Entre Nous

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 95, 26 April 1902, Page 12

Entre Nous

QUITK an mteiesti lg histoiv attaches to the block ot bu&iness piennses in the heart ot Lambton Qua> that Messis. Macdonald, Wilson, and Co sold by auction on Fi ida, last toi the laiftc sum or £24 000 The particular town acit of which this land toimed pait was a portion oi the old Kumatoto Pah, in thJcla\s«l.en the Kumatoto stieam purled its way to the beach c»ei a bed that is now known a.s Woodwa.d-st.ert Colonel McCWit,, the Commissioner appointed bv the Impenal Government to co serve 'the nghts of the oiiginal Maonowners of Wellington set aside this vnd for them, and also the land on winch stood the still more imposing and oooulous Pipitea Pah. which stood at the pomt Xc the Railway Hotel now exists # * The Maori owners held a korero , to inrl,v, finalise their interests, and the influentia chief Wi Tako, who for many yearf subsequently was a member of the Upper House, was very anxious to so advantageous as the other site However it was Hobson's ohoicewit h \\ i Tako and he accepted the Kumatoto acre as his share, its outside value then heine about £100. » * * Time went on, Wi Tako was gathered to his fathers, and his funeral was one of the sensations of Wellington some fifteen years ago. His landed possessions were left to his daughter Josephine who is now Mrs. Josephine Love. Mr Love, himself, is a burly specimen of the educated Maori, and thoroughly understood the value of a freehold business site in the heart of the Empire City After his marriage with Miss Wi Tako. he found that, her interest in this particular block was bound un with that of three other Maoris, and he lost no time in bming them out for £300 That was during the last fifteen ■< ears His excellent judgment has been rewarded by the recent <=ale, which has realised £24,000 for a portion of that despised towu acre of many years a<*o Mrs. Love still retains the ownership of the portion on which stand the piemises of Messrs. Alfred Lindsay and McGregor Wright Kapai the Maori * * * Mr Kennedy Macdonald, m his own inimitable style, which must be founded u^on that of Goo. Robins, the goldentongued auctioned , told a story at the sale which stukmgly illustrates the development of Wellington during the past thirty yeais, and al«o shows how prudence on the part of an agent may brin"- a great, return It was the story of the late Dv. Evans's property in Lambton Quay which consists of the large block upon which are erected the business premises of Messrs Oir and Lodder (City Buffet). Littlejohn and Sons. Cameron and Christie, and others Dr. Evans was a Doctor of Law who had been a member of the New South Wales Legislature, and had once been in the Cabinet over there. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Welhnoton was appointed to the New Zealand Upper House, and freely invested his money in real property here evidently foreseeing at that early date the destiny that awaited "Port Nick " which the Maoris still further abbreviated into the well-known "Poneke." • « » When Dr. Evans died, up m Hillstreet in 18()8, his estate was considerably involved, and his attorney, oi legal agent, in Wellington, realised the whole of lus countiy and town lands, with the exception of the Lambton Quay property, to pay off the mortgages and encumbrances, leaving the Lambton Quay property free for the property As Mr Macdonald pointed out that judicious attorney — Mr. Izard, if we mistake not — deserves to be held in grateful memory by the Evans family Its value then was possibly not moie than £3000 or £4000". But the devolopment of the city, and judicious leasing on the part of the attorney, has made it to-day worth certainly not less than £100,000 and it produces a splendid annual income for the descendaiits of Dr Evans • • • Does anybody know if workmen engaged in street building have the fee simple, of the paveme-nt ? There were many wrecked bonnets and destroyed blouses, smarting eves, and male objurgations during lunch time on Monday.

