ECHOES FROM THE NORTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 22, 31 May 1890, Page 9

ECHOES FROM THE NORTH.

Mr J. C. Firth, the author of the ‘Story of New Zealand Savageism and Civilisation,’ the exclusive Australasian rights of which have lieen acquired for The Gkaphk , is one of the most notable colonists in the North Island. Mr Firth commenced farming operations on the great plain of Matamata at a time when the whole of the M aikato district was distuibed liv native discontent, culminating in armed insurrection. I‘ndaunted by the perils of the situation. Mr Firth turned a deaf ear to the warn ings which poured in upon him from every side. He erected a loop-holed brick tower for the safety of the men engaged on the estate, and while seeking by a firm though conciliatory attitude to cultivate good relations with the natives, he showed them that where he had put his foot down he intended to remain. There is no doubt, however, that but for the warm friendship of that intelligent ami much-misunderstood chief. William 1 hompson, Mr I irth Would have found his position untenable. Asit was. the little garrison were often threatened, ami wild report- frequently reached Auckland with regard to their fate. Mr 1- irth thuobtained experiences of Maori life and character, which are altogether unique. He possesses a rich and cultured 1 it entry faculty, which finds notable expression in his charming account of a flying visit to the I nited States, published in London under the title of ‘Our Kin Across the Sea, with preface by Mr J. A. Fronde. His latest work will materially increase the reputation gained by that book, and will, we believe, rank hereafter with • Old New Zealand. as a description of life in Maorrland at a very remarkable period of our history a- a British possession. ‘Making a Novelist,' according to Mr David Christie Murray, implies a wide experience of human life in it- many phases. Very few men who have risen to eminence in the world of letters began to gather materials from the harvestfields of mournful humanity so early as < harles Dickens di<l. and his genuis blossomed early. But there is this in common lietween the training ground of Dicken- and of Chri-tie Murray, that they were indebted to the practical work of the newspaper press for many of their opportunities of observingqueer phases of life; and colonial lovers of good English literature who have enjoyed the privilegeof making personal observations of both these writers through their

platform ap|«‘arances, will have noted that among the qualifications of a successful novelist we may number keen l<owers of observation, deep intuition, ami a playful fancy. There are. of course, among novelists, as among other men, a diversity of intellectual gifts, but we believe that those accidents of life which mould a man's character and control his destiny have a good deal more influence in determining the nature and quality of his literary work than many people imagine. May we not trace much of the inimitable pathos of Dickens to his sad childhood; Carlyle's biting sarcasm to his dys|a*psia : ami Rider Haggard's fantastic stories to the accident which cast his lines in South Africa. The glimpses of his own life given by Mr Christie Murray were not only very interesting and amusing in themselves, but furnished the key to his works. We have not yet reached a stage of intellectual development in which a lecture, as a mode of entertainment, can drawhouses equal to those that reward the labours of the dramatist ami the musician, supported, as they are, by strong bands of skilful interpreters. Still, it was pleasant to observe that the audiences which welcomed Mr Christie Murray were not merely considerable, but appreciative, and showed that colonists, relative numbers being taken into account, are not l>eliind the jieople of the Home Country m culture. Mr Murray, after visiting the Hot Lakes, goes from Auckland to Sydney, and thence to Samoa, where he hopes to meet his old friend, Robert Louis Stevenson.

It is the custom of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, on her birthday, each year to grant certain honours to gentlemen throughout the Empire considered deserving of them. Amon- those so distinguished this year is the Hon. C olonel Sargood, of Victoria, head of the great wholesale house of Sargood, Son and Ewen. No better choice for honour could have been made, for Colonel Sargood may justly be regaided as one of the merchant princes of the Empire. He is a man of keen perception, sound judgment, great business enterprise, and unwavering uprightness—all the qualities that go to make the successful business man. And successful he has been, for there is no better-known or better appreciated mercantile house in the colonies than that of which he is the head. Its branches spread over all the colonies and South Sea Islands. In New Zealand a very large business is done, and Colonel Sargood’s judgment is nowhere better shown than in the choice of gentlemen to manage his branches, for his New Zealand managers are all men of recognised ability. Colonel Sargood has been a nember of the Victorian Ministry, and has always taken a • Teat interest in political matters. It is hardly correct, however, to say ‘Colonel Sargood,' for Her Majesty s favour has made him a K.C.M.G., and he will henceforth be known as Colonel Sir Frederick T. Sargood.

The New Zealand recipient of Her Majesty s favour is Dr. Grace, M.L.C. of Wellington, one of the most influential and wealthy of the Roman (’atholic body in the colony. Dr. Grace is not very widely known outside the Wellington district, but those who do know him hold him in the highest respect as a worthy and honourable man. He is connected with several business enterprises in the Empire City. He was