PARS ABOUT PEOPLE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 8 June 1907, Page 4

PARS ABOUT PEOPLE

THERE were few men better known or more generally respected on the Auckland goldfields than John Goldsworthy, manager of the Hauraki mine at Coromandel, whose death occurred last week. Mr Goldsworthy, in fact, has been associated with the diggings ever since they "broke out." As a youth, he was associated with his father, who was an old English miner, in working the copper lodes at Kawau and the Great Barrier, probably the first mining of any kind that was done in the colony — certainly the first in the North — and with the exception of ■a year or two spent at " Dear Old Bendigo," he has been in New Zealand -ever since then.

Mining, however, was not always bis occupation. After returning from Australia, his father settled down at Mullet Point, and John Goldsworthy spent some time afloat, in sailing vessels of his own. It was in his cutter, the "Wanderer," that the bulk of the Europeans fled from Coromandel at the time of the scare caused by the Maori War, and while hostilities were being carried on he was kept bnsy for some time in conveying commissariat stores from Auckland to the Miranda redoubt, opposite the Thames. Within a few weeks after the opening of the rush to the Thames, Mr Goldsworthy was amongst the prospectors, and he and his brother, Mr William Goldsworthy, now supervisor of the Rising Sun mine at Owharoa, were lucky in. pegging out a rich claim at the head of the Shotover Creek, on the line of Hunt's reef, which they named the Eureka.

The Eureka turned out a real " gold mine "to its owners. Incidentally, it gave its name to a once well-known village in its neighbourhood. Afterwards, Mr Goldsvrorthy was manager of the Nonpareil, a rich mine on the Waiotahi Creek, just above the Cambria of later days. Another famous Thames mine which he managed successfully for some years was the original May Queen, from which he extracted some of its richest yields. "When Te Aroha was proclaimed he was early on the spot, and managed mines at Waiorongomai for some time. The Try Fluke mine at Kuaotunu was another successful venture while he had charge of it. Since then his career has kept him at Opitonui and Coromandel, as manager for English companies. He was a man of sterling integrity, and leaves friends in every mining camp.

The death of Bruce McCurdy, chief relieving officer of the Auckland railways, at the early age ot 46, deprives the service of one of its ablest and most conscientious officials. Where duty was to be done, he had no thought for himself, and it was this unselfish devotion to the service that brought about the sacrifice of his life. At a moment when he was weak and ailing, and evidently in the incipient stages of a serious illness, he received instructions to relieve the station master at Frankton, who was suffering from influenza. With characteristic selfabnegation, Mr McCurdy ignored all considerations of the delicate state of his own health, and promptly obeyed the call of duty. The consequence was his death within the following week or ten days from typhoid and pneumonia. As we have said, Mr McCurdy was a highly capable officer, letter perfect in the detail and administrative work of the railway service, and his place on the staff will be very difficult to fill. A man of engaging personal qualities, and a high standard of honour and integrity, he was popular with the public both in the capacity of stationmaster and relieving officer, and his death is deeply regretted by a large circle of friends.

Dr Bakewell baa solemnly sworn off writing to the press. This is not the first time. Some years ago, the Doctor made a similar vow, but broke it within a week. Like the whisky and cigarette habit, the craving to write to the newspapers is a masterful one, and difficult to break, However, it is rather a pity that Dr Bakewell should be lost to the correspondence columns of the newspapers. He is invariably entertaining. Now, if it had been P. A. Vaile, or Samuel 7aile, or Maurice Keesing that was taken this way, the newspaper readers would have lost nothing. Dr Bakewell always has something to say worth reading. The others have not.

Major Gallagher, the United States army delegate, says that if New Zealand can supply beef cheaper than Australia he is prepared to do business. If it is cheapness he is looking for, what is wrong with dead horse ?

The irrepressible John Payne sends us a further column or two of selflaudation in the evident expectation that we will publish it. If, however, we were to throw our columns open to every obscure individual intent upon self - glorification, we would require to publish a voluminous weekly edition of " Famous Men," with the inevitable consequence of driving scores of inoffensive and blameless readers to suicide or the lunatic asylum. Whatever exalted opinion John Payne may hold of himself, the people of Auckland are not interested in him, though they may smile at his eccentricities. John Payne severely styles this journal the Snobserver. He may be right, but, at the same time, John Payne is a snob that we decline to serve.

