PARS AROUT PEOPLE

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 781, 23 December 1893, Page 5

PARS AROUT PEOPLE

John Abbott considers that the verdict in the Barwell case was iniquitous. There certainly was- iniquity somewhere. The popular Lohr, now piloting the Brough-Bouoicault Company, and who is now making his way up North, is accompanied by his wife (Miss Kate Bishop) this trip. Mr Harrow met Walters in South Africa. Walters .was formerly master of Auckland Old Men's Home. He is now manager of a diamond mine and -Joing well. Bnt he says the food there is so bad that he would be glad of the refuse they used to throw away at the Home. Dr. Dalziel still resides at Pukekohe. He is often on the platform there when the Auckland through train arrives. The doctor once seen will not soon be forgotten. He wears a cloth helmet, a sort of stonecoloured riding suit and a long gingerhued beard. His get up is a cross between that of a bush-ranger and a poineer, with a touch of the American backwoodsman and the gold-digger thrown in.

Myra Kemble opens on Boxing Night. We wish her a bocming season. Mr F. E. Bautne goes to Sydney next Saturday. He is not likely to bo opposed for the Bast Ward. Professor Aldis is absolutely to ' go. The Government decline to interfere" For this relief, many thankß. C O. Montrose has gone to England to press his claims to a family estate said to be worth .£150.000. If it comes off, it should pan out a bit better than newspaper work Sir Arthur Sullivan has netted .£IOO,OOO as the result of the sale of ' The Lost Chord.' Antoinette Sterling says the famous song 1 was written expressly for her. What does Sir Arthur say ? Troubles seldom come singly. Mrs Hamilton, hotel-keeper at Carterton (Wairarapa) was recently robbed of all her money, lost her eldest son by drowning, and was forced into the Bankruptcy Conrt as the result of the robbery, and all within the space of one short week !

The Barwell case wipes John Abbott's philanthropy slate pretty clean. Mr Hastie, secretary of the National Association, has just returned from a wellearned fortnight's holiday at itotorua. Mr A. Taylor, of Brown, Campbell andCo's., is, we are sorry to learn, dangeronsly ill from a kind of blood poisoning or fever. Governor Hopetoun is reported to have won over Tareoola's victory. An astonishing number of people seem to have backed the ontsider after all. Mr ODea, an ex-candidate for Wellington, and Mr -James Wilkie, editor or Wellington Evening Press, recently had a small pugilistic encounter, due apparently to the bellicose disposition of the ODea, who was somewhat damaged in the encounter. Mr J. R. McDonald, organising agent for the Australian Shearers Union, has been in Hawke's Bay for some time making the necessary arrangements for the establishment of branches there. He leaves shortly for the other coast. Significant ! Mr Northcroft, 8.M., is evidently determined to put down ' pushes ' and ' pushites. He sent up a young rough lastweek for a month ' without the option ' for a brutal and unprovoked assault, ihe sentence will do more to put down this class of offence 3 than all the talky-talky the world. Mr Fred. Dawson, advance agent for the Payne Family, has now been three years with the Company. Mr Dawson j was a pupil of the popular Lohr, having acted as assistant to the latter during the Lincoln season. And, like Lohr, Mr Dawson possesses a pleasant manner and much tact. Neville Barnett, organist at St. Mary's Cathedral, is, says Sydney Truth, too outspoken a musical critic for the S M. Herald. He has therefore resigned this position. Neville should take a hint from his dramatic confrere, and praise everything. He will never be found out then. Mr P. W. Clayden, the newlyelected President of the British Institute of Journalists is assistant-editor of the Daily Neivs, and was Chairman of the London district branch when the Institute received its Royal Charter. He is a brother of Mr Arthur Clayden, of Nelson, who is well known in this colony. ' Jack ' Parker writes us from Sydney to point out that in crediting G. M. Reed with the famous«Kaskowiski hoax, in a reoent issue, we were in error. Eight, Jack, right, so we were. Of course it was, as you say, Editor Luckie, who, while editing the Southern Cross, gave the Kaskowiski yarn to the world. The mistake was the result of pure inadvertence. Mr J. Murrell, manager in New Zealand of the Huddart. Parker line of steamers, has taken offices in Queen's Chambers. This looks very much as if the new line has come to stay. Mr Murrell is bringing over his family from Hobart, and intends to take up his permanent residence in New Zealand. All these arrangements are not being made ior one steamer only. Look out for the Ellingimite. Mr Roy Gushing, the well-known comic vocalist, and who has been a member of some first-class variety companies, was lately stopping at the Palace Hotel, Te Aroha, where his services were most obligingly given at several enjoyable little smoke concerts got up by the holiday visitors at the hotel. Mr Cuahing sings ' coster ' Bongs quite as well as the muchpaffed Lonnen, but is infinitely more modest. He plays his own accompaniments, and plays them well. He delights his hearers. Rev. S. J. Neill has given a glaring example of his heresy. He has written : — ' I am a Christian first and a Presbyterian afterwards.' Rank heresy, indeed, to give Presbyterianism only a secondary place to Christianity. It would have helped Mr Neill's cause with the General Assembly more if he had written : 'lam a Presbyterian first and a rogne afterwards.' An essential doctrine with the descendants of the Scottish Covenanters is that the Presbyterian must come first, no matter what comes afterwards.

Lord Glasgow has decided to throw open Government House Grounds at Wellington during his periodical absences from that city. And yet the Metropolitan Ground, which is a bare paddock, is closed to the people of Auckland. The original of the famous detective of fiction, Sherlock Holmes (Professor Bell) has been investigating the Ardlamont mystery, but, up to date, he has not unravelled the same. The detective of fiction and the deteotive of fact are two entirely different and distinct individuals. Thus Editor Isifct, the temperance enthusiast, in reference to one of the successful candidates for Christchurch : ' We do not hesitate to acknowledge that the one fly of disappointment in the ointment of our satisfaction at the result of the late election is the selection of Mr W. W. Collins as one of the representatives for | our own Christchurch constituency.' Mr Collins reply (in Truth) to the above was calculated to make the reverend gentleman sorry he spoke, or rather wrote. Isitt is no match for CoUins.

Dr. Talinage has been booked by little Smythe for a colonial tour. The great preacher has made a bargain with the much-travelled who will, we presume, take a percentage of the collections in return for showing 1 the famous American parson the run of ths ropes. ' Piccolo Charlie ' has just gone into Wellington Benevolent Home for three months. He was destitute. ' Charlie's ' history has been a varied one. He received a classical education, and at one time had brilliant prospects. He came to Hokitika in the early days of the goldfever, and was for some time leader of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, at a big salary. But evil days were in store for Charley, whose tin whistle has often earned him a meal and a bed since he and regular employment parted company. Twenty years ago he was left a fortune, and a draft was sent out from England to pay his expenses Home. But he wouldn't go. Said he should disgrace his friends and relations. But why he didn't send for the fortune is } ot quite clear.

ONE OP THE PILLARS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,