The Obserber.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 25, 5 March 1881, Page 252

The Obserber.

Saturday, March sth, ISSI

"Live and lot live" is one of the principles of the Observer, and this being so, I have hitherto refrained from commenting on the continuous begging leaders of Mr. John Brame, ■who seems to have got "a bee in his bonnet," to the eii'cet that the public are particularly interested on the Aveil-being of the Free Press — and will put on sackcloth and ashes — if that eminently religious, but somewhat acridly toned, journal collapses. Now, I am a commonplace man, and can only look at this sort of thing in a commonplace manner. The Press is a private speculation of Mr. Brame's, just as the Observer is a private speculation of mine, and "why he should expect the public to put their hands in their pockets, merely because ifc doesn't, pay, lam at a loss to conceive. The natural inference to a logical mind is that if people wanted the Free l y rcss they would take the paper in. As they don't take it, and as it doesn't pay, I suppose the generality of readers prefer a different kind of literature. What would Mr. Brame think if — let us say a grocer — advertised in the papers that his business didn't pay, and were to ask his friends to give him money ? Why, he would laugh the fellow to scorn as a most impudent mendicant, and yet this is just precisely what the worthy scribe has been doing himself for months past.

I can understand a man going round to a few friends and saying, " I am in difficulties; will you be good enough to lend me a little cash to see me through them." That is an ordinary enough favour for a man to ask another, and one that nobody would have a right to criticise. Mr. Brame, however does not do this. On the contrary, he "takes round the hat," with an assurance that a London beggar might envy, and is continually inventing new devices to wring out an extra shilling or two.

In the next issue of the Free Press yon will be told that I am one of those numerous and bitter, but mysterious and generally nameless enemies, "who are devoting their lives to the destruction of the Free Press. Upon my word I think Mr. Brame ought to be congratulated on his enemies. What he would do without them heaven knows ! They are the staff of life to him. Through them (mysterious mortals !) he is enabled to assume the role of a martyr and give increased force to his touching appeals for "coin." The dark souled traitor who "offered £5 to anyone who would assist a criminal prosecution against the Free Press" must have been the means of enabling the proprietor of that journal to make at least a tenner, and, if only he had carried out his direful threat, and really brought the action against Mr. Brame, what a, glorious lift it would have given his paper.

And now- let me say that I have no personal motive whatever in making these remarks. The extinction of the Free Press would not, I firmly believe, add a single copy to the Observer's subscription list. Our lines are quite different, and we don't interfere with each other in any way. If only Mr. Brame had adhered to legitimate means for keeping his paper going, I shouldn't have said a word. But he hasn't, and I imagine no one knows this better than himself, or feels more ashamed of it. That he will, as the saying is, "give me a one-ncr" very shortly, I am of course well aware. For attributing vile motives, and insinuating the nastiest things in the nastiest manner, commend me to your eminently religious men. We wicked ones are nowhere beside them. But then good feeling, good breeding, and good manners, restrain us ; whereas I have noticed that somehow or other " truly pious persons " don't care much about such trifles.

MB. S.UI MOIfHIX

_ I hear from Wellington that the rumours of dissension among Ministers are stranger than ever. They cannot agree about filling the vacant portfolio. They cannot agree ahout the ])olicy to be pursued towards the Maoris, nor abmit dealing -with the Maori prisoners. Some of the Ministers have strong conflicting views on local government, and others on education. .Some are for the Property Tax. Others for its instant repeal. Some want the native lands to go to their friends. Others think they should go to the public. Some hate the very "name of Liberalism, and never speak of ""the Great Liberal party," except with a sneer. Others sincerely desire progress in Government as in other directions. Mr. Oliver's unpopularity is also a sore point. My correspondent tells 'me that, among well-informed people in Wellington there is a general opinion that the Ministry will break up before the House meets, but that, in order to avoid a Grey Government beingformed, the Premier will try to bring about a reconstruction from Ids own side of the House, and recommend the Governor to send for Mr. Kolleston.

Mr. Rolleston's chances of support would, I am told, be considerable. He would rally round him those who form what was called the Middle party last session— members mildly liberal, but professing a teirible fear of Sir George Grey. On education, Rolleston is staunch ; and of local government in its fullest sense, he has always been an enthusiastic supporter. No one questions his energy and honesty as an administrator. His difficulty, it is thought, would be with the Grey party, who regard him as a runaway from their ranks. He was an earnest and hearty supporter of Sir George's while' the fight for" the old provinces was going on, but seceded on his land policy. His secession was open, and, while the Grey party was in full power, not a desertion in the midst of a fight, or in the face of a difficulty. Rolleston is therefore still respected, and, I am inclined to think, would receive from Sir George Grey and his supporters more assistance than is generally believed. He has always been strongly in favour of popular government, Avhich not only has his personal sympathies, but which he regards as the only government possible in New Zealand. I may add that Mr. Rolleston has a farm of some few hundred acres in Canterbury, was twice superintendent of that province, and is a cultivated and accomplished gentleman.