John Fuller has a basso profundo singing at the Opera House just now, and when the said basso is giving bis items, John is in the habit of going behind the scenes, and, hidden to the audience, adding a tenor accompaniment to the ba9s. The other night, after this turn was finished, John sauntered out to take a breath of fresh air, and met an individual who also had sauntered out to see the inevitable man about a canine quadruped. Said the man to John : " Say, who the dickens i 9 the bloke who does the singing behind the scenes ?" John scented a compliment. " Aha," he observed, " who should you say it is?" " Well," replied the dog - hunter, " I ain't certain, you know, but, from the sound of the voice, I should say it's So-and So- " Then John collapsed, for the individual named, although an excellent corner man, has gob just about as much voice as a cross-cut saw.

Which reminds us of the compliment which John didn't get when Sims Reeves died. On the morning when the death was announced in the papers, John was bustling round the wharf in a southern town superintend' ing (he transportation of some " props." Presently, he met a friend, and the conversation turned upon the death of Reeves. " Ah," said the friend, "he was a great singer. I wonder who will fill his place?" " Well," remarked John, with becoming modesty, " I wouldn't like to say. Who do you think would be best suited for it ?" " Hard to tell," replied the friend, reflectively. "The only likely fellow I can think of is Wallace King, and perhaps he's haidly good enough." Then John went his way, sadly brooding over the fact that, in this hard world, genius is generally allowed to go without reward.

W. W. Philson h** been advertising himself as a purchaser of empty whisky cases. We kaow some hard whisky cases in the city that would prove to be an unprofitable] speculation. It would cost too much to fill them.

Dear Observer, — Your recent reference to ex-parson Killen, of Whangarei, in regard to his attack on Meredith Seule, is hardly complete without the sequel. Mr Seule does not call himself a " reverend" — in fact, I don't think he would give twopence to ba called a Bishop, but it appears he is an officiating minister under the Marriage Act, and was ordained before this coald be. Mr Killen poses as tbe only law authoiity, and even disputes the Registrar-General's finding, as well as that of the Presbytery, in regard to marriage by aught but fully ordained men. Mr Seule, it appears from files of the paper here, gave Mr Killen a needed dressing-down a year ago in regard to the matter, and in the case you refer to Mr Seule was a Crown witness and said ho was au officiating minister, and Mr Killen gave him tbe lie. •* t* ■ m Now for the sequel : Mr Killen, who at tbe time was aiming at the Mayoral chair, wrote to Mr Seule's superiors and charged him with perjury and lying, and as three other witnesses said the same, the man was convicted and fined. The outcome is that Mr Seule's position is jeopardized, although he is the most successful and popular preacher and worker in the Far North. But there are wheels within wheels, and it seems likely tbat the real, facts of the trouble lie in Mr Seule's outspoken fearlessness, lie is a bitter opponent of the drink traffic, but believes that nolicense increases crime and drinking, and this does not please a section of fanatics under whom he is unfortunately placed. There are other little items, such as some plain talk in regard to a deal in land for churchbuilding purposes which the vendor does not like. Altogether, it is evident that Mr Seule is too outspoken and too successful as a manly, independent servant of what he believes to be truth, to suit a few who are in power. It will shock those who, like myself, are aware of the faces, if the handful of bigots prevail, and Mr Killen's charges, or anything else of the sort, are allowed to oust a good man. This is the first time a man in our church has been condemned without a hearing. One good thing the fracas in court did — it kept Mr Killen out of the mayoral chair, so great was the disgust of straight men in Whangarei, who know the immense good Mr Seule has done and is doing. — Yours, Constant Reader.

David Goldie, has been chosen by the Government as its delegate on the Auckland Fire Brigade Board. Being a matter of fire, the necessity was for water, and, having heard of Mr Goldie's cold water proclivities, the Government jumped at him. In this connection, however, it may be mentioned that David is an Orangeman. Does it not follow, therefore, that he is also a bit of a firebrand ?

Lionel Francis Grlmstone would probably endorse the remark made by Euclid in his fiftii proposition to the efiect that the coarse of true love never does run smoothly. Lionel Francis went a-wooing in the sylvan glades of Mount Eden. Unfortunately for Lionel Francis, the lady's lamily objected, aud Lionel Francis, in his turn, objected bo the lady's family's objections. 'As the objections of the lady's family were a source of embarrassment to the amorous Lionel Francis, the said Lionel Francis took a leaf out of the books of the knights who lived in the middle ages, and armed himself to die teeth with a shillelagh. Lionel Francis even went so far as to operate with the shillelagh on the brother of the' lady. This, however, according to Lionel Francis, was after tbe said brother had operated upon the said Lionel Francis with his fist. Anyway, the sequel to the affair took place in the Police Court, and the ill-used Lionel Francis has promised to remove himself and his amatory instincts and his shillelagh to. Wellington. Romance does not appear to meet with much encouragement in this prosaic colony.

