All Sorts Of People

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 695, 25 October 1913, Page 4

All Sorts Of People

f'jh HJi facts about Captain Dick" Sedfl don's resignation are quite simple. Before he wato sent Home to complete his military education, he was carrying out in New Zealand the highlyresponsible duties of Assistant-Adjutant-General and Assistant-Quartermaster-General at a salary of £450: Moneys to the large amount of £227,000 passed through his hands in one year. He went Home, passed his examinations brilliantly, and came back qualified certainly for quite as responsible duties as those he '-had discharged before he went' away. He .was appointed to a position in the backblocks at Paeroa, which a sergeantmajor could easily fill.' The salary was £350, but his sort of Irish rise was evidently thought to be too ludicrous, and so it was increased to £400. .

Captain Dick, however, could not see that promotion downward to an inferior position with an inferior salary, after he nad achieved higher qualifications, was going to lead to success in the New Zealand Army. He interviewed the Wiu: Minister, and was told he could not interfere. He didn't want to be that object of Compaslsion—the Man with a •Grievance. He was indisposed to become ■a political Micawber, wearily? waiting for something to turn up. So 'he promptly resigned, took an office in Wellington, and started into commerce with a glad heart and hopeful spirits. He isn't bothering his head about the politicians, and they may ask questions in _ Parliament "till further orders for all Dick cares.

Lord Liverpool recently notified the "Mayor and potentates of Stratford that Tie would, not wear a top-hat at a function there % This meant that" they had not to do it, and that-was doubtless a ,great relief. Lord Liverpool is getting mulch credit for this conßiaerate act, and 'doubtless he it. But there is Jilso a dreadful suspicion that he may nave seen some of the top-hats that are unearthed in New. Zealand on such occa.siona. and fears for his nerves. At a Wellington garden-party you may see top-hats ranging in age and fashion from "1840 to 1900. The man who wears a hat -of later date than 1900 is a wildly fashionable blade.

» » • • The marriage of Prince Arthur of Connaught to the really beautiful young Duchess of Fife is one of those rare royal •marriages that will give wide and genu-

ine public satisfaction. The Prince had much to do of late as representative of- royalty at many important public functions. *He is 6trong physically, an athlete, and a good sport. He has no vices, and his record is at every point absolutely clean. He is well read and widely informed, a man of the world with a gift of conversation. The Duchess is an out-of-doors girl, and in her style and tastes an honest, high-spirited gentlewoman. After so; many marriages" of lavish princes to reluctant sad princesses, a marriage of this Sort comes as genuine refreshment to everybody.

Stated on a cableman's authority that King George smokes half-a-dozen cigars a day, prefers whisky to champagne, hates novels, and is fond of nibbling cheese. It has been rather understood up till now that the statement -that the King drinks whisky has been denied as an outrageous libel by the Archbishop of .Durham; but. it is easy to believe that the King hates novels. King Edward had a literary side; King George gives no suggestion of anything of tne 6ort. King Edward was a wit. King George isn't; and while King George nibbles cheese, Kine Edward nibbled an apple— the apple Mother Eve nibbled first of all our race.

An admirable Australian newspaper refers to a letter of Sir Almroth Wright's on women and as "a letter of marked ability, courage,' and frankness." Lady Stout referred to this letter the other day as proof that the eminent Sir - Almroth is a sort of lunatic.

Mr. Crosbie Gilmore, some time Attor-ney-General of Tasmania, has made a bit of sensation- in little Hob art by writing to the papers telling how the Chief Justice, Sir John Dodds,. rang him up on one occasion. Mr. Gilmore was defending a~ man on a murder charge next day. Sir John rang up, "I'm feeling unwell. You might cut your speech short to-mor-row,". or words to that effect. It does seem a trifle peculiar.

It seemg to be generally understood that a judge should not discuss a case in progress with any lawyer concerned in it. Judges have a large discretion as to what they say'in court/and some great i'udges (especially on the Irish bench) _iave taken full advantage of it. There is a rich literature of reminiscence concerning the great Irish judge, and anyone interested in such matters cannot do better than to read it. True, the Irish judges have always been brilliant wite, ana that atones or accounts for much.

Mr. Tom Xi. Mills, away in Australia fast now as President of the Provincial Press. Association, is an important man these days. Very staunch is Tom, even though occasionally as to his own high consequence very serious. He sticks to hiß friends and his enthusiasm, and he

has no mean screak. And when he holds up a tremendously important place like Feilding, "why shouldn't a distinguished journalist. sound the . loud timbrel now -and then? * . •* * A cynic contributes'a veree or two' to the Fbee Lance:Now twang the sympathetic lyre, And wound the night with plaintive . odesl \ " Thames sobs out in anguish dire-r-Misunderstood is Mr. Rhodes! But let no whisperer tell the truth, That Miv Rhodes:is feeling good: , It makes. him possible., fond youth. . When Mr. Rhodes is quite misunderstoodl .> : : • For this at least'we know of-hinii% Who" now. so wails his grievous' ire; The chances are exceeding" slim That Rhodes will set the Thames on' fire. v * * * * Up in Auckland,- Mr. J. F. Montague, who will be remembered the father of the northern Shakespeare Society and ■the judge at. the Wellington Competi-v tions last year, is arranging to give a revne at Auckland presently. • Various celebrated persons will be shown as to the manner born, all violently characteristic and oratorical. As this is the sort of • thing that Mr. Montague can be trusted to do entirely well, the Auckland public 'should be exceedingly delighted and uplifted., So many of our absolutely celebrated personages lend themselves to gentle caricature that Mr. Montague might give a revue a week for nineteen moons and still find his material unexhausted. * » » ' # It will be remembered that a Welling- • ton critic fell seriously foul of Mr. Montague, when that versatile chap judged the competitions here a year ago. Since then some people have been amusing themselves with fanciful pictures of Morton stretching a savage paw across the island to tear away Montague's scalp/ or of Montague lurking round with a venomed spear to jab Morton in his weakest fepot. The fact of the matter is that " the critic and the adjudicator are still on excellent terms with each other.- » * . » » Sir James Carroll is back at the capital, and voted in his first division in the House of Representatives ten days ago. Attain his .fine constitution and indomitable spirit have triumphed, and Timi Kara is himself again. For which reason everybody is cordially glad • and thankful. It is not merely as our only undoubted orator that Sir James oommends himself to Parliament. Ho is & masterly tactician/a past master in the gentle art of conversation, and with all that a man of bo clean and sweet.and

