PERSONAL PARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 184, 26 December 1908, Page 1

PERSONAL PARS.

Mr m.- «. Riddell, S.M., wellknowaas the -Iron Djiike, is at present spending a holiday down South. T' * • 'Tec. Williams, or Mount Coot, leltior the Manawatu district) on Wednesday,, where he is spending a well-merited /holiday*/ . ■ 9- m m ; . M* iW.- H. HanMns, of Falmerston Nortfh, and Secretary of the Manawatu Boxing Association, is m Sydney just 110 w, whither lie journeyed to see .the, Burns- Johnson scrap. • • . ' •■ Wellington's senior Stipendiary Magis- ! trate Dr. McArthur left the Empire City ! on Tuesday for tyieenstown, where he is spending a br;ef holiday. He will return to Wellington about' January -9^ •.. ' * • Harry Overton, the genial actor chap.,, who last appeared here m "The Man Prom Mexico,", was a passenger by the Maheno. He is now with Mr J . C. Williamson's Company appearing at the Opera 'Tec. 'Jack Cassells has been holidaying during the past fortnight, 'but a martyr to duty, he had to return to the city for the purpose of giving evidence m an assault and robbery case, and the holiday was thus broken^ * ' • • • .' • Sub-Inspector O'Donovan, formerly of Wellington, liow of Palmerston North, paid, a brief visit to the city last week, when his genial personality was welcomed by all his force -subordinates, whilst the members of the fourth estate bailed him with deligQt.j ' .' 9 ' * • George ' Hendry, the '"New Zealand Times" ' police court recording angel,, having recuperated his latent energies at dour Duneain has returned to Wellington and is again m harness, his curly nob being a co;nspicuous featured at . . the press table m. the Iron Duke's court. Mr George H. 'Smith, Jtor many 'years right-hand man with the late Wilson Barrett, is , here m the like capacity for J. C. Williamson's Star Dramatic Combination. Mr Smith is a distinctly urbane, genial gentleman, so long may he "bfcr/i '■ •■ *' ' • .■ •■ Hon. John Rigg dearly loveth a scrap, and his classic countenance at the ringside at the Opera House on Tuesday night recalls to mind the fact that the Hon. John could mix things himself, " and perhaps still can, m the days that are no more. John Rigg is an old comp., and what is more, is still a democrat, as all comps. should be., Nothing of the raU about John R. A yisitor to Wellington during the week was Mr C. B. Rodders, Auckland representative of the Ocean Accident Co. C.B. is not looking too. well,, and his rear reason for 1 visiting this city was to consult Professors Elliott and Godfrey at the Opera House on Tuesday night last. After seeing the two professors he felt much improved, although it is stated that had the Auckland professor had the support of Dr. NapierMcLean he .would have been .much more pleased.; „»'•■ ■ • " • The Rev. D. C. Bates, the genial promoter of the Wellington Zoo, and a keen observer of human nature, was early at the wharf on Wednesday to meet the Maheno, on boand of .which he expected two deer. Other people also' were there awaiting the arrival of sundry dears, but none were more enthusiastic than the little parson chap, who is a broad-mind-ed cleric with a great interest, m the poor. In faot, it is mainly on behalf of the poor that Mr Bates. , takes such an interest m the Zoo, and he has expended the money fleceived for the purpose most judiciously, making it go as far as possible. But the little fellow regrets that the wealthier residents of New Zealand do not come forward with enough liberal spirit and his views are shared by other people who devote much time to public institutions. • * ' * • ' Poor old Howard Vernon. the Lord High Executioner, and- other operatic panjandrams of by-gone days', has fallen on evil times when he has "to play m one-horse hamlets of the back-blocks. Not long ago he lost most of his equipment, and his young wife was injured on a trip from the Wet Coast, and latterly we find him under the curtain m the fast and furious town of Akaroa. It is true he raised the wind by paying £5 to the regatta' committee for the use of the local hall on regatta night, and had \ a full house, but a full house isn't an enormous crowd m the town where Whelch comes from. Moreover, the company subsequently played to empty benches, which is a most dispiriting; experience. A sort of national collection amongst playgoers ought to be started to assist the plucky old boy. ¥ • • There's a vacancy m the Justice Department just at present. A hangman is wanted as Tom Long is now numbered with the past. Tom Long for years' past made neat jobs of the Law's victims, and swung malefactors with a simplicity and grace and ease — and rope, of course — that was charming, but he had been out of collar for sometime past as there was no one to scrag. Anyhow, while bush-, felling at Kuangaroa, the other day, Tom was killed and it is to be hoped he will not be tormented, wherever he is, by those he sent out of this wicked world. Tom's hop habits always made it the easiest thing m the world for the police when Jack Ketch was wanted. The police. ran him m and kept him m so that he .would be sober for the job. After it was over, well that's quite another thing. Anyhow, applications toi the vacated job are invited, Doa't all speak at onctj