Rather an exciting incident enlivened the passengers by the "Iona" on a recent trip to Mongomii. The swell schoolmaster of the district and a lady relative of his Avere on hoard and the sea being rough, the latter was very seasick. At length, however, the steamer arrived at her destination, and the passengers began to disembark. Everything wen t O n well till the lady referred to ascended the gangway Hoav the accident happened I don't exactly know, but the story goes— that she Avas Aveak and dizzy, and, on touching the Avharf, made a false step backward into the sea. Before anyone could cry "chopsticks," Captain Stevenson Avas overboard and had hold of the poor Avoman The schoolmaster lneamvliilc took oft his overcoat, and, dancing about the deck, be»an wrestling Avith his sleeve-links Wliether°he meant to go to his drowning relative's assistance Avhen he had got them off, and put them in a safe place, nobody seems to know ; but as Captain Stevenson and the lady Avere both safe on the Avharf before he had lossenecl one of them, there was luckily no occasion for any

display of heroism. The moral of this little story is that you niusn't wear stiiHy starched cuffs and valuable sleeve-links, or else when your wife's drowning you'll have to choose betwixt loosing her or them.

The disclosures in Wellington as to the treatment of patients in the "Lunatic Asylum are startling, and have created a deep sensation throughout the Colony. Two or three years ago an experienced superintendent "was brought out from England, at a high salary, on purpose to regulate and inspect the Colonial Asylums. All local control was practically abolished. Everything was centred in the Inspector's office, in Wellington. Dr. Skae is regarded as able and energetic. Yet, his inspection, even on the spot, in Wellington has not prevented the grave abuses charged against the Asylum there. The fact, I presume, is that no single man can do the work of inspection among the widely-scattered asylums of New Zealand. Still less can he do that, and at the same time effectively superintend an asylum in Wellington. There will be a cry for more officers and more expenditure to meet the evil. No doubt this is the only cure if the asylums are to be managed from Wellington. But what if they were handed over to some of our local bodies ? Surely they are competent to undertake the control.

The police, too, are often in trouble. That case in which ji respectable Auckland tradesman was taken violently from his own shop door and locked up for' a night in the police cells, is fresh in my recollection. Lately, again, I hear that two sons of a respectable and wellknown settler, at Dairy Flat, were arrested for cattle stealing, and detained in custody for a week. Bail was refused, and yet, at the end of the week, the police withdrew the charge, finding it groundless. It was a hard case, and I hear the two Bluchers intend applying to the Assembly for redress. But it is "a far cry to Lochaber." In such cases the petitioner must go down at great expense, and bring witnesses to prove his case before the Select Committee, or they will not take it into consideration. That some advantage may be gained by removing the police from local control is quite possible. But such cases as are certainly cropping up in one part of the Colony or another make it doubtful whether this advantage is not far too dearly purchased.

Even our magistrates would be none the worse if made occasionally to feel the pressure of local responsibility. Sentences, like that on a boy, given by Mr. Barstow a few weeks ago, for stealing a little fruit, occasionally send a shock through the community. They outrage all sense of natural justice and belong to the school of Alderman Crite with his one idea of " putting it down :-" But Mr. Watts, K.M., of Dunedin, has apparently beaten anything done elsewhere. His sentences on the boy fruit plunderers who came before him. have sent a thrill of horror through the colony, and excited the liveliest indignation in Dunedin. I .suppose and hope we have not heard the last of the a Hair yet.

Are our gaols free from suspicion ? I wish I could say they were, but the case of John Wilson, brought by Mr. McCaughan before th Assembly last session makes it impossible to think so. Wilson made repeated complaints of ill-health and pain, but was refused credence and forced to work, till one morning the gaoler, on opening the cell, found him lying dead. Mr. McCaughan took the case up very warmly and declared that the man had been killed by' harsh treatment and cruel neglect. The disclosures before Mr. Barton's Select Committee — especially the iron rings in the cells (in Wellington) by which prisoners were cruelly secured when put in drunk and troublesome — and similar exposures that crop up from time, cannot btit create uneasiness and mistrust in the efficiency of the distant inspection which is no inspection, and the distant responsibility which is no responsibily at all.

