LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12260, 2 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

VIM me hare audience for a word °°'" *•*** m — Shakespero. ~ CH m old citizen as Mr. William Swan--1 must not be permitted to pass away iithout a few words from one who knew ■Li in the sixties. At that time he was a rreat power in the community, perhaps on £ whole the most influential citizen in 'Auckland, because he was known and esteemed in every circle. The most influential merchant knew him, and every wearer 0 a blue jumper recognised him as a '■brother. Perhaps no man did better work for Am'klaiul hi the early days. He was a member of the Provincial Council, of the City Board of Commissioners, and of various other bodies, and in all the positions he occupied no one ever dreamt of accusing him of being corrupt or self-seeking. I have never in my life listened to more telling speeches than those which lie used to deliver irhen a member of the Provincial Council, and I lave had considerable experience in {hat linj. They had genius in them, with the real eloquence of force and conviction and earnestness. Mr. Swanson never in the Horse of Representatives equalled himself in the Provincial Council. He seemed always afraid in Wellington of "letting himself go," and appeared to be under a kind of restraint which in Auckland he was free from.. Mr. Swanson hud had a !soro?wlMt hard upbringing, and had spent some rears in the rough work of a, farm in the north of Scotland. He had had very .litt'.ti si ooling, but he had made up the deficiency as far as possible by extensive leading, which his natural faculties enabled him to retain and make use of. There were few subjects he could not speak on with profit to anyone who listened. His trainii):* and life had had its proper effect of putting him in sympathy with all around him. I remember sitting beside him at a hotel in Wellington when the servant came round arid recited a long string of dishes which he might have for dinner. He looked utterly puzzled for a moment, and then said, "Gang awa'. lassie, and bring me a bit o' lean meat o' ony kind." Once when a landlord was complaining about a servant, and saving that lie had tried every means for improvement without effect, Mr. Swanson asked, ''Have ye tried a rise o* wages?" No one could tell better than he could of the early days in the bush, and of the peculiarities of those who made up Auckland goon after its formation.

That he was a man of genuine charity and consideration for others few who knew Ju'm would doubt. In the years 1865 and 1856 great distress and poverty prevailed in Auckland. Stone-breaking, flax-dressing, and even a soup kitchen were in our midst, search of employment, leaving their wives and children badly provided for. Mr. Swanson then resided at the back of the new Chamber of Commerce buildings, in what was then called West Queen-street. He knew of the hardships of the poor, tnd for a period of eight months, as regular as the first of the month came round, he brought to the then relieving officer, Mr. John King, his cheque for £50, to pay for fuel, rent, and other necessary supplies— including even delicacies and medicine in special cases— relieve the strain on the provincial chest (which had very little in it), and to support the deserving poor of the present North Ward. The whole amount was .subsequently repaid, and the then Superintendent, Mr. John Williamson, and Mr. E. B. Luskj Acting-Provincial Treasurer, both wrote and thanked Mr. Swanson for his generous help and timely a.id. The deceased would not hear of anything like interest, and never received any. Shortly after this the Thames gold-fields were discovered, and prosperity followed. Even as I write there is an old lady now living who will never forget Mr. iSwanson's memory. She is over eighty. Many years ago she lost her husband, who died poor. Mr. Swanson knew both well, and he made her a gift of a cottage and land, which brings her in about fourteen shillings a week less taxes. This, with her old age pension, enables this worthy colonist and widow to get along without much anxiety for tomorrow. I could enumerate a number of ether acts of generosity. The late Legislative Councillor and settler has given us a record which should keep his memory green. One of the many public duties of Mr. Swanson was in the eighties, when he was one of a Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the control and management of the prison, asylum, and hospital, and the treatment of the inmates of these establishments. The late Sir Frederick Whitaker was then Attorney-General and Superintendent. The reforms recommended were all carried out, and a variety of matters were authorised which proved .most beneficial.

Touching Sunday trams where can we better go for an example than to Dunedin? We in Auckland like to excel the Southern aty in many things, but surely it is impossible to go beyond Duuedin in sanctity, or rather sanctimoniousness. Some time since the Rosiyn tram service was stopped in deference to those people who object to Sunday trams. Now, however, it is stilted that the management propose to resume the running. It is claimed, and quite proPCTy, that the consideration of the public convenience should be a determining factor m the settlement of the character of a service that is conducted under concessions granted by the public. This argument ha i been somewhat lost sight of in Auckland, where many people seem to think that the whole question should be settled by the sentiment of those who are at perfect liberty not to use the trains if % do not think proper to do so.