Two working gentlemen were demolishing the platform elected in fiont ol the Tunes" office. Nobody warned the toot passengeis underneath that the gentlemen with crowbais would treat them to a, shower-bath oi moitai and bncks, cement, and timbei , without mono or without puce One man, with a bashed hat, remonstiated Shouldn't walk on the paH 1 " said the cuowbai gentleman It is unkind of us to mind people getting then eves filled with dust, and their clothes, luined, ot course but if the gentlemen would be o-ood enough to soit the bricks out before lifting platfoims in tutuie the wavfanno public would feel a good deal easier It is becoming increasingly appaiont that the accident of being born is a bad accident for a great many New Zealand youngsters. Thc\ cannot help being born and as soon as they are able to walk parents seem m some cases, to regard their offspring as under an obligation to pay with the hardest toil for the inestimable privilege of being born The Wanganui Education Boaid wanted to find out -why some of its youngsters were frequently late Well, one little girl of twelve was laying up stores of robust health, and fitting herself for maternity bv milkmg six cows and walking toui miles twice a day This she did in leturn for being born No she was not consulted The parents of a boy of the same ace thought that milking thirteen cows morning and night and riding three miles twice, was some little recompense to them for having conferred on him the honour of existence, and the eieht-year-old "kiddie" who milked ten oows twice a day and filled in time walking six miles a day, and in free learning ought to be iollv thankful to its parents for benefits received The weary old ga<* that country ohildien aie rosier, healthier a,ud happier than town youngsters is not tiue Go into any cow - banging- " locahtv and see for yourse f . Many of the children are wimkled, lllformed mannikins, with the faces of old men, and little of the happy joyouisness of the town youngster, who knows nothing of cows except that beet grows on them If you want to be healthy, rosy, and happy don't get born in a district where people keep cows You will be an old man at fifteen but you won't get any old age pension A saitoiial soldier, who has lehnyuished his position in the waste-paper department of a Southern firm to accept a commission in a New Zealand regiment, has bored everybody he knows with shocking persistency To the query, put by him for the Uoth time iust before he left foi the purpose of bleeding for his countiv he said, • What do people sa^ about me being made an officer?" a fnend replied 'Nothing they inst gun'" * * * A Wellington woman, who has been to Sydney foi a week or two, lett hei husband m charge of the two servants Husband was not at home when she leturned. Naturally, she was anxious. She questioned the housemaid. "Amaimtha, do you know anything of Mr. Dash's whereabouts?" "Well, no I can't say as Ido , but I expect \ou'll find 'em* in the wash!"

A delightful yam, showing the necessity for Lord Roberts's general order that colonials in the Army were to be treated cordially. One hundred details of colonial regiments were recently homeward bound. There was no officer m charge. However, there were a couple of Imperial officers, who were going to Australia, to astonish the natives and show the "blawsted oawlinees" how they did it m the service. The ship's captain thought they were colonial officers. Which was senior ? "Good Heavens, man we've nothing to do with these dwe>adful iwwegulars," and, indeed, 110bodv troubled. The ship's captain pot a couple of senior privates to take charge of the details, and gave them a seat in the saloon, next the Imperial officahs ' * * • Those Sandhurst Johnnies came down, and stared incredulously — the bare idea,h ' Dine with privates. Nevah ' They protested to the captain they would not dine in the saloon until the soldiers were removed. "Well nobody cares," said the skipper "Cook'll give you a feed in the galley any time you feei hungry." But the Johnnies missied but one meal. They sneaked back to feed with those common soldiers. They are not approaching General Hutton about it. They heard a rumour that he is pcorehingly eloquent The lumour turns out to be correct. ♦ * * A correspondent, who journeys regulaily on the tram between home and business, has noticed that at a certain corner along the route there are always a couple of faces peering out on this sad w orld from a particular window. After much inward wrestling, and several sleepless nights he has produced the following — Twice-happy souk' They take thenplace Without a thought of greed or gain Kach hideous outlook to efface, They take their pleasure in their pane !

A real up-to-date show visited Dannevirke last week. It was no less a combination than the Arbitration Court. It was the first timei on record that a judge in a judicial capacity had been seen in the town of sawmills. And, of course, even the natives were startled when they gazed upon His Honor and the legal lights wearing wigs and gowns. A Scandinavian parson, who has lived all his life in the Forty-Mile Bush, innocently inquired off a friend . "Vat do dey ver tose vigs for?" The friend suggested that it was to keep their head cool in consequence of the* great mental strain which the learned gentlemen suffered from * * * It is a bit curious that, at the public meeting in the Druids' Hall, to consider the proposed waterworks loan, not a single hand was held up in the body of the hall in favour of the Corporation scheme. And, on the platform, Counooillor J. P. Luke, who seconded the motion, was the only one who held a hand up. Councillor Tolhurst poured a little cold water upon it — the scheme, not the apostolic hand — and Councillors Devine and Barber, by selecting seats among the assembled ratepayers, instead of joining their colleagues on the stage, showed that they were not booming the project. Probably, if the Mayor had not talked water straight, but had come prepared to mix a little spirit with it, the effect would have been stimulating — perhaps, even elevating it all depends on the amount and quality of sipirit. It is dry work dealing with a loan proposal for £230,000, with visions of further taxation in the • background, and nothing but water to keep the tongue wagging. * • • An inquisitive young man at Wanganui found this advertisement in a newspaper "Young man, some woman dearly loves you. Would you know who she is? Send one shilling to Occult Diviner. Address as below, and learn her name " He sent the money, and received tins answer "Your mother." * * * Observed a clean, respectable-looking old lady, with neat white hair and a flax kit, talking to a man from the country with "bushman" written on him. Noticed also, that "seven children and a sick husband" was the burden of her lay, and that a large bright coin changed hands. "God grant you'll never need, it, sir!" said the dear, good old soul, and she left him. One hour later, walking down the Quay, same dear old lady dodged uncertainly on to the pavement from an adjacent pub " She seemed to have forgotten all those children and the unfortunate husband Evidently, she had obtained full value for her money * • • Prohibitionists will have to turn their thoughts to drinks other than alcoholic. A gentleman, living in the Southland back-blocks, recently mopped up all the visible supply of whisky (six bottles). Feeling thirsty, he next "nipped" a couple of bottles of sauce to the dregs. This didn't quench him. Being of a literary turn of mind, he finished off on a pint bottle of ink. A prohibition order has been issued against him, but there is no law to prevent him using as much ink as he wants. Wherefore, he will be glad. * ♦ • The train had nearly reached Plimmerton, and the guard noticed at one of the sidings an individual frantically waving an arm. He pulled the train up for the passenger. The passenger did not mount. "I don't want to eet on the train," he said : "I just want«d to know when the next train is due!"

