ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 49, 8 June 1901, Page 3

ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE

COUNCILLOR IZARD'S gibe at the seven - tailors -of - Tooleystreet Ratepayers' Association waa much enjoyed in town last week. And then its president (Harry Hurrell) caused more enjoyment by issuing a threat to the Councillor to "mind what he was about." Why, what does C. H. I. care? — he has just been elected for two years, and he does not seem to think he owes the Seven Tailors anything ' Who are the Seven, anyway? Well, first, there is President Hurrell, who rarely, of late, happens along to the meetings in time to occupy the chair. Then, there was Vice-Pre* sident Higginbottom, who resigned because he found the Association was too fast, or too slow, or not "class" enough for him. Secretary McAlpine, its scribe, who gets terribly puzzled over the "dreadful fists" of some of the Association's correspondents, is the patriotic citizen who has stated that he had, until the other day, never attended a meeting of the City Fathers, whose actions he has so often fiercely denounced. * * * Lately, "Bob" Bannister, of the "Times," became an active member, and revivified the body, and about the same time Mr. Atack, of the Press Association, also, to the astonishment of not a few citizens, joined the Committee of Management. He has a desire to be up and doing, and shows a great disposition to attack the Corporation energetically, but he must be gifted with patience to sit under the "Retrogrades." Other moving spirits in the Association are "Saundy" Wilson, the faither o' Newtown," whose longwindedness is almost proverbial, "Bob" Davenport, who hankers after a seat in the Council ; Mr. Arnold, the well-knovyn wicker - work manufacturer, of Willisstreet , and a few others not so well known to fame. The Association has found it difficult to score a double - figure attendance at its meetings since the elections, and yet, at a recent meeting, a proposition was seriously brought down that branches should be established in different parts of the city l Well might Councillor Izard a&k, "Who arc the Ratepayers' Association ?" * * + Mr. George Laurenson, the member for Lyttelton, was explaining to the electors down there the other night the Act requiring the ingredients of patent medicines to be stated on the covers, when someone asked. "What about sausages ?" And the member lifted the inevitable glass of water, took a big mouthful, and then went on to something else. He was beaten. It was a phase of the matter he had quite overlooked. * * * Mr. Branigan, who ha& so enthusiastically aroused interest in the movement for securing a steam fire-engine for Kilbirnie, was well known in Nowiown before he moved his> household goods over the hill to Kilbirnie. And this energetic little plumber was for years frequently seen pedalling for dear life on his bike en route for some fire or other during the days in which he was a member of the city Fire Brigade. The Lance has no hesitation in congratulating him as the captain-to-be of the Kilbirnie Fire Brigade, and he will kill burning flames all right when he gets his steamer.

The rumour is being passed round in privileged circles that news has come from the "other side" to the effect that Princess May was somewhat wroth when she was informed that a number of Wellington ladies were depending upon her graciousness to open a bazaar during her visit to New Zealand. Her .immediate reply, so the story goes, was short and sharp — "Indeed, no; I have not been to a bazaar since I was a girl !" Now, it may be this story is only a canard — but. if it is not, it will hit those enterprising promoters very hard. * * * Perhaps, they were a bit too previous in announcing that they would charge half a sovereign per head to see a couple of visitors who, in the orderly procession of events, will be a pair of sovereigns themselves. Anyway, Princess May has always had an aversion to bazaars — probably because, as a girl, she had not the spare cash with which to patronise them — and the promoters of the Home for Incurables did not think of Royal visitors having predilections! For the sake of the cause that lacks assistance, it is to be hoped that Her Royal Highness, being a woman, will keep up the reputation of the sex, and change her mind. * • ♦ Not a few New Zealanders want to know why the Commandant of our Forces has made such a lengthy stay in Australia, whilst there has been so much detail work to be done with regard to the military part of our own preparations for the coming of the Duke and Duchess. Some folks say that the Commandant went over in the expectation of winning by social conquest coveted initials to his name, which, our own soldiers have won on the battlefields of South Africa. Others, again, declare that our Commandant, whose term expires in October next, is seeking an appointment under the Federal flag. Surely, he is not after the Cqmmonwealth Commandantship. * * * Major-General R. Pole-Qarew, C.8., by the way, is mentioned as >$ie favourite for the big Federal post. sHe would be a decided acquisition, for he .is up-to-date in his methods, and modern in his ideas. He also has had South African experience, is not a feather-bed soldier, and knows the usefulness