Mr and Mrs P. r J. O'Regan and theTß children left by the Mapourika on Wednesday fbr the West Coast, ; where they, will spend a short holiday^ , / * •• . Messrs A. F. Wilding, H. A. Parken and P. M. B. Fisher, M.P., returned to, Wellington from Sydney on Tuesday. MB Fisher intends to participate m the ten-*---nis tournament at Nelson. ■ » ■ . . • m Mr George Titheradge, popularly knows as "Tith," it. may not be generally! known has the unique record of being the man who proclaimed the late Queen Victoria Empress of India. a .•'■.• Miss Ola Humphrey, the "lead ing ladyj of the J. 0. Williamson Star Dramatic Combination, and who, by the way, issaid to give a remarkable interpretation* of the thief m the play of that name, is an American lady of French extraction whose hobby, oti. the-, stage is waters color painting. The clever lady is rei puted to be really excellent with (the palette and brush. ' ' "_...,-- --.». .». m ' -v r Mr Harry Kolker, the leading man witli J. C. Williamson's Star DramaUic Com-, bination that opens on Saturday, is said to be one of the beauty actors of the American Stage.' Tall,' with * a fine voice and a manly and impressive bearing and the lineaments of. a Greek god, H.K. may, possibly cause serious uutterings m the. local dovecots. Added~ to this Mr jßLolv.* er is also a fine actor., „• ' , %i i . "■;■> .» • * '"it is true that an actor, if he H gifted with the right artistic tempera-i ment, lives for the time the part he is' playing. To convey to his audience the true sympathy necessary he must become the character so thoroughly as to forget entirely his alter ego which carries on its' life beyond the theatre walls. '* George Titheradge .-"Pn Acting and the Emotions.**' •'■ • *. It is not often that this journal has any tame for Joe Payten, editor and pn* prietor of the "Wairarapa Daily Times,"' but to use legal phrase, "Truth" corn dially concurs m Joe's remarks expressed as follows :— '"We were askeel to-day what we thought of Mr Massey's late speech at Devonport. We replied that we had not read it, and did not intend to read rfy There should be a close season at Christ* mas for politicians.'" Charles Berkeley is certainly one of Jj C. Williamson's most hustling touring managers. A week ago he was m Auckland superintending three farewell nights of "Mrs Wiggs" and at the same time" arranging for the premiere of the "Red Mill" Company m the same city. After fathering .the new Star Dramatic Coini bination which opens with Titheradge and Co, m Wellington on Saturday m "The Thief," C.B. sprints back to Aucki land to advance the big musical show., Dick Arnst, champion sculler of the world, on returning to Wellington was met by a few friends and admirers and entertained privately. This is somewhat different to the treatment meted out to Webb when he annexed the championship. Then .Wellington ran riot and Webb wag entertained during the sitting ol i'arlianient, by the members, m Bellamy's, and Sir Joseph patted him on the back and talked m his suave manner of the glories of New Zealand. But "Dick," himself a New .Zealander and having proved himself immeasurably ,the superior of Webb, is al* lowed to pass through the Empire (Jity practically unnoticed. "Dick," you had no right to shatter the idol, of JNew Zealand's aflleged sportsmen. Where, oh where are the boasted sportsmanlike qualities of New Zealanders, that they failed m this case to "render honor to whom honor ig due" :? « • • The . Fuller gKobe-trotting company, con J sisting of Mr John Fuller, Ben and Mrs Ben Fuller, and Mrs John Fuller, junior, arrived by the Maheno on \Yednesaay., John pere has been sight-seeing m, England, the. Continent, Asia, Africa, America, Japan and Woolloomoolloo, and has picked up many wrinkles — not m the (ace —which will be of service to the amuse-ment-catering firm and beneficial to the patrons of the Fuller houses, which, it is safe to predict, wi&l be even fuller than ever. Mr John looks himself, and has apparently benefitted by the trip, and it is to be hoped that he will again lift up his melodious and tuneful voice to please -his many admirers m this Dominion. Mrs Ben, Mrs John, junior, and the evergreen and übiquitous Ben himself have had a right royal, roystering, rollicking time over t'other side, whither they went m the dim past for the purpose *of meeting and welcoming John pere back to tuesouthern portion of Fuller's earth. Mrs Ben looked quite chic as she stood on the upper deck of the majestic Maheno beside Ben himself, who looked bluff and hearty as of old, and the loving couple, who are just like two cooing doves, had to nod their heads and shake their flippers continuously as they were hailed by their hundreds of friends and acquaintances. Mrs John, junior, also looked the picture of health and happiness m her spic and span costume, and was bailed with delight as she was' recognised by her many Wellington friends. The' junior members of the family having spent a long tune enjoying the frivolities of Sydney arui other Australian towns, proceeded to Thursday Island, via the pleasant route inside the Barrier Reef and through the Whitsunday Passage, and the trio cx- ! press themselves as thoroughly pleased i with trhis portion of their outing. At I "Thursday Island .John, senior, was. tendered a "great family welcome \rhen Ho arrived by the-»Yawata Mam, the -Japanese mail boat, and was then safely escorted to Sydney and on to Wellington, where be was given a further hearty family reception. Fuller particulars- ot the | tfuiler tout will be given next ' weekj

The black mare v olodia, who fell while raciag at Plumpton, was a g°od deal shaken up and will require a spell*