joyous disposition-that it is never less than delightful to be near him. . « * * •» Stated that Mr. Rennerley Rumford was first introduced to Miss Clara Butt by Mr._ Plunkett-Greehy who is a very brilliant baritone vocalist and a friend of both parties. It is said that MrGreene and Mr. Rumford have • "some things in common. Love of fishing and cricket are mentioned. ' • . • • « • "Shaxpur" to the Free Lance : If you want a mayor as is a mayor, oast your eye <jn • our Auckland expert, Mayor - It is said of Mayor Paw .that lie was never nonplussed yet; certainly he never admitted that he was. He is an authority on everything, from tramcars to toothache, from social-precedence to soothing-powders.' What he doesn't - know—well,' if there is anything he) does not know, he- doesn't know that he doesn't know it. He is the Mayor Incomparable. . If you want to discover the way to the moon. If you'd like to find out how the planets are spun, If you'd fain ascertain how Jthe Pinlanders spoon, Or how many Bparkles there are in the sun; • No matter whatever you're wishing to knon, No matter how tony or humble you are, You're safe'if you question the Lord of the Show, Our eminent, excellent Mayor. Mr Parrl ' ' He knowj. what the suffragettes really require i (Though he wouldn't say, being gallant and sleek), He knows what makes penguins once yearly perspire ■ . And what worries Trixie three times in a week. He can tell you bow many large beans count as five, And the number of hairs in the beard of the Shah; _ He has an idea what keeps Auckland alive— It's our. wonderful, modest, nice Mayor, Mr. Parr 1 He knows how the Ponaonby odours are made, And why folks in Queen-street all ■o , eai i against poeta: He will lunch"with M.P.' a (for he doesn't mind trade). And he's frightfully fine when they .come to the toasts. Thedamtiest flappers all sidle and coo When he. passes, and murmur, "Oh. look afc htm, Mai

They say he'll be King in a fortnight or two. How I'd like to ■ be Queen, then!— Queen Katherine Parr I" , » * « * Mr. Bollard did the travelling public Rood service by calling attention to the extent to "which passengers on the Main Trunk are pestered by ticket collectors ac night. A man may succeed in falling asleep; but if he does, he will be aroused within ten minutes by a ticket collector. In the case of through. passengers is quite unnecessary and outrageous, and the authorities should be able to find • some way out of what, so far as the public is concerned, is an abominable nuisance. No blame attaches to the guards, who are invariably courteous ana goodhumoured. * * * * .Mr. W. Brooke-Taylor, junior, the victim of a peculiar and serious accident, has sufficiently recovered to leave the . Wellington Hospital, where he has been laid up for repairs for the past 13 weeks. The accident befel him this wise:. He was riding his motor bike over the Paekakariki HiTl, when a racehorse, presumably being exercised on the road, played up as these high-spirited mokes very often do, and. managed to kick the rider of the noisy motor cycle. Young Taylor suffered a compound: fracture of the leg, and so serious-was his condition that the surgeons feared that they would have to amputate the broken h'mb. He is at S resent convalescing at his father's residence in Roseneath, and shortly will return to his job in Palmerston North. • • * • * fr •If a rumour printed by a London • j>aper is to be credited, King Alfonso of Spain is in for a rocky time of it: This paper states that - an order for 18,000 Sjpanish Republican flags of various sizes and creations has. been placed with a leading English firm. . This same firm catered for the Portuguese Republicans three years ago 4 the coup d'etat following in that case with a few months of the delivery of the Bags. Will history repeat itself ? _ It has been said more than once that King Alfonso will be the next to go, and that he knows it. Though from what we hear he is not a bad sort as kings go, and has proved that he is a brave young man when threatened by the anarchist's bomb. If it is true that he ib aware that he has to deliver up his crown eventually, # it is doubtful if he has a peseta of his private property invested in the land of bull-fights. It is hoped, if his day does oome, that he and his consort and _his_ loving mamma will escape with their lives. There are others who would not be missed at all. • * -•* * ♦ Mr. G. E. Warburton, a young Wellingtonian and son of Mr. A. Warburton _ has just given practical proof that he is possessed of inventive faculties. The said proof is an electric tail-lamp for motor cars, to enable othex veliic es to steer clear and also to enable our bluebottled preservers of the peace to detect the registered number of cars that happen to violate our traffic by-laws. .Young Warburton is a, motorist himself, so evidently, he knows the necessity for such provision. It would be a gr!m coincidence if this tail-light of his were to land him before the Beak on a charge, say, motoring round the Bank of New Zealand corner at" the rate of 100 miles or so per "hour.