of colonial troops. He commanded a brigade under LieutenantGeneral Lord Methven until, in April of last year, Lord Roberts gave him a division of his own. With .this division he did good work at the battle of Diamond Hill, and during the subsequent advance to Komatipoort. * ♦ # One of the unfortunate victims of the Hawker-street fire, last week, was Mr. Gifford, M.A., of the Wellington College teaching staff. It was only the other day that he married Miss Jones, daughter of the Hon. George Jones, M.L.C., and the young couple had just settled down, after their Honeymoon, when the fire fiend came along, and swept away their new home. All their furniture and a valuable library of course went up in smoke, but we learn that a piano and a number of wedding presents that were expected from Oamaru did not arrive in time to suffer destruction, owing to the delay of the steamer. * -* * Mr. Herbert R. Dix, local manager of the Star Cycle Company, is another newly-installed benedict whom the fire burnt out of house and home. He was only recently married to Miss Coupland, formerly on the nursing staff of the Wellington Hospital, and, owing to pressure of business, his honeymoon tour had been deferred. In the meantime a very pretty home had been furnished, but was very inadequately insured. That very day the insurance was to have been increased, but these fires wait for no man, and all the dainty and choice wedding presents, and all the new and attractive furniture of a tasteful and well-ordered home have been wiped out of existence.

Changes have taken place lately in the management of the affairs of the Wellington Employers' Association. The new president is Mr. A. Veitch, one of the partners in the well-known Cubastreet drapery firm. The other partner, Mr. Allan, has taken an. active and important part in local movements during the past twelve months. This, by the way, however, for the immediate subject of this paragraph is the Employers' Association. The most important member of the Association since its inception has been Mr. C. D. Morpeth, who is an ideal secretary to every institution to which he has become attached. And that is saying a good deal, because he has been a busy young man for years. * * « Mr. Morpeth won fame as a young Wellingtonian on the athletic and football fields, and was a noted long-dis-tance and cross-country runner. Up to his resignation of the secretaryship of the Employers' Association, which event happened only last week, he also was filling a similar position for the railway officers of the colony, and for the Industrial Association, besides holding many other posts in which a quick mind and a ready pen are needed. He is was, too, who did the executive task of carrying out Wellington's Exhibition of a few years ago. C. D. M. is one of the quietest, hardest>workin.gc, and most energetic young men of the Empire City, and it is pleasant to find that it is "pressure of other business" — which, in plain English means more remunerative business — that has caused his retirement from the pen-driving part of the Employers' Association. ♦ • • Salvation Army Commandant Booth, who was here the other day, and had his say on the subject of "Naboth's vineyard," is one of those men whom a newspaper scribe need not fear to interview. Just give him an idea of what is wanted, and he will rattle off the right ,amount of readable copy. Give him a ,free hand — or tongue — and he will fill your paper if you are short of matter. ;His previous visit was marked by an incident in which an ex-Wellington journalist, now of the Cathedral City, figured prominently. • ♦ ♦ The Commandant arrived by steamer, rather late in the afternoon, and, if the inevitable interview was to appear in that day's naper, it meant bustle for all hands. So the scribe tackled the General's son. before he left the ship's side, and the visitor, appreciating the situation, took the pressman's arm, and saying, "Keep close to me, my friend," marched off the steamer amidst the cheers of a great crowd, and made for his carriage. The man of letters stuck close, and, on reaching the side of the conveyance, accepted the invitation of the Commandant to take an inside passage. So they drove off, the officer doffing his hat as he drove along through the applauding people, and reeling off good copy all the time to the perspiring pressman. * * * At length, the Commandant's quarters were reached, and, as he dined, he continued his story, which saw the light all right that evening. Some hours later the Army's chief was , addressing a large audience of Wellington folk, and once again the same journalist was "doing" the proceedings, and happened to be near the speaker. At the conclusion of the meeting an elderly Army soldier approached the newspaper man, and, tapping him familiarly on the shoulder as he spoke, said ' "You won't be angry for the liberty I take, brother, but I trust it is not because you are ashamed of our glorious uniform that you don't wear it !" The scribe was much taken aback, but it suddenly dawned upon him — and his surmise was proved afterwards to have been correct — that the old fellow had mistaken him for a member of the Commandant's staff, and had expressed his indignation that he was not, as all the others were, in uniform.