Despite all that lias been said, sworn, and ■written to his disci-edit, the People's Champion is not without a few redeeming traits. Had lie not the manly candour to acknowledge in a crowded court, and while still angered by the testimony given against him by the wife of his bosom, that Mrs. Staines was " a regler whale at blue munge?" The insensate audience of course laughed loudly at the perspiring defendant's rendering of the Gallic designation, but there Avere a few who confessed an admiration at the generous acknowledgment, and especially at the graphic form in which it was made. Mr. Hesketh appeared to be astounded by the declaration, and solemnly reminded the witness that he was on his oath. Then George rose grandly to the sublimity of the occasion. Realising fully the important bearing which his admission must be having upon the case, he drew himself up with the air of a man who has bestowed some valuable gift upon an undeserving object, and said, "Yes, your Worship, I must say as how she were a regler don at the blue munge. I'll admit that right enough, even though she has acted badly agin me." After this, who Avill deny Staines, the virtue of candour.

A number of our "young bloods" were out on the spree the other evening. Among them ■was one Avliom I will call Smith. To relieve the minds of the A r arious Smiths in Auckland, as Avell as their relatives — tlie Browns and the Robinsons — I Avould draw attention to the fact that I do not say his name is Smith, but merely that I Avill call him Smith. Now, this Smith — that's the man Avhom I call Smith— is a A r ery mean person. He went out Avith the "youngbloods," and they A T isited various hotels, Avhere all of the party "shouted," Avith the exception of Smith. After everyone had "shouted" several times, it seemed to dawn on Smith that lie Avas acting rather meanly ; so, Avhen the next "shout" took place, lie "said, " Look here, I cannot allow you fellows to j)ay for drinks for me all evening ; I Avill pay for this one myself." Thereupon he took sixpence out of his pocket and laid it down on the counter.

Money, I am told, is so abundant just now that it cannot hud profitable investment. lam not myself one of the sufferers from this plethora. I wish I were. One of the first tilings T should try to encourage, by precept and example, would be the creation of tramways to connect some of our beautiful outlying valleys with the Trunk Railways of the province. Why for instance, should Panmure and Howick languish as they do ? A few thousands judiciously spent, would connect them with Newmarket, and make them practically suburbs of the city. The vallies about Papakura, Papatoitoi and other places near at hand could also be easily connected No soils could be better suited for fruit and gardening, for poultry, and small farming of every kind. I commend the idea to the owners of property in these districts, ft they exert themselves and subscribe enough to show good faith, and leave a reasonable margin, they should not find any difficulty in getting the requisite capital to connect themselves directly with the city. Let me ask them to reflect on the enormous increase a tramway would give to the value of the land they now bold.

MR. JOHN COSCi RAVE.

That truth is sometimes far stranger than fiction will be realised by the following quaint story of an unfortunate' friendship which was told me the other day by a fellow most of you know and who (outwardly, at any rate) doesn't appear to have much romance about him. Hugh Aylmer (I give him this name because it is as unlike his own as possible) is the eldest son of a county magnate in Yorkshire, and when he left school, ten years ago, had as bright prospects as any youth could wish for. His Father put him into their London shipping office, intending- that lie should learn the rudiments of business first, go to Oxford at 20, and return to be received into partnership after taking his degree. This plan, however, broke down, owing to Aylmer's showing symptoms of a complaint hereditary in the family, viz., consumption. He was promptly bundled oft' on a long voyage to India, China, and Australia, and didn't return for IS months. When he did, he was strong enough, but his temper was soured, and his mind embittered. What really happened I don't know. He declares that some girl, whom he fancied he cared a about, jilted him, and that he felt it very deeply. However, that may be, London life seems to have palled upon him from this time, and all sorts of morbid ideas to have entered his head. One was that his friends, or nominal friends "sponged" on him. They didn't I don't suppose more than most young men do on anybody who happens to be a little better off than themselves ; but the fellows mind was jaundiced, and he saw everything in the worst possible light. About this time there came into the business, as office boy, a youth two or three years younger than Aylmer. He was not exactly a gentleman, that is to say he happened to be the son of trades people, but he was a perfect young Apollo, well built, manly and handsome as the day. Directly Aylmer saw the boy he took a fancy to him. It was, however, difficult to show any preference in such a large office without exciting envy, malice, hatred and all uncharitableness, and for some weeks the pair hardly .spoke. Time, however, enabled Aylmer to make opportunities, and his liking for Alan increasing, he surreptitiously took him abroad to Switzerland for three weeks. There came the rub. Alan's people Avere not, as I have said, strictly speaking gentlefolks, and in society the boy's training leaked out. This determined Aylmer to see him set straight without delay, and when they came back he got him masters of all kinds, and had him brought up to the mark donble-quick. Now, it is not to be sitpposeel that, had he known about them, Mr. Aylmer, senr., would have viewed these proceedings with favour, but he did not. His time was much taken up with business, and as he trusted his -son implicitly, he made but few enquiries as to how he spent his time.