The Oddfellows aie good fellows. You w ould have said so if you had happened into Godber's ou Friday evening Jast. When one lemembers that the notable wits fiom the North and South were there, with their weapons polished up froi the occasion, you maj bet the atmospheie was humming with good things. When the coffee was off, and the genial Godbei had sent in the whisky, everybody drew his pencil and made' notes. This was spontaneous wit, of course. A. R Atkinson, M H.R , is a satirist There is satiie m the upstanding bit of paint brush shading that massive brow and he took the occasion offered to assert that Parliament generally wasn't any dass This was in teplv to the toast of Pailiament. • ♦ * He spoke of self-help in friendly societies and of helping one's self m Parliament Parliament was a profitable pursuit to the self-helpers "At this tune " A R remarked, meaning, of course ait ante-election time, "members are in duty bound to promise you everything you ask for, and keen the rest steadily in view," and he turned to George Fisher and Tom Wilford with an accusing glance. Neither of these gentlemen shrivelled, but they made mental notes He fired off wit-crack-ers- at these two gentlemen, and did not eulogise King Dick * ♦ * Mr Mothes had done that before He pourtraved the order of King Edward s greeting to King Dick. "Veil. Tick, my poy, I'm very clad to see you. Ho reallv'has an accent has Edward VII. Ever heard him? Bv this time the lemonade had got round to Tom Wilford. Tom was* in evening dress, and was, therefore, conspicuous. He spoke in generalities, and paid a tribute or something to A R. Forget what it was. but tihe paint-brush wagged sagely Tom was in Parliament, he said, for the first time in 1893 for three months He didn't end up with three months elsewhere although, on his own showing, he n'inoulv escaped • * * Mr. Wilford winked a comprehensive e^e when he remarked gleefully that he drew his honorarium for that term, was sued for it (here the ioy of the wmk was larger still), but (here he positively gloated) he did not pay it. He had it vet Everybody said "Hooray'" This w .i, a tribute to Tom's legal astuteness, we expect, not iov at his successfully lightening the exchequer * ♦ * Mr. George Fisher, probably m excuse for saying anything at all, after he had chastised A. R.. asked, with a classic writer 'Who owns the countiv 9 — the People. Who owns thePeople?— the politicians. Who ow us the politicians pp — the devil." His sulphuric nibs ought to be very glad to have had such distinguished 'pieces of his property under hi^ satanic thumb that night. John Levdon who hails from Stratford, and is at once a wit, J.P., Irishman, Oddfellow, and auctioneer, was m a bump-reading mood We dare not repeat all that John <-aid about Mr. Geo Leslie s bumps because, we understand, it will be published in three volumes, nost Byo.. bv the Government Life Insurance but he remarked "that his bump of benevolence was too large for any organisation other than the Oddfellows and that his caution while it withheld him from telling an untruth, prompted him to so a lone wav round in dealing with actuahJohn said something else that a Philistine yelled "Chair'" at, but the crockery remained unbroken even up to 1 p.m. To be included in the volume above referred to am some yarns spun by Tom Aitken, postmaster, footballer, barracker, Oddfellow , and Thamesate. We have no aluminium pencil— the ordinary timber \ aiietv shrivels at the prospect of tackling him. # Mr Edwin J King, junior, wa.s m charge of the musical programme, and a \ cry good one it w as. He enlivened the proceedings by sundry choice items from opera, and the many singers were fortunate in having £»o accomplished an accompanist Wanganui Maoris have introduced a new order of things At the Police C'ouit. in that town recently one chocolate warrior w as required to show cause vh\ he did without provocation knock 'seven bells" out of chocolate warrior numbei two Perhaps, it was the shark, or maybe the waipiro. Anyhow , the Bench said if they would shake hands, and be friends, there would be no hanging- Thereupon, the plaintiff and defendant vaulted over the court obstacles, and shook with fervour. His Worship, the lawyers, reporters court orderlies, and constabulary generally partook of the general shake, and the whole crowd beamed. The gentleman down on the charge sheet is alleged to have dodged His Worship all over the court intent on rubbing noses and breathing shark on to. his magisterial brow