•tf the pTess telegrams can be relied upon, two well-known former Aucklandera have their hands full of litigation just now. In the first case, a Vrlt for £1000 for alleged slander has "been issued by Mrs Angela Elizabeth Simson, of Havelock, against David Charles Thorley, ot Hastings. The plaintiff in this case is the wife of Horace lan Simson, formerly an auctioneer of Auckland, and son of Mr Hector Norman Simson, of whisky and political fame. No particulars have reached us of the cause of the action, but judging by the amount claimed, the lady's feelings have been pretty considerably hurt.

The other action is also reported from Napier, where a writ has been served on Patrick Gleeson at the instance of William Plowman, claiming £2,000 damages for alleged slander. Of course, everyone will know that the Patrick Gleeson concerned in this latter case is our old friend of that name who once owned considerable hotel property in Auckland, and whose famous actions at law with a prominent brewing firm occupied the attention of the courts here for many months, and were the subject of absorbing interest. He is now a wealthy brewer and hotel owner of Hawke's Bay. In che old days in Auckland, Mr Gleeson's ventures in litigation furnished some of the local lawyers with a substantial addition to their revenue, but since that time he has raised a lawyer son of his own, who was able to accept service of the writ on his behalf.

Miss Marie Lohr's success, mentioned in this week's cablegrams, as leading lady in the production of " My Wife " at the London Haymarket Theatre, is a rather painfnl reminder of the flight of time. It seems only the other day that her father, Jack Lohr, then the most popular theatrical manager on the road in Australasia, was displaying to his friends in New Zealand the photographs of his infant daughter, with a paternal pride that earned for him the nick-name of "Daddy," which has stuck to him ever since. Miss Lohr inherits her theatrical genius from her mother, professionally kno"wn as Miss Kate Bishop, who was last in the colony with one of the Kignold Companies, eighteen or twenty years ago, and who is still a conspicuous figure on the English stage.

" Long Drive " Walker's marriage to a lady not many years out of her teens, and his departure upon a honeymoon trip to the Old Country, has naturally made a little stir among his friends. For "Long Drive " owns up to being somewhere in the vicinity of eighty, though he doesn't look it, by many degrees. However, on the principle that a man is only as old as he feels, "Long Drive" is one of the most juvenile persons who walk Queenstreet •

According to a story current in the South, New Zealand would have -lost the services of her most famous politician but for the jeers of an obscure, rival. At an early stage of his career, Mr Seddon found that his private business was suffering for want of more supervision, and had made up bis mind to retire from political life. The fact came to the knowledge of bis opponent of those days, who taunted him with being afraid of being beaten. Mrs Seddon was then, as always, her husband's political adviser. " Fight him, Dick," she said, "for you know you'll beat him." And as Mr Seddon used to say with a chuckle when he told the story, " I did fight him, and I did beat him." But, after all, can anyone imagine that even if Dick Seddon had retired at that time, so strenuous a character could have kept permanently out of public life?

Captain Good, of New Plymouth, who died a few days ago, will be best known to present-day fame as the father of the Good family of footballers, who were among the heroes of the field in Taranaki until a few years ago, but in his time he also was a notable athlete. To him, indeed, his boys owed the training of their muscles, and it was a red- letter day to them when one of their number put the " old man" down in th" liigh jump at somewhere about his sixtieth y ar. As a gentleman jockey, as well as in sprinting, boxing, and jumping, Captain Good excelled, and he was also a coastal captain, an officer in the Taranaki Bushrangers during the Maori war, and at another period commander of a native contingent. One of his most notable achievements was a walk and run from Mokau to New Plymouth, something over 100 miles, about 1850, to lower the record then held by a pedestrian hero of those days known as " Skinny Jim." Taranaki mourns him as one of the most sturdy of her band of hardy pioneers.

