PARS ABOUT PEOPLE

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1182, 24 August 1901, Page 8

PARS ABOUT PEOPLE

MB JOHN MCLEOD, who may be looked on as a certainty for the East Ward, made a capit.il impression by his address to the burgesses on Monday night. He is a forceful and logical platforTn speaker, and lays his matter very clearly and .concisely before his audience. •" ' His bent point was made in reply to the allegation that he was a pro-Uoer. His effective answer to that was, in the lirst place, that he was a Highlander ; in the second place, his eldest son was a sergeant with the Seventh Contingent. And, by the way, young McLeod is the youngest sergeant who has represented New Zealand in the field. Mr McLeod's address made a splendid impression altogether. «•• ••• .». Itgis reported on good authority that Herr Slapoti'ski, the talented leader of the Musgrove Opera Company orchestra, and his gifted wife were so charmed with Auckland that they intend to return and settle here. ' ••• ••• ••• Mr David (Joldie's name in the local Police Court reports, as the defendant in a prosecution for not stamping a receipt, has excited no little surprise and comment In the city. The explanation of the matter is, however, very simple. When the money was paid, a stamped receipt was given in the ordinary way, Imt was lost. Some time afterwards, a duplicate receipt was asked for and given for .pro hate purposes, and the reason for the prosecution is that the Department holds that this should Also have been stamped. If this is the correct interpretation of the law, very many 'business men besides Mr (Joldie are law-breakers, hut it is satisfactory to learn that Mr (! oldie intends to test the matter. The Department, we believe, maintains that if the second document is marked "duplicate" it requires a stamp, and, if marked " copy,' dous not. ••• ••• .«. The Rev. C. Worboys, who is wellknown in Auckland, and who latterly has been in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Opotiki, is coining back to this city. The reason lie is leaving Opotiki is that for some time he has suffered severely from neuralgia, which affects his heart, and is aggravated by exposure to the wet and cold he encounters on his visits to outlying districts. ••• ••• ♦•• The descendants and connections- of the late Sir -John McKenzie are not likely to die out for some considerable time. There are now over 100 descendants of John's father in New Zealand. Sir John himself was one of a family of fifteen, and seven of the family have found their -\vay to New Zealand, including his eldest and youngest brothers, aged respectively 69 and 32 years. Also, some of them are in the public service. ••• ••♦ ••• Mr Harry E. Whitlaw, who has tilled the responsible position, of accountant to Messrs Abbott, Oram, and Co. for the last eight years, has severed his connection with that firm in order to embark in business for himself; He has taken over the Lake Taka.puna. Hotel, and under the careful management of himself and wife, thai delightful summer resort ought to becoin* very popular. It is Mr -Whit-law's intention to cater for the comfort and con- ■ venience of visitors who drive out to Takariuna for the day just as much as for bridal couples and fahiilies who come for a week or a fortnight. . This latter branch of the trade will have careful attention, and visitors will be well looked after and made thoroughly at home. Prior to his departure from Abbott, Oram and Co.'s, thefinh presented Mr Whitlow with a gold telescopic pencil-case- and the employees with an afternoon- tea service, entree , dishes and silver-mounted briar pipe.

evidence Ity Francis O'Dowd in ihe Supreme Court on Monday. Underjcross-examination by Mr Reed, he said : —

He did not know hi* wife wan enceinte when he was married to Inn- ; he asked her if she was and .she said no. '

Opinions may differ on wuch matters, but most men would have been more reticent on such a subject, and would have made it a point of honour to protect a dead young wife's name.

There is some trouble on at the Thames just now between Mr Cross, a hotel-keeper, and a police constable named Hodgson. The constable is accused by the hotel- keeper of using bad language in the hearing of Mrs Cross, and otherwise acting abusively, and on Friday night an inquiry was held by Inspector Culleii and evidence taken. Mr Cross is well-known in Auckland, having been a printer- in Albert-street some years ago.

There i.s likely to be strong competition for the position of manager of the Sailors' Home vacated by Mr Little. One of the many applicants is Mr George Itobnon, who was at one time proprietor of the Commercial Dining Koomn in Auckland, and who has had a lifetime's experience in the work of catering. He- is also well known and highly esteemed in Auckland, ami ought to take some Seating on his qualifications.

As many New Zealanders have met Colonel Henry, appointed to the command of the New Zealand Forces, writer, interested in Boers and gore, instituted inquiries recently of a ser-geant-major in one of onr Contingent* : " Did yon ever meet the Colonel in .South Africa?" "Did I what ?" exclaimed the ruddy warrior, " why, I sneaked a mule froiii him, and rode it into Pretoria." Which writer Muds to he quite true.