All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 397, 8 February 1908, Page 4

All Sorts Of People

HDN. Mr. Hall-Jones, the self-abne-gatoTy Minister of the Crown, who has been recuperating in his native Kent and elsewhere, stole bock to Wellington per Corinth io last Saturday without tap of drum. Mr. Hall-Jones, since the time he was plain, William Jones, carpenter, has had a remarkable career in that he has simply been forced forward) step by step without desiring very much to be forced forward at all. He showed no overwhelming desire to enter politics, but has Tuna.ru friends ia tiie long ago made him work for his coaitntry. • • • Mr. Halll-Jones apparently had no Ministerial ambition, but he was selected by the late Mr. Seddon to fill a portfolio. He did not desire to be Premier, but in the absence of tihe late Mr. Seddon in Australia, duriing that fatal trip, and also the absence of Sir Joseph Ward in 1 Europe, he was forced into am acting Premiership. He might ihave retained the Premiership on the death of Mr. Seddon, but always has he done wihat he considers the "square things" amd so he merely kept the Premiership warm for Sir Joseph. Some indication of his physical trouble 'he gave a few momfths before his ilLntess and consequent temporary rest, for he made a few school-children at a school >he visited .his confidantes by tolling them that "politics is Dead Sea fruit, bright on the surface, but full of ashes within," or words to that effect. If Mr. Hall- Jones never showed pre-eminent ability, he 'has always shown a vast capacity for work and absolute integrity. He utters a truism or a platitude with solmni deliberation, and hence he has a reputation for "weight" and cofnclusiveness. He is_ a likeable man, who has got om without meaning to, and it is sincerely to be hoped that he has entirely recovered his health, so' as to continue to do faithful work for a country that hasn't treated him so badly. • • • Many WelHingtonians will deeply regret the passing of Mr. Owen McArdle, who for so long has been a familiar figure in this city. The late Mr. McAndle's progress has been indeed identified closely with the progress of Wellington. In most ways the late secretary of the great brewing firm of Sifcaples and Co. was a strong man, for, although connected during most of hie colonial life with the sale of liquor, he was so extremely abstemious as to be almost a teetotaller. He bad no "silver spoon" when he came to the wild West Coast, thirty-four years ago, and the element of success in his nature was the one that made him overcome disadvantages and take full toll of the advantages he possessed. • « • He* laid the foundation of his financial success on the West Coast, whi*ther he went to assist his relatives, the Messrs. Gillmer, in the running of horfcel enterprises. The history of Sitoples' success is t<he history of the hotel business in WeUinigtoin, and in the success the keen, grey-bearded man' with the fresh complexion and the spectacles, shared. The late Mr. McAirdle was a good raconteur, as welll as a naturally adept business man. There was no mistaking the meaning of the man — he was. in foot, blunt and brusque, and spoke the brogue. • • • Few know to what extent charity benefitteJ by the benefices which he was so well able to afford, but alfl should know that the Church owes something substantial to his purse. His constant companions were Messrs. Giilmer and Allan Maguire, _ and the three in deep conference, with hands thrust into their pockets, were a familiar sight on the Quay. Expecting to benefit by a change of scene, the late Mr. McArdle, about a year ago, went on a tour of the Old World, and his acute observattio-ns of mem and things showed his keen perception. His eldest son, Mr. Eugene McArdle, who is now in America, studying diental surgery at the Philadelphia TTnuversity, toured with his mother and his late father. There are other two sons and two daughters. • • • So Fred Haybittle is going to do* the grand tour! And quite right, too! He's been working pretty hard for a .great number of years for himself and his fellow-man. There are those who have smiled at the perennial enthusiasm of Mr. Haybittle, who is, as a rule, as effervescent a® a bottle of fizz, and very often as sparkling and "dry." Mr. Haybittle is a man who has "got