Early in the year 1574 Aylnier began to Let. Up to that time he had cared little about racing, and known less but happening to win a £60 stake on George Fredericks Derby, the mania for gambling seized him, and throughout that year his luck was ■wonderful. On the Legcr, indeed, he met with a loss, but this was quickly made up by winnings on the Great Autumn Handicaps, and after Shrewsbury he had got about £1500. .Next year reverses came in quick succession. The ' Grand National, Lincoln Handicap, Two Thousand and Chester Cup made heavy inroads into the winnings, and by Derby day Aylmer had lost his £1500 and £1000 besides. The liing knowing their "pigeon's" father to be a rich man, were complaisancy itself, (ready to wait any time and perhaps it wa this as much as any thing

induced the young fool to go to Ascot for a final mn»-. There, to use a common phrase, he 'went for the gloves," and the result was that his losses swelled to £3000. This settled matters. Aylmer knew the money would be paid, but lie also knew that his place in the office and that his future partnership were both gone. There was nothing to be done but make clean breast of it and clear to some other part of the world, and this he promptly did. Mr. Aylmer duly paid the money to the Ring, and at the same time he struck his sons name out of his will.

Before leaving England, Aylmer sent for McDonald and told him the truth. "I am afraid," lie said, "that the fact of your having been niy friend will now do you more harm than good, but I have only two alternatives to otter you. Either you can halve what little ready money I have with me and stay in England, or you can come with me to ' Australia and share my luck there, whatever it happens to be." McDonald never hesitated a moment. "I will go with you," he said; and on the following Saturday the pair sailed in the "Whampoa" for Melbourne. What troubles the two fellows had to endure in Victoria during the following six months, I can't tell you. Aylmer says they were very ordinary ones, but that they were both galling and humiliating is evident from the fact that he doesn't care to talk of them. The trouble and disgrace, however seem only to have soldered the liking of the friends The fact is I suppose they were quite alone and relied almost wholly on each other.

All would probably have gone well, but that Aylmer's health broke down. Never very strong, the excitement of the betting ring, followed by the disgrace of his collapse and troubles in Australia, proved too much for him and lie fell ill. Alan nursed him with the kindly tenderness of a woman, but by-and-bye the agents of Hugh's father found them out and growing afraid that the young man might die on their hands insisted on his returning home. Aylmer was not in a state to rebel against anything just then, so on the agents agreeing to Alan accompanying him they took ship again. The voyage to England was long and dreary. Aylmer got worse in the middle of it, and but for his friend's care would probably have gone off the hooks. On arrival in England the two were met with a mandate to separate. For a long time they refused, but at last the following terms were made. It was agreed that Aylmer should say good-bye to McDonald, and go to Dunedin for three years, the latter in the meantime being apprenticed to a first-class employ (he wanted to go to sea) as midshipman. When this was settled, the pair spe7it a last day together and bade eacli other farewell.

The sequel of this yam is the most curious part of it. Aylmer's adventures in Dunedin were peculiar. I can't tell you -what they were, ■because it would be letting "the cat out of the hag." Suffice it to say that for the first twelvemonths he was unlucky, and then by the merest chance he jumped all at once into congenial employment and a fairly good position. To make a long story short, at the end of the stipulated three years he was independent and able to write— "Dear Alan,— Our troubles are OA'er You can go back to England as soon as you like. I Avill meet you there in September." By this time, of course, the breach between Mr. Aylmer and his son had been healed and everything was right again. It merely required, Alan's presence to complete Hugh's good luck. He (Hugh) arrived home and waited expecting to see the arrival of the boy's ship in the papers everyday. At length the long- anticipated message arrived and soon after it a letter. The writer was Alan's mother, and this is what she said : "My dear son was washed overboard in a storm on the 14th of August."

THE MASTER OF CITY EAST

What Aylmer felt and suffered when at last lie could be got to realise the terrible trntli, I leave those who have endured a similar* sorrow to imagine. For several weeks the poor chap hardly spoke and for London and London life he conceived an unconquerahle aversion. Eventually nothing would suit him but going back to New Zealand, and though his friends wished him to stay at home they were obliged to give way. He 'lives now a very quiet life, speaking to few, and steadfastly refusing to visit anywhere. It is not however, likely that he will stay here long' He has plenty of money, and having a decided taste for travel, means to indulge it. But for this I should not like to tell the yarn, as facts leak out in a most extraordinary way here and my friend might be identified