Architect Turnbull, who was farewelled by the builders of Wellington last week, prior to his departure for the Old Land, has had world-wide experience. Not only has he monuments to his taste standing in various parts of Great Britain, but there are buildings designed by him standing in San Francisco, in Melbourne, in different parts of Victoria and New Zealand. This is a very unusual record. His latest work is the justfinished Bank of New Zealand. It is reported that Mr. Turnbull, who has dwelt among us these thirty years, does not intend returning to the colony, but in his son Tom he is leaving a solid hostage, who will prove a strong attraction for a return visit., at any rate. * ♦ * This week's cables from South Australia announced that Mr. Brookmanhad been elevated to the Upper House of that State. The new legislator is one of the colony's wealthy men, of the rough diamond type. Not so many years ago he was a mining prospector, and was one of the party who struck that great bonanza Bailey's Reward. Thenceforward, the Brookman family lay back with its hands in its pockets, whilst money simply poured into its coffers. The newly-made legislator "did" the Sounds trip in the Waikare two seasons ago, with his family, and has sung the praises of New Zealand as a holiday resort ever since. •* * * There are gust over forty master barbers in Wellington, including one lady (Mrs Priscilla Aldous),and the list placed before the Conciliation Board contains some curious names. There is an Abel, a Solomon, a King, and a Priest ; an Alpe, a Downes, a Dawe, and a Green ; a Mills, a Turner, and a Miller ; a North, a Webster, a Black, a Wahren, and A. Staub. The front name of a well-known "razor-back" is Tommy Atkins, and another, showing consideration for the jaws of his clients, has translated his family name from I. Tchernegooski to I. Black under which style he trades. Another operator bears the name James Shakes. Now, if James shakes when he shaves the Lance would rather go next door. * * ♦ Private letters from Melbourne show that the Hon. J. G. Ward "kept New Zealand's end up" during the recent celebrations, and maintained his reputation not only as a good fellow, but as a keen business man and a progressive statesman. Mr. Ward is a many-sided man. It does not matter whether he is negotiating to get the penny postage extended to Australia, breaking down the cable monopoly, or organising entertainments on board ship, he is "all there" all the time. In Melbourne, his unfailing tact, good temper, and genial hospitality won for him hosts of friends and admirers. Altogether, New Zealand's representative did not suffer by comparison with the public men of the Commonwealth. * • • Local bowlers will greatly regret to learn that a brilliant performer at the trundling game has met with a tragic death at Auckland. About a fortnight ago a rather bald press telegram conveyed the news that a man named Laurie was accidentally killed at Auckland while engaged in repairing a railway engine. It now transpires that this was Mr. Geo. H. Laurie, of the Newmarket railway workshops, and one of the leading players of the ce'ebrated Newmarket Bowling Club. He played No. 3, and his brother, Mr. C. G. Laurie, was leader, in the champion team which won the banner at the Northern Bowling Association tournament at Auckland eighteen months ago, and Qn that occasion he received the sobriquet of "Lyddite" for his driving powers. He was a dead shot as a driver, and was also very accurate in "drawing."' Mr. Laurie played for his club at the last tournament which was held in Wellington, and was generally recognised as au accomplished bowler.

