IN THE GALLERY AND ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3524, 28 July 1879, Page 3

IN THE GALLERY AND ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

(From the Oum Correspondent of the lyttelton Times,

I do not suppose it will be regarded by the Hon the Native Minister, or by anyono who may read this, a breach of the sacrcdness of private hospitality, if I mention that at his tablo the othor day I met ono of the most remarkable Maori .chiefs that ever lived— l mean Major Ropata, or to give him his full Native designation, Te Ropata Whahawhaha, signifying "tho carrier of burthens." This name was bestowed upon him by another tribo which in his young days had taken him prisoner, and made him carry their kits and baggage on his Bhduldcrs. Ho is now 68 years of age, but does not look mora „thau 60, and a hale, hearty, and powerful man. at that; Mr Gudgeon, in hiß book' entitled "Reminiscences 1 of tho War in Now Zealand," gives a very full account of Ropata' s services •to the Government during the hut war with Te Kooti, which services, it will be remembered, wero rewarded by Her Majesty by the presentation of a sword of honour. ■ AS, how-, ever, one of the prinoipal incidents olmraoteris-' tic of the; man: iB not quite correctly narrated by Mr Gudgeon, I may briefly narrate it hore as told me the other day in the presence of tho chief actor in tho bloody drama. It was af ter the taking of Ngatapa, that Ropata, by Colonel Whitmore's orders, followed the enemy, and, coming up with them, captured the celebrated Hau Hau chief, Mkora Te Whakaunua, and 120 of his men. These were, while being guarded, somewhat turbulent, and Ropata was asked to go outside (from the tent) and quiet them. A fow seconds afterwards shots wero heard, and on' Major.B.iggs. rushing, out he found Ropata

armed with seven revolvers, and diligently employed blowing out the 5 prisoner^ „brain_. When requested to < desist 'he was' much chagrined, saying: "Oh, very welLyou are my Buperior officer, and I mußt obby orders ; but these (pointing to sixteen he had just killed) won't make any more noise." I had the pleasure the other day of looking across the mahogany towards this energetic executioner, and taking wine with him. Beside him Bat another wonderful old chief, Marsh Brown, and Mrs Marsh Brown. The latter has visited London, and is an excellent English scholar.

By the way, speaking of Maoris, I dropped into the Bupreme Court yesterday while the men Cooper and Brodie were on trial for breaches of the " Arms Aot." They were acquitted, and consequently I have no remark to make about them in particular. What I have to say is, that no stranger to the affairs of the North Island of New Zealand could listen for ten minutes to the evidence, and watch the demeanour of a certair section of the audience, without becoming convinced that Pakeba-Maorism is a rampant and widesprmd curse. It may be mentioned that Moi.att, of gunpowder-making notoriety, was, throughout the day, a prominent figure in the precinct bof the Court. He is constantly to be seen about the streets of Wellington, evidently in close communication with the Maori population. It is believed that the propositions of the Government with reference to Native affairs will, if carried, go a long way towards stamping out the evil here alludccl to.

A certain honourable member of the Legislative Council has succeeded through an overreaching curiosity in making himself supremely ridicu'ons. Having previously mentioned to some of his fellow-members that he would find no difficulty in discovering the author of those sketches " Our Lords," in the columns of the Lyttelton Timea, he blandly approached one of your representatives here and suggested " a wine." The wine was " tho glorious vintage of champagnoj" and then camo the question, " Look here, you know — of course in the strictest confidence — who is the writer offthose really very clever papers ? I presume yourself ?" The Pressman was equal to the occasion ; and, first disclaiming all aathorship on his own account, whispered I don't mind telling you, because I know it won't go further. It's a party of the name of Johnson ! " But the astounding part of the story is that the noble " Lord" aid not discover tho sell until, "in the strictest confidence, you know— ah," he had imparled the deliciouß secret to somo half-dozen other Peers.