, I thmk thai "the result of the municipal elections must, on the whole, give satisfaction to all those who have the best interests w the city at heart. It is really a victory for we citizens and a defeat for petty organisations that have succeeded for some considerable time past, bv mere bluff, in impressing everybody with the ide? that they were all powerful Our Parliamentary representatives had bettor take note of yeisterdav's poii m g. Some 0 the candidates for the v-ouncil who have been rejected are good pen, but on the whole the Council has been ™proved, and we feel sure that it will work "} harmony with the Mayor for the good « Auckland, "Last, loneliest, loveliest, exquiaito, apart."

Amongst the stories current as to "inpet(i!l4'" voters is one of an ' oW la, 3y who > net', she got possession of a voting paper, appealed to a bystander, saving that she anted to vote for Mr. Btichbury. Mr. Wichbury was the last on the list, and the allTa pendent was told, " Score out "»«» names on the list except the last, rfy°, will be right," But the old ladv «nied toe list upside down faithfully scorva out every name except the last, which SEW *? be Mr Hew son's. She then the paper, proudly conscious of aav cone- her duty.

fa£v ? in Auckland knows the eccensf, «Kit«a of Venerable Archdeacon Odder, *?ai makes due allowance for his utterances, I ooociy Mf therefore, surprised at the speech l-fiL™ about the new bishop at DevonS»f * »■ f i ther evraill S- First, he recalls ' . jJJ Bishop Neligan can sing the litany -:■ n»+' , an ever it hod been sung before." J; all right so far as it goes, but for tlift ?7 part * do Dot mucl:i care whether UMn n 3 '* raid or BUU B- * should look & gjS Ur - Nehgan's qualifications in the 1 of V 8 of the litany as the very smallest i itAA recomm^ dations. Btf then the «■■ r?¥ on to sav that " he "would - donhi ?\l m job for £5000 a yea.." 1 -'" serf™', 1 ? &rclldea coi can here be taken : - ha n nl!: y j / don ' fc know what would have .' ffi;T a ! ou the death of Bishop Cowie, - : con st?, opnc had been offered to Archdeaaudt!r. with a salary of £5000 a year.

Would lie have cried out,, "Nolo cpiscopari?" I believe that he Would have discovered a distinct call to sacrifice himself, and to accept the position, to which he was called. I dissent altogether from the picture of the position drawn by the veil. Archdeacon. He speaks as if the people had chosen Dr. Neligan, and were now engaged in digging pitfalls for him. I don't believe there is any feeling of the kind. As for inciting him to sneak everywhere, and so urging him to indulge in "more talk than one man had wains to hold" (to use the archdeacon's picturesque, but vague, phrase), surely Dr. Neligan can guard against that not verj dangerous pitfall. But, perhaps, the most extraordinary pronouncement of the archdeacon's is his last" He is but mortal, and an Irishman at that." I could have overlooked that phrase if an Irishman had given utterance to it. But I presume that Archdeacon Colder is an Englishman, although he has many times manifested the disposition of an Irishman. I believe that it will be possible, even for an impulsive Irisuman, to avoid any pitfalls which the new bishop will find here, and I only wish that the diocese had the sum the archdeacon speaks of to offer him as salary.

I have had various inquiries from females, more or less interesting, as to when the Ministerial proposal to give £100 to every woman who loses her husband, with £5 for every child, was to come into operation. I can't tell, because I don't know. But possibly Parliament next session will be in a good humour. And nere is a practical question for all the women's leagues. And the benefit might even go further. For instance, I know many wives whose husbands are little better than a nuisance to them. Why should not a. wife in that position be paid the £100 without the necessity of putting herself in the circumstances of a widow? Why give a premium to the crime so much feared by Dr. Bakewell? But then, I bethink me also, that money may be getting scarce. These impudent, ignorant moneygrabbers in London who have lately presumed to question whether we were going the right way in spending the money they lend us are bleeding us more and more severely every time we go, and indeed threating to button up the breeches pockets for good. But fortunately we have the Premier, who has told them that no knot~*Of greedy speculators in London shall be permitted to dictate the policy of New Zealaud. And then he has informed New Zealand, which did not know it before, that "the Government has nine millions in the banks." By all means let us commence to collect, the claims for the £100 grants. The Minister who first suggested the idea ought to have a big testimonial from the recipients at the end of the first year.

Everybody is saying in town that the city roll is in an unsatisfactory state, and especially the roll for the South Ward. It is said that there are houses somewhere in that ward returning a rental of 7s 6d per week, and on which twelve persons are registered. I don't know the facts of my own knowledge. I should have to ask Mr. Glover, who was at the head of the poll. But I have a proposal to make to the new Mayor and Council, and that is to nominate Mr. John King as a commissioner to take up the South Ward roll and purify it. Then the work would be done in a royal fashion. ? Merctjtio.