om>." He will, if you are good, tell you of his early business struggles, his oomfideaice in. himself, and his jjrufcentioni to rase. He has risen. Mr. Haybittle is best known publicly as the man to fill a breach at any kind of a- show. • • • He recites rather well, he tells a story with acceptance, and if, as president of the Northern Bowling AssocaatioQi, ihe has a gift to bestow and a speech to make, he is as tactful and happy as it us possible to be. It is history that when Edward VII. was Prince of Wales, Mr. Hay battle, then risitung England, shook that potential monarch by the hand. And with it all he preserves the modest demeanour characteristic of him, and, cajrtooinists notwithstanding, has never worn a baaid»ge round that prLnoe-shaketn, hand. • • • Mr. George Matheson, the advance agent for "Brewster's Millions," happened into tlhis office at the end of last week, and beguiled the tedium of half-an-hour or so with stories of strange adventures in many lands. George might be anything over sixteen years of age, but beyond that anyone guessing at the sum of his years would have to swim out, being over his neck in the stream of probability. However, the boy admits having been "on the road" far something top side of fourteen, years, and, as he he hadn't quite mastered the language at two, the chances are he's weß om for twenty. • • « George Matheson has shifted bags, boxes, miles of scenery, artists, artists' material^ Sarah Bemhardt and her long resting-box, Ada Croesley, etc., etc., over the hull continent of Australia, and t boxed the deal over in. South Africa. He has tripped the Southern Hemisphere until he was legweary, voice-weary, and generally fetched-up. But his motto is: "Draw breath and then, pull hard." So he shifts along again. This time he reckons he's out om the spree, with "Brewster's Millions" to draw upon.. He calls it a great thing, and allows that nothing equal to it has pulled up at our door since Mr. and Mrs. Noah

packed up their show and moved' away in the Ark. Talking about Ada Crossley's projected visit. George moved his memory back a space, and lighted on Bairnsdale, Gippsland, Ada's Own Country. They didn't take any stock in. cabs or broughams or victorias down there when George took Ada Grossley along to sing, amid the gum trees, so the agent waited on the mayor, and asked him to do his hardest to give the great com/tralto' a reception and a drive worthy of the place. Mr. Worshipful Mayor asked, "Who was butiing?" or some such thing, and threatened George Matheson with sudden purgatory if he didn't leave Ada's reception to the townspeople. • • • When Ada stepped out to her "kerradge," she found a twenty-head, twenty-torn bullock waggon, awaiting her. The wheels were decorated with native flowers, and, the fragrantscented gum, of which Ada pulled long, hungry breaths. The "kerndge" was built thron,e-like with flags and flowers, and the peaceful beasts were chewing the cud of peaceful happiness and comtent. And George Mathesonj says that the finest water of Lethe ever tapped wouldn't rub that seen© out of his memory. The boy takes passage to Bobairt this week. • • • Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt, of America, has bought a Hungarian count for his daughter, and he is an expensive item. He has cost pa one million pounds, and pa isn't quite sure of him now, and has bound him down so that he can only touch the interest of his purchase money. Come to think of it, it is good of a Hungarian noble to. permit his name to be held by a Vanderbilt in exchange for cash, and it is a very beautiful thing that marriage settlements are made now-a-days on behalf of the husband, and not on behalf of the wife. And it is nice to think that American boodlers generally rob Americans yearly of countless millions of dollars which are sent to Europe and elsewhere for the purchase of nobles (in name). On the other hand, the infusion of American blood into the

