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Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1195, 23 November 1901, Page 5

Mr Whitely King, a gentleman ynose name was well - known in journalism in New Zealand ten or fifteen years ago, /is at present <in Auckland. At the present' time, he holds the- responsible position of secretary of the N.B. W. Pastoralista Union, but his health having temporarily broken down, he is on a visit to New Zealand for rest and change. Mr Whitely King is a grandson of the Rev. Mr Whitely, who was murdered " by. the Maoris at Whitecliffs in the sixties, and at one time created a stir in the colony by an offer to the then Native Minister to head an expedition against Te Kooti. ••• ••• .«. Nearly twenty years ago, lie contested the Taranaki seat under the auspices of Sir George Grey, but was not successful. Subsequently, he left for Sydney to try his fortunes there, and was at once appointed to the lucrative and responsible position which lie now holds. Mr King's mother and other relatives reside at New Plymouth, whither he goes next week to spend his holiday. Later on, he will pay a visit to Wellington, the scene of many old journalistic experiences, and then will proceed to Southland, in which district his brother resides. ••• ••• »«. Word coiues from the genial Captain Barney Toddat Capetown. " Barney," when he got his D.5.0., told his comrades that he meant to stick to the service and devote himself to hard work. Barney can work, and during his short stay in New Zealand he performed more in the Defence pay office than the whole staff has done since. He joined the Sixth Contingent during October at Springfontein, and he will probably see that the men have all the rations they require, and a "tot" to wash them down with. Barney is the man who captured Barberton with a walking-stick. He was first into that Boer stronghold, drove out the panicstricken burghers by flourishing his walking-stick like a sword round his head, as lie cantered up the main street, and then, with a keen eye to commissariat needs, bought up the whole of the provisions in the town. As Captain Todd does not seem to know for which particular act he was made a D.5.0., writer gives it as hiss opinion that Barney's Barberton feat was one of the smartest and most businesslike during the war. But the ex-commeroial is business clean through.

Sergeant- Mai or Gail away' s numerous I friends in Auckland were delighted to learn by the cables ihis week that he baa been, mentioned by Lord Kitchener for good service in rescuing dismounted men under fire. If this means the V.C., there will also be general satisfaction, for no man who nas gone to the front from Auckland is more ■popular than the aforesaid Callaway. . Genial and good-natured, he is also as brave as a lion. This, by the way, is his second campaign. Twice, within the last few months, he has been seriously wounded, and at the present moment he is believed to be in the hospital. The idea of Capfc. (Jrutchley, secretary of the Array and Navy League, London, concerning the defence of our coasts is somewhat new, but none the less is it interesting to us "children of the far-off land." The Captain suggests that the British squadron in Australasian waters should be officered and manned entirely by Australasians. There is no manner of doubt that our sons would prove, as brave on the water as they nave on land, and, if the proposal be carried into execution, another* splendid career will be opened to our youugsters which i« at present virtually unavailable. But what would we recruit the ships from ? Certainly not from our mercantile marine, for that, thanks to ourlabour,laws, is at * present absolutely closed to our boys.

bridegroom was' evidently much younger than the bride. After some time, the remarks of the couple became painfully embarrassing to the elder lady, but they- ceased entirely when the latter asked the bride if she would request her son to be kind enough to shut the window. Subsequently, there was a .silence which could be felt. ••• ••» ••• An interesting little yarn is doing much duty just now about a gentleman well-known in the legal fraternity of the city. At a certain banquet this gentleman presided, the occasion being the inauguration of a new Lodge. About half way through the dance with which the festivities concluded, an unknown person tapped the lawyer on the shoulder and asked him if he saw " that strapping young fellow " on the other seat. " Yes, but what of that?"' replied the other. "Well, {rou've been dancing all the time with lis best girl. There is going to be trouble presently." "The lawyer gave his unknown adviser a sovereign, which was at first refused. "Take it," he urged, " I've given lots of worse advice for a guinea," and then he skipped off home. It subsequently turned out that it was the kindly adviser's own best girl the lawyer had been dancing so much with, so that the former was one girl and one sovereign to the good.

Of a teacher in oue of our city schools we have recently come across a most refreshing little Rtory which, whether it be true or untrue, is certainly very amusing. It was in the course of a grammar lesson concerning the construction of sentences. The question had been carefully led up to by gradually building-up a sentence from its simplest form till it finally included examples of most of the perplexing intricacies of involved constructions; and the teacher asked if i anyone could tell him the longest sen- i I tence he had heard of. After a time the answer came: "Yes, sir. Penal j servitude for life." Collapse of teacher ! ••• •#•/••• The abject speed of some of our colonial trains is a most usual subject of comment. The gentle ease .with which they pursue their serene course suggests sweet dreams and thoughts of idleness. When the train from Waiotn gets between Hikurangi and Karao, if there is much timber and coal aboard, the speed is such that its progress is almost perceptible. Not many days ago a traveller of one

Those dreams again. Why don't we ever dream them '! The very latest midnight vision is said to have put over £300 into the pocket of a young man named Harry Shaw, living near Greytown. Here is the story. Some time ago, a Mr Robb imparted to Shaw that his wife dreamt that Tortulla won a great event. Mr Shaw was much impressed, and immediately backed Tortulla with a firm of Wellington bookmakers at 75 to 5. He sold his bicycle for £10 to raise the money. The odds, owing to the mare doing a poor gallop, were lengthened, and lie was laid £2.">0 to £10. Sure enough, Tortulla won the ('up. ••• f*« ••» It takes a pretty smart woman to rebuke another woman's rudeness, but on the return from the Show last Saturday a very well - merited and sharp rebuke was administered by an elderly lady who entered the tramcar and sat down opposite a newlymarried couple. These two fell to making offensive remarks about the one or two year old fashion of the lady's bonnet, dress, etc. But revenge came swift, sure, and certain. The

An amusing little story is told at tlie expense of a young lady connected with a certain once famous political family. When Sir Hector Macdonald was on hin way up from the South, a discussion arose amongst a party of beauteous maidens at a certain station concerning his age.. Whereupon, our heroine volunteered to put the qnes tion to him, and actually did with wonderful assurance. " How old am I?" mused Sir. Hector. "Well, if J ~niuHt confess it, I have just turned 60!"' "So have I," probptly returned the blushing girl, quick to realise that the. laugh was against her.

of the big Auckland firms, returning to town, asked the guard if it was a fast train they were is. The guard told him it was. And thefeative o*e. enquired : " What have yon made ' it fast to?"