recently carrying an ulster, a valise, a pet dog, two iimbrellas and the smallpox. He was magnificently dressed in the best baggy English style and the pink of perfection down to his watch chain, studs and liat-bottomed shoes. ' I believe there's some awfully beastly thing the matter with me, by Jove,' he remarked, 'and the fellows at my hotel told me, ye know, to come here and inquire about it.' Mr Hoesch (the Health Officer) bowed very low, for he felt he was in the presence of a true British swell. 'Pardon me, my Lord,' he said, ' Excuse me, your Grace, but it is my sad duty to inform you that you are suffering from small pox. I will telephone for the ambulance, my Lord, at once.' With many apologies for the scanty accommodations, his Lordship was put into the outhouse until the ambulance came, and remarking to Hoesch that he was 'wather a jolly fort of fellow,' he entered it, Mr Hoesch assuring him that his valet and effects would be sent out to him from the Palace Hotel. But it was rather annoying next day to find out that the illustrious personage was a New Zealand barber (who nad left the Colony rather precipitately with £4000 of other people's money in his pocket), and that having the disease very slightly he was engaged in shaving all the other patients at two bits a head. A fact."

A correspondent, referring to the case of Isabella Miller v. Reynolds, (in Avhich the plaintift" claimed 9s 6d, the amount alleged to have been overpaid for admittance at the Theatre), asks Avhat is the meaning of the Avord " champerty," used by Mr Reynolds in reference to the statement of Vaughan, that he had brought the action on behalf of Miss Miller "out of pure disinterestedness." Champerty is the legal name for a species of maintenance, punishable in the common courts, and is a bargain, with a plaintiff or defendant to share the land, debt, or other matter in dispute, if they prevail at laAv ; Avhereupon the champertor is to carry on the party's suit at his OAvn cost. Qhamperty, in short, means a ''sham party," and is a most appropriate term Avhen applied to little Vaughan.

Charlie McMurdo, as some of our readers are possibly aware, has discovered that his duty at present lies in Sydney, and gone over there to assist the overworked medicos of that city in stamping out that dread malady, the small-pox. The whole population of New South Wales, so McMurdo says, must be vaccinated ; and he thinks that with a good lancet and a fair supply of lymph, lie will be able to "knock spots" oft' the local meds. In addition to this, however, McMurdo thought he saw a golden opportunity of advancing the cause of New Zealand in general, and of Mahurangi (the field of his medical labours and triumphs) in particular, in the Sydney market, so lie took with him as part of his luggage half-a-dozen kegs of prime Mahurangi butter to astonish the Sydney natives, and be the means of opening up direct communication between the capital of New South Wales and the capital of Rodney. Mac felt quite convinced that when the Sydneyites had once tasted his butter, an appetite would be created which Avould eventually cause Mahurangi to be the centre of a large export trade. The > kegs, carefully addressed Avith Dr's name and his destination, created on boai'd the Sydney steamer some little curiosity, and many Avere the surmises made and bets laid as to their contents. At length some one, Avhose inquisitiA r eness had gained complete mastery over him, ventured to pump the gallant Mac. as to the contents of this portion of his luggage. " Oh," said Mac, " I suppose you knoAv I have been sent for by the NeAv South Wales Government to vaccinate the people of that colony, and, as I always like to be sure of the tools I am using, I am taking over my oAvn lymph. Those six kegs contain lymph."

There is a certain table in Mr Waters' Dining Room which is known to the regular habitues as " Theological Hall," because it is the favourite seat of several of our local professors of theology, shining lights, and pillars of the clnn-ch. The other day there were assembled at this table Messrs. Carr, Coombes, Ewington, and Waymouth, and they were engaged in awann controversy on the subject of the Trinity. Prom the diversity of creeds represented by the disputants it is needless to say that much difference of opinion prevailed. At length the erudite and eloquent Carr undertook to explain the mystery, so as to render it perfectly plain j but when he had talked for half an hour he had not quite succeeded in making the matter quite clear to Mr Waymouth.

What a curious notion some people have of the instincts and attributes of a gentleman. Mr Shrim(p)ski, the honourable and diminutive member for Oamaru, took offence at Speight's epigramatic but not very original remark that he was "as diminutive in mind as he was in body." Speight thereupon offered an apology which Shrimski requested him not to make for the astounding reason, as he said " that only a gentleman will insult me. " We have heard the saying, " a gentleman will not insult me, none other ccwi," which is perhaps what Shrimski was driving at, but "only a gentleman will insult me" shows a remarkably foggy idea in the honourable member's mind as to the course or conduct of a gentleman.