Like Bismarck, but in a different sense, Councillor John Pearce Luke, of Wellington (whose picture appears in this issue), is "a man of blood and iron." His blood is Cornish, for he was born at Peuzance, forty-three yea,rs ago, and, as for iron, w oil there is not much in that line of business he does not understand. Tn 1874, Mr J. P. Luke arrived at Wellington with his parents and the rest of the farm y, and at once entered the service of Mr. E. W. Mills, where he completed his apprenticeship to the engineering trade. Early in 1879 he took d situation on the Government railways, and erected the first permanent machineiv at the railway workshops at Petone. John Luke did not draw Government pay very lon- In October of the same year 1879, he joined with his father and his brothers, William, Samuel, and Charles, and Mr B. Wi'liams, in huving the iron business of Messrs. Gi'christ and Waters, which was then earned on at Te Arc- beach * * *■ Soon afterwards Mr. B. Williams ictired from the new firm. In 1886 the Luke family and the business sustained a great loss m the removal by death within six months of each other, of the two eldest brothers, William and Samuel. In 1895, Mr. S. Luke, sen., retired from active work, and took a trip to the Old Country. On his return he settled down to the well-earned rest that crowns a hard-working, strenuous hfe, and last year he passed Peacefully away to his eternal rest. Meanwhile the business was continuing steadily to expand and prosper under the capable hands of Messrs. Chas M and John P. Luke. On their fathers retirement the present firm of Messrs. S Luke and Co., Limited, was established, with Messrs. Charles M. Luke and John P Luke as joint managing directors, Charles, who is the senior by eighteen months, carrying on tho commercial management, and John being at the head of the engineering and manufacturing operations. * * * What a change since 1879 ' In that year the Lukes were able to do all their own work At the present time their employees number 175. It would be a long story to recite all the important contracts that the Messrs. Luke have executed— and executed faithfully and well, as is their wont — during those intervening twenty-two years. They built the steamers Maitai, Weka, a,nd Tuna The^ have constructed numerous gold dredges. They are the authors of the Cape Palliser lighthouse. Iney made the fifteen powerful hydraulic cranes which are now working on the Wellington wharves. These four lanes will suffice to furnish some idea of the variety and magnitude of the firm s operations. * • • Both the brothers Luke have found much time out of their busy lives to devote to public affairs. Charles was Mayor of Wellington, several years ago, and left an excellent record. Johns turn will come in due time. Just at present he is winning much kudos as a City Councillor. He was elected in 1898, and in April last he was triumphantly re-elected, polling more votes than any "of the other former councillors. He lias always taken a deep interest in educational 'matters, and was, for some years, chairman of the Newtown School Committee. He has also been on the executive of the Wellington Industrial Association ever since its inception, and is an officer in the Leinster Lodge of Freemasons. And, when he puts his hand to a contract, he is just the sort of man to see it right through. * * » The cabled arrest of the notorious Dr. Dowie last week, in connection with the death of a patient in his big Christian Science Healing Institute, at Chicago, and the more recent news that the Grand Jury declined to formulate a charge against him, have aroused great interest in this colony, as his preaching tour of New Zealand some years ago has not by any means been forgotten. Dowie has enormous capital at his command, subscribed by credulous members of his peculiar sect, and he bosses quite a city. A propos, it is rather strange that a most remarkable articles in which liis name is mentioned, has just been published bv a certain Professor J. A. Fulton, who has spent thirty years, and as many thousand dollars, in the elucidation of biblical mysteries. * • * He makes the very funny assertion that Dowie is Anti-Christ, and that he is the precursor of Satan, who abides in the p'anet Saturn. The article goes on to say that the seven years of physical darkness spoken of by St. John will begin in 1942, and Satan will commence his struggle with the heavenly hosts in 1950, will be defeated, and then come upon earth. The basis upon w Inch the various problems have been so'ved appears to be the figure 8. There were eieht people in the Ark . and 1950 marks the eight cycles throu eh which the world has run ; so that that figure is important. What J. A. Dowie thinks of being called AntiChrist is not chronicled, but, in the meantime, he seems to have emerged.

