SAVAGERY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 295, 7 September 1908, Page 8

SAVAGERY.

AN INVASION FROM THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH SAVAGE CLUB ENTERTAINED. Had that dissolute but brilliant rascal Richard Savago risen from tho mould on Saturday and taken in what was happening in Wellington, a spot occupying a site on the earth's crust about opposite where "Dick" used to confer honour on his friends by borrowing their money, he would hayo marvelled exceedingly at tho manner in which his namo has been jovially perpetuated. In some minds a Savage Club is so called because of an impression that things outre, unconventional, savage if you will, happen thereat, and oven tho clubs foster this idea by decorating 1 their club rooms with spears, clubs, skulls, shin-bones, and such trifles, as warranty of tho meaning of tho name. This would puzzle Richard Savage not a littlo after being told that tho Savage Club hero and in every other part of the English-speaking world is tho development of the little Bohemian club commenced by a few bright spirits in 1 London twenty-three years ago. After sparring a littlo for a name for their modest littlo club, Brough, tho actor, bethought him of that blitho soul Richard Savago and his bright associates, and so it became tho Savage Club. The object of the existence of tho London Savago Club is set down as "the association of gen-, tlemen connected with art, science, literature, music, and tho drama." Hero tho objccts aye the association of gentlemen connected with anything who are prepared to amuse, ontortain, or instruct without much restriction as to mattej or manner. The Wellington Savago Club has only been established four years, yet it is already an influential factor in tho social scale as far as men are concerned. Not content with inclusive entertaining the Savago Clubs of Now Zealand are seeking successfully to establish a freemasonary throughout tho Dominion. This began modestly during tho season of 1906, when tho Christchurch club sent a delegation to Wellington to entertain and bo entertained. The Wellington club responded last year, and on Saturday between twenty and thirty of the Christchurch club wero in Wellington in answer to a warm invitation.

At Somes Island. The Savages do not do anything by halves. The visitors were lunched'at tho Grand Hotel,, where Savages Beveridgo and Horn did them' all honour gastronomically possible. After luncheon the party, headed by Mr. Alpers (vice-president) and the veteran secretary (Mr. G. I'. Williams), and accompanied by tho local committee, went for a trip round tho. harbour in the Government packet Janio Seddon (Captain Fraser). After absorbing tho scenic, beauties of the coalhulks, tho destructor, and the boat harbour, tho littlo steamer dashed for Somes Island. On arrival thero tho Savages wei» met by the entire population— Mr. Aitchoson, ,thrce labourers, : and a black hen. Tho keeper, who is also caretaker of the Quarantine Hospital (whoso only occupants 'at present are a couplo of dogs), is a standing advertisement for tho island as a site for a sanatorium. His silver hair and board are unconsidered trifles beside the ruddy health that radiates from his person. Ho espied a friend in Colonel Collins, and tho two led tho way up tho steep hill path, which ono puffing stranger remarked was "so different from Cathedral Square." After a look round tho hospital buildings—vast barracks in an admirable state of preservation, dospito their age—tho lighthouse was visited and inspected—five at a time. Below the brilliant eye that looks every entering vessel straight in the faco and tells him precisely when ho is in or out of tho lino of safety is tho Tough landing-place", a rocky littlo bay with a bad bottom that would mako an admirable cot for tho first act of "Pirates of Penzance." Thero in calm weather. stores 1 aro landed and dragged un tho. l liill by a windlass. One of the geologicallyinclined drew attention to" tho peculiar lay of the strata in the rocks above tho littlo bay, and wandered into the mist of tilings when Wellington Harbour was a huge volcano—until pullod to earth by an irreverent person' who suggested that the hockey girls at Day's Bay were moro interesting than geological apostrophes. Day's Bay—Hockey Girls. Girls 1 It acted like magic. Tho party strung back to the steamer, and tho order was given to proceed quietly at twenty knots an hour to Day's Bay. Arrived there, the Bay was found to be alive with rushing bits of colour in mad pursuit tho unattainable. They wero tho hockey girls. An action between Canterbury and Wellington girls was discovered in tho middle distance. The Christchurch visitors became thrilled with excitement as the Southern girls showed the local product how the game should bo played, and they had to bo dragged a\vay to catcl) tho littlo steamer, which was snorting disapproval of the whole busiiiess. When ,sho got to sea it was found that ono well-

known savage was missing. Tho ship was searched from stom to stern, from tho main truck to the chart room, without result. Then' somoono remembered having seen him arguing over a fino .point in hockey with someone who actually did know something about the game. Tho passage trans-harbour was eventless, but for the frequent consultations necessary to keep tho vessel on her proper course. The Korero. Tho visitors were entertained at dinner at tho Grand Hotel, and afterwards drifted to the Masonic Hall —the homo of local savagery. After formally welcoming tho visitors, Chief Savage Easterfield called Savago Alpers to invest his Excellency the Governor with the insignia of oflico .as chief for the Lord Plunket being at present the president of the Christchurcli Club. The Christchurch clubmen brought their own orchestra, which opened the proceedings brightly with an overture by Herman,, played with fine verve and precision under tiie baton of Mr. Bunz, who seems to havo the power of infusing into tho performers .his own enthusiasm. Later on a selection entitled

" A Day in Naples " was played. This concludes with a lively tarantella which set tho blood tingling, and which was .worked up to its climax with tho keenest appreciation of tho spirit of tho dance. His Excellency had intimated previously that to shout for encores meant death from his handily-placed boomerang. Many risked their lives in oncoring Mr. Bunz's excellent band, and tho tarantella was repeated. Savage Plunket told a funny Irish story descriptive of a horse-coper's "persuasions" to sell a "lapper" to a young and inexperienced cavalry officer. The Christchurch people aro full of' resourco. The next item was a song (published), which had been composed by ono olio of the visitors (Mr. R. Horno), entitled " With the Tido," a ballad of tho popular order that was given an orchestral accompaniment and an acceptablo interpretation by Mr. C. Rcid. Mr. T. Cano delivered a rhymed oration on tho dullness of things political and general, aud the urgent need of the cultivation of a ■ national humour. The ideal Savage Club premises were as gently outlined by Mr. Mummings, who lias original ideas in lino as well as in architecture. Mr. E. Buchanan quickly established himself as a violinist who counts. To a full, oven tono of fiuo quality is added tho sympathy born of the possession of what some aro pleased to call soul. The Christchurch Club has a bright lyrist in Mr.|G. P. Williams, who built up some bright verse on a ono pound note. Mr. Cropp, a bass singer of splendid capacity, made a hit in a,very fine song "Tho Windmill," and Mr. AVebb gavo a highly interesting exposition of colour photography, which was a revelation to many present. So far tho process —tho invention of M. Lumiere—has only reached tho stago of photography on glass, but doubtless somo clever experinionter will ono day discover a means of transferring it to paper. Mr. Johannes Anderson (who wrote tho opening odo for tho New Zealand Exhibition) asked for rhymed terminal words, to which ho adroitly fitted lines that made up quite passable verso. Mr. Schwartz lifted up a light tonor in song, and Mr. Bonnington played an oboe solo. This attractivo programme was brought to a close with somo stories told by Mr. Alpers of his own and tho late Sir Honry Irving's acting days. Then there wero thanks and counter-thanks, cheers and countor-chcers, and tho gathering dispersed via a giant bowl of hot punch, browed from a recipe of Savage G. P. Willians by Savago Killick ,and enjoyed by all. Tho visitors thoroughly appreciated tho attention received at tho hands of tho committee and its energetic secretary (Mr. J. Dyke).