SfcThe mystery as to the identity of the person who is engineering the scheme for a pot-hunting tour in England by New Zealand footballers is cleared up at last. The enterprising promoter turns out to be one H. H. Baskiville, who has been in the Telegraph Department service in Wellington, but lately resigned in order to push his little scheme. Exactly what Mr Baskiville thinks of the outlook for New Zealand professional footballers, now that the New Zealand Rugby Union has shoved its bodkin into his project, it would be .interesting to know.

The Ron. Wi Pere, the Legislative Councillor who wants to drive the pakehainto the sea, and gets £200 a year for making utterances of that kind, is suffering from a fresh sense of injustice. Recently, when the Governor was at Te Karaka, down Gisborne way, the wily Wi desired to present a Maori mat to His Excellency, whereupon Lord Plunket courteously explained that, owing to his position, he was unable to accept a gift of any value. But etiquette does not appeal to the Hon. Wi. Seizing the mat, he threw it on the ground and jumped on it, all-e-same as if he had been jumping on the Governor. To calm the ruffled feelings of the dusky Legislative Councillor, His Excellency promised to • consult the Native Minister on the subject. But, probably, Wi will now feel more disposed than ever to drive the unspeakable pakeha into the ocean. That's the best of having a thoroughly representative Legislative Council.

Admiral Fawkes may have his own opinion as to the merits of the scheme of fortification which New Zealand entered upon at the time of the Russian scare of twenty years ago, but he also tells a story which shows how it was that we were really protected from Muscovite invasion. At that time the admiral was an officer on the British squadron at Yokohama, where a Russian squadron also lay. It became known to the Britishers that the Russians were talking of a descent upon New Zealand. But the British admiral of that day did not up anchors and steer wildly for Auckland. Instead, he spiked the Russian guns in a more effective way, by buying up all the coal in China. And when he had made sure that the enemy had only enough coal to take them to the nearest big Japanese port, he sent their admiral a courteous invitation to dine with him the following week at Nagasaki. An answer came back accepting the hospitality, but asking with surprise, "How did you know that I was going only to Nagasaki ?" "And that," says Admiral Fawkes, with a bland smile, " was about as far as the Russians got in their invasion of New Zealand."

It would appear that P. A. Vaile is not satisfied with the endless and nauseating self-advertisement that is permitted by the Star and Herald, to the disgust of their readers. Thus the London Daily Mail in a recent issue : — " The following telegram was handed in at half-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon ac Auckland, New Zealand, and addressed to the Daily Mail. It exemplifies the feeling in that colony concerning the proceedings of the Imperial Conference : 'Auckland, Wednesday, April 24. Over-seas greetings. Tell tne Imperial Conference to take its line from Sir William Lyne, and remind Lord Elgin that England once< owned America. — P. A. Vaile, New Zealand. 1 " Jn Auckland, where weknow P. A. Vaile, this excerpt will be read with shrieks of laughter. Im London, where P. A. Vaile is only aname, ie is possible that the opinion' will be received with respect as being: that of JNew Zealand. Delightful burlesque. .

There is an Irish jarvey in Christchurch who has all che ready wit of his countrymen, and; a gooU deal of> the national blarney. The other day Andrew Kuthertord, the elect off Hurunui, arrived in the city, and emgaged this particular Jehu to drive him to his hotel. " I gave him," says Mr Kutherford, " a trifling amount in excess of Mb fare. Whereupon he 1 ejaculated fervently, " God bless ye, Mr Kuiherford ; sure, yell live to be the Praymier of New Zealand." *' And, atter ail," adds Hurunui, with a merry twinkle in his eye, " who can foretell what may happen ?"

Charles Earle, just appointed editor of the New Zealand News, which a wealthy organisation of squatters and merchants and politicians purpose issuing in Wellington as the accredited principal organ of the Opposition for the colony, has made the biggest score ■ yet made by any young journalist, or a journalist of any age, tor that matter, , in this part of the world. The salary * attached to the position is said to ■ be exceeded in the case of only one editorship in New Zealand, ■ Mr Earle has been connected with press work in Wellington and Christchurch for something like twenty > years, and has held such positions as ■ the associate editorships of the Christ* - church Press and the Wellington Post. ■ As an old Parliamentary Press Gallery ; man he is in close touch with the • public men of the colony, and from his • personal popularity in press circles heis an editor who is in a position to l bring together one of the strongest' literary staffs in the colony, more 1 especially if the new company is^ prepared to pay the rest of its employees' salaries proportionate to that of ,the : editor. The new paper is tO' see the light early in the coming session of Parliament,.