Those who havo been in Boston know all about the great organ, and those who have not should read Mark Twain's— or is it Artomus Ward's? — capital burlesque upon the Bostonian's weakness. Wellington also possesses "an orging" in the shape of that huge matchbox— the Government Buildings. The stranger coming up the bay in a Bteamer in which thoro is a Wellington man, iB certain to be button-holed, and treated to something like the following:— "Do you sco that building, sir?" Tho stranger intimates that ho can't vcy ■well help seeing it. " That, sir," continues tho Wellingtonian, "is the largest wooden building in tlie world ! " and then ho pauses for the applauso. But the other day a certain stranger, who "had been thero before," took tho wind out of the inevitable Wellington man's sail. Going up to him just as he was primed for the attack, ho said to the Wellington man, pointing to the matchbox, "Can you tell me, sir, if that place is to let." Wellington man — " To let, Sir ; why that's the Government building, and its the largest woo " " Oh," interrupted the stranger, " don't mention it : you sec my family is rather a largo ono, and under any circumstance I don't think tbo place would bo big enough. My wife likes plenty of room in the house, and also profers a brick onfi." v Tho Wellington man has'nt yet recovered his breath. 4 i Rather a good story comes from the Ladies' Gallery of the Houee of Representatives. The wife of a prominent member on her bus.band concluding a long speech, turned to a half-caste Maori lady of rank, a stranger to her, and asked, " Well, what did ybli think of it?" "I think," replied the .other (alluding to somo remarks mode V by 'tho honourable gentleman relative to the morality of another honourable gentleman sitting opposite), "I think he is a nasty old beast." The conversation was not continued. The following is the skit referred to in my telegram of Thursday : — THE FOX EXPLOITATION COMPANY . (Limited). Incorporated undor The Joint Stock Companies Act. Capital £50,000 Composed of 2500 Preference Shares of £10 each, and 2500 Deferred Shares of £10 each, of which 2500 Preference Shares are now offered for public subscription. BOA-ID OF DIRECTORS. Sir Francis Dillon 8011, M.L.C. The Hon John Hall, M.L.C. The Hon Robert Campbell, M.L.C. The Hon H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. H. P. Murray-Ayn.loy, Esq., M.H.R. J. S. Maefarlane, Esq., M.H.R. MANAGING DIRECTORS. The Hon Dr Pollen, M.L.C. Tho Hon J. D. Ormond, M.H.R. LITERARY MANAGER. Edward Wakefield, Esq., M.H.R. BOARD OF TRUSTEES : Tho Hon. Mathew Holmes, M.L.C. The Hon. William Robinson, M.L.C. The Hon. George M'Lean, M.H.R. Alfred Do Bathe Brandon, Esq., M.H.R. ENGLISH AGENT : Sir Julius Yogel, K.O.M.G. BANKERS : Tho Bank of Now Zoaland. solicitor : William Sef ton Moorhoueo, Esq., M.H.R. SWORN BROKER : Walter Woods Johnston, Esq., M.H.R. HONORARY SECRETARY : Edward Cephas John Stevens, Esq., M.H.R. SAID SECUETAUY. Charles Woolcock, Esq., M.H.R. Offices at Mcßsrs Johnston and Co.'b, at tho corner of Panama and Featherston streets, Wellington. It noed scarcely bo stated that this Company is formed for the purpose of exploiting in an efficient ancl remunerative manner tho varied and manifold attainments of Sir William Fox, tho acknowledged leader of Conservatives thought in this Colony. The success whioh has attended the launching of the Now Zealand Agricultural Company (Limited) in London, under tho aunpiccs of Sir Julius Vogol, and the belief that tho latent powers of Sir William Fox, when fully developed under judicious manipulation, would provo an equally remunerative undertaking, has led to the formation of the present company.

A contract has beon entered into with Sir Willium Fox for tho purpose of taking over himself with all his accomplishments, faculties, acquirements, attainments, achievements, reputation, impressions, earnestness, convictions, bitterness, good intentions, and his wellknown Wcsthoo Malting Barley Estate, and to pay for his use and benefit to. the Board of Trustees a sum not exceeding £5000 per annum, for which sum this company will enjoy an exclusive and absolute leaso of Sir William Fox, with all his attainments as horeinbeforo mentioned for the remainder of his natural life, engaging itself during the period of his survival to mointain the said Sir William Fox with all his qualifications in good working order and condition.

Tho promoters have great pleasure in announcing that thoy have made arrangements with Professor and Mrs Clara Baldwin, thoso eminent expounders of occult natural phenomena, to develop and manipulate to the highest possible degree tho undeveloped attributes of the honorable gentleman. .It will at once be recognised how tlio success of the undertaking will be increased by the excellent qualifications which aro possessed by the eminent writer, who has consented to act as Literary Manager for tho Company ; while tho cordial relationship and confidence existing for many^yeors past between Sir William Fox and the member for Geraldine, affords atrong conviction of harmonious action. . A yaßb and fruitful field for the remunerative exeroise of capital has been thrown open by Sir Julius Yogel accepting the English Agency. Sir William Fox will lecture on any subject for any public body or for any religious scot or denomination. It waß one of the main reasons which induced the directors to engage tho services of Professor and Mrs Baldwin, that the honorable gentlemen should bo placed "in accord" with any class of the community anxious to retain his sorvices. This accord will bo obtained in all matters whether social, political, or religious. Some idea of tho largo return on tho capital invested may be gathered from the following

v det_ils, which fail, however, to exhaust all the sources of profit. EXPENSES PUB ANNUM. Sum payable to trustees £5,000 Personal management, maintenance, and; travelling expenses 2,500 Office rent, secretary's salary, and expenses ... ' l.y ' „,' ..." 2,500 t Total ... „ ... ...£IO,OOO The income, will be derived from the following sources among many others :— A political sermon every Sunday throughout the year at £10 per sermon £520 Speeches once a week at tho same price 520 Obtaining patents of nobility according to grade through the influence of tho Agent-General, one per week throughout the year yielding as reward from recipients £250 each. This is to be the fixed charge ... 13,000 Five cadets for training at an annual premium of 3oo guineas .... 1,575 Subsidies from banking corporations, mercantile communities and speculators to open free trade in Native lands, whereby they can be acquired for the employers aad not for the people 20,000 (Messrs Sutton and Ormond will take this_ department under their special care. A large commercial business in connection with the Company for the purpose of paying for lands in goods and alcohol instead cf money will be established.) Annual subsidy from runholdera to grant possession of their pastoral leases in perpetuity as per arrangement 20,000 (A bonus of a like amount is promised for the abolition of the Land Tax, but this must be carried to capital and not current account). It is proposed to commence negotiations with members of the House of Representatives at once in order to compel the Premier to resign office, when Sir William Fox will succeed him, when tho programme of the promoter, will be faithfully and honestly carried out. A certain percentage of the profits of the company will be devoted (as hereI aftor arranged at a meeting of the shareholders) for the purpose of influencing elections, whereat only Conservative members shall be returned if possible, and giving guerdons to recalcitrant or needy representatives of the peoplo. Twenty per cent dividend will to paid on all preference shares ; the remainder of the profils, aftor the paymont of expenses, will bo devoted to the interest and sinking fund of the deferred shares. Applications for shares can be made at the office of the company forthwith. Wellington, July 21, 1879.