aristocracy of all European countries may be helpful if it is desired I>a keep the nobility up to a nice healthy sttunaard. For Republicans, the Yanks are marvellously fond of titles, possible only under a monarchy. • • • Colonel Porter, G.8., famous throughout the known world for his size and the fact that he commanded the Seventh New Zealand Contingent fox a month or two, is, it is said, resigning his position as president of the Tai Rawhiti Native Land Board. Colonel Porter has many large private interests, mostly in connection/ with native lands, foir it will be remembered that the gallant officer married a Maori lady of high rank, and is the father of the lady who. is knowm in England as "Princess te Rangi Pai," amd in New Zealand as Mrs. Howie. • • • It may also be recalled that Colonel Porter attended the coronation of the King, and was much admired by His Majesty, who said : "I am very glad to meet you. Colonel!" and that durong his visit mews were received from Home that he had succeeded to a. title as Lord Strath-something or other. It was a pity that Colonel Porter did not become a nobleman, for he would have been the largest specimen of the genus in the House of Lords — and his weight would have told. • • • From Adelaide, South Australia, comes the astonishiing mews that Colonel Hopton, Commanidant of the British Rine Team, has .returned from a visit to New Zealand thoroughly upset, not to say disgusted, wo/th God's Own, Country. He has very goodnaturedly summajtVLsed hiis oompJaomts against this Dominion, so that New Zealand may profit by the Colonel's advice, and there is no indication that he intends to charge us anything for it. Altogether, on OoJomel Hopton we, as a Dominion, have Hopt on a very gracious guide, phiLoiso.pheir, and friend, although we may not willingly think so. • • » Tie Colonel (Haw, hayv I trom the blood-hounds) states as this chief grievance that he could mot get a coloured drink from the North Cape to the Bluff. Bai Jove ! but it was deuced •awkward, dontcherknow ! Now, the Colonel ds not a dirimking man — that jb, in the general sense of the term. He says so himself, but he likes a glass wi*h .his meals. And there was the trouble. He couldn't get a,^ or wine. Why? That's the question,. This Lancer isn't a drinking man; he's like the Colonel (begging his military pairdon) in that resipect. Lancer doesn't even go* chasing after it to> sluice down, his meals with, but ihe guarantees that with -fche nimble coin he wall get ale or wine if ever he comes to need it. • • • Then, there's the Tourist Department. Why, in God's Own Country, according to this military genius, they have got no Tourist Department at all. TBreak thas gently to> T. E. Donne, or Colonel Hopton may be brought in chains to the Rajah of Rotorua.] Australia; simply loses New Zealand in the matter of attention to tounilsts, excepting tihe trifle that New Zealand fleeces them for their conn by excessive charges. And so we ought to open the wardrobe, and don> our best sackcloth and ashes. But, who is t/his Colonel Hopton, anyway? We didn't know he was coming. The earth didn't quake when he arrived. We received! no message froim Mars about him. Not even 1 a new star appeared in the East to herald his approach. Cabinet ought to meet, and hale him before T. E. Donne iand the Rev. L. Isitt on a charge of lese majestic \ • • • Mr. Arnold, M.P., has expressed his opinion on the Government HouseParliament question, to the Dunedin "Star," and the question is settled, Parliament is settled, Lord Plunket is settled, and, m fact, the whole blessed Dominion is settled. Mr. Arnold, M.P., says that "it was quite apparent (to Mr Arnold) that when Parliament was done with Government House it woulld not be suitable, without a large expenditure, as a residence for the Governor, and m his opinion it would be necessary to build a n&w structure upon that site if the Governor was to remain there." • • • What the rank and file of the Parliamentarians will think of this so apparent situation it will be interesting to hear. We can- imagine the immaculate Poole or Frank Lawry fairly bristling with indignation at such a reflection) on their unsullied cleanliness. And the ancient fathers of the Legislative Council, whose reputations for conservative cleanliness are proverbial 1 , will surely have argument with Mr. Arnold over this utterance. Visions of broken furniture, polluted rooms, trampled gardens, and jostling crowds are all given in with the suggestion to the Dunedin "Star." Evidently the public do not know the Parliamentarians yet!

The Venerable Archdeacon Devoy is about again, and even the oold snap in the weather isn't noticeable within a few miles radius ot his glowing face. The genial, burly, manly form, and the face which positively beams with smiling enthusiasm, is as inspiriting a sight as of yoifc, though the Archdeacon has travelled far thiough many lands since last he walked undei his bell-topper down Willis-street. To most of his friends, perhaps, the Archdeacon is "Father Devoy," and •even the casual labourer along the road or on the wharf knows him by that title, and feels it his right to have recognition at the instance of the genial priest on .hailing him in that way.

concerned they lived happily ever artei wards. This Wellington native is a pretty shrewd man of business, and a kindly soul with it all. There's a big lump of "the man" about Fredenck Bolton, and that's just why he persists in. coming to the top of things as he so often does • • Fied is on the Benevolent Tiustees' Boa id the Hospital Tiustees' Board, tTie Hutt Paik Control Board, directs six 01 seven limited liability eompa<nies in town, and is chaiiman. of directors to about foui of them As a barrister and solicitor he is part of the harmon.ious firm of Bolton and Organ. He has been practising now foi eighteen veais — evei since he passed his soJicitois' exam, and his ban lstei 's exam.

Batchelor ordered Kerr off after walking about a mile. As tor Batchelor's peispicuity as a judge — poor Hogben had to walk about two and threequaitei miles before the judge was convinced that he was walking unfairly It must have been a close thing on Hogben's part to walk so near to the judge's balance of decision • • • The most curious and unsatisfactory thing about this Mr. Batchelor was that lie should have allowed himself to be selected as a judge of these events vi view of the fact that he was already one of the three selectors of the representative team. After all, Captain Batchelor is only mortal, and humanity — especially of the parochial type — will out at times. At any zate,

and their escorts will hear all about the Lanes of Wellington. And, bythe way, J. F.s last message was that he was going to lay down a special strip of asphalt track up to his front dooir for any Wellington f rieuds who may .be taking an. "English" or a "Comfcinieiital" while he and his lady reside at Perth. To all Wellington, friends their house will be known as the "Pilgrim's Rest." • • • Thriving in the great hub of New York just now is W. T. Kennedy, well known m Wellington, as a floral artist. "Ken" went over to> the great "guessing" institution) to- pick up a few up-to-date wrinkles in an art which always came readily to his hand.