triumphantly from his trouble, for the cable says that his .adherents have iust subscribed £20,000 for his Church. Their faith must be strong. American news, published in the daily papers last week, stated that during the brief stay of President McKinley in California, President Diaz, the Dictator of Mexico, was expected to take part in the festivities. But illness prevented the attendance of Diaz. Porfirio Diaz, who is nearly seventy-six years of age, is the builder of modern Mexico, and has been as strong physically as mentally, for, until this year, he had never known a day's illness during the* whole of his strenuous life. Mexico is a republic to-day and has been so for twentv-nve years, and has been built up by the greatest man Spanish America has ever known. A syndicate, headed by Cecil Rhodes, had an idea of exploiting Mexico some years ago, but when he came +o make inquiries about the country the astute Rhodes arrived at the conclusion that without Diaz there would be no stability in affairs down there, and, as Diaz was an old man, the South African magnate "wasn't taking any stock in Mexico." * * • Captain Wallington, who is the righthand man of the Australian GovernorGeneral, and was probably made C M G. on that account, is the most experienced A.D.C. south of the equator. He has done service with yawning Governor Carrington. the Earl of Jersey, Earl of Hopetoun, Thomas Lord Brassey, Sir Fowell Buxton, Lord Tennyson, and has also had one spell in remote Fiji. Now he is. back in his old haunts. * *• * / Mr. "Alphabetical" Fraser, M.H.R. for Napier, has been telling the Maoris home home truths on the East Coa&t. He attended the first meeting of the newly-constituted Tamatea Maori Council, at Hastings, and, being invited to speak, he told the assembled chiefs straight out that sooner or later — probably much sooner than later — the special Maori representation in Parliament would be abolished. If the four native seats in the House were done away with every member of Parliament in the North Island would be a Maori member. Of course, Alfred Levavasseur did not mean that Maoris would displace Pakeha candidates at the polls — only

that each Pakeha member would regard himself as a representative of the Maoris in his district. At present, says the member for Napier, there is not a pakeha member who cares a snap for the native politically, socially, or otherwise. He had a great respect for the Maori members, but those four had to fight against the seventy white members. This is very sad. "Chief" Shaw, .of Adelaide, whoso Christian name is James (but they all call him "Jimmy"), owns up to being a justice of the peace for South. Australia, Western Australia, and New Zealand. He has been Mayor of Adelaide and Coolgardie, and to him ss due the excellent laying out of the goldfields city. According to "Quiz," the "Chief" narrowly escaped being made mayor of a certain New Zealand town, where he is very popular, as, indeed, he is everywhere. It is understood that the only time that Kin^ Dick Seddon does not entirely rule Maoriland is when "Jimmy" is over there and then they take an island each. This story is of the "ben trovato" class. Mr. James Shaw makes a pretty regular exodus from South Australia when the weather gets too warm there, and he heads straight for Rotorua. They like him well enough up there, but they could hardly make him mayor, even if they wanted to, seeing that there is no borough. * * ♦ Lord Dundreary will never cease to exist whilst Captain F. W. Dickins, commanding flag-captain of the United States warship Brooklyn, endures. The gallant captain's "Dundreary" sidewhiskers are things of beauty to those who have had the privilege of gazing upon them, and a perpetual joy to their owner, if one may judge by the fond attention he seems to give them, and the caresses he bestows upon them, perhapc unconsciously, during conversation. So striking an appearance has CaDtain Dickins, that he has frequently been mistaken for Admiral Remey during the present cruise in colonial waters. Another striking similarity between the gallant captain' and the original Lord D. is the frequent use of the expression "Don't you know!" given with a true American drawl, and a rising inflection. Like Lord Dundreary again, Captain Dickins is a perfect gentleman, and has made many friends in the colonies..