Truth is strauigei than fiction ' Lady down Clmstohurch way was diiving with her husband in a bueev- A twentv-hve knot breeze was blowing. Gentleman stopped the trap befoie an orchard, and dismounted to make a call. Came out. a. tew minutes latet and found his w ife up an apple tree, and the ow nei of the tiee gesticulating at the supposed thief. The truth is that the wind had lifted the unfortunate lady out of the trap, and peiched hei in the apple tree The person who told us bins vain is a Sunday school teachei • * « One ot the teachei s out at Mount Cook was mfoiming the youthful mind on the services rendered b" the biute creation to man. Then she proceeded to question Which animal, she wanted to know, showed the greatest, attachmenh foi mazi ? It was the shaip girl of the class who got ahead of all the otheis by instantly pHin^ out the convincing ainswer "Women " # * * If an S and an I and an 0 and a U With an X at the end, spell Su And an E and a Y and an E spell I Pray what is a speller to do? Theai, if aJso an S and an I and a G And an H E D spell cide There's nothing much left for a speller to do But to go and commit siouxeyesighed The Paeroa ' Paralyser" is to hand. It is an attempt to be funny that is fairly successful, and is the organ of the Paeroa volunteers. The ti ail of the ''Devil's own" is over all, and those who know the district will probably guess that a lawyer of Irish extraction, rejoicing in the name of "Jimmy," hais been guilty of the greater number of scintillations- within the pages of the "Parailyser." The advertisers in the nunibeir before us are men of understanding. Hear one of them on a popular subject — Have yon seen the major? For good old Dick has gone to kneel Before King Edward's throne Oh let him wear Scarle's famous boots 'Tw ill give him greatei tone Kia Ora ' W T e hve '

Tho State hotel is coming. It can't help itself. One of the 'orny 'anded has been writing about it. He calls hini'Kslf ' Londoner," and sip reads Ins opinion in a Giisborne paper. Of coui'se, ho is a "poor working man," and lie says ho only wants one loaf a day but a great many pints of beer. Therefore, wlr shouldn't the State bow down to Baal, and quench. lujS thirst for sa\ a shilling, baking his own figuie (a penny <x pint) as a basis for the scheme 'Londoner" starts being th list y in his first line, and he is absolutely parched before he winds up He attributes the greatness of the Empire to beer. He says it mule the nation * * * "What would the British Army in Africa be woith if it had not- been brought up on beer?" Ask Laid Robeirte. We don't know He wants the duty taken off spirits. Philanthropic brew ers should help "Londono/i " His magnificent thirst ou^ht to be ((uenohed at all costs. Wanted a State pint "Londoner" wants it. If he doesn't geft it it is hard to foretell what desperate hterarv deeds he may do. * * * This, from the "Bulletin " seems to need a large pinch of salt — "A Wellington (M.L.) lawyer got a r>aralvser lately He had issued a writ for breach of promise on behalf of a jilted client, claiming £501 damages. Next day the writted person called in, planked down a cheque for the full amount remarked • 'There that settles the blanked business 1 ' and stalked out" Some laughable, as well as some very pathetic atones are told of the three bundled Easter excursionists to Rotorua who failed to get accommodation. They say thait sleeping was the order of the night, and that the Sanatorium grounds on one particular morning looked for all the world like the Sydney Domain in the dossing season. One young fellow who knows his way about curled himself up comfortably inside a large warden roller but), being still asleep when the gairdener started operations next mornine, dreiamt for a moment that he was doing Catherine wheels in Wirth's circus when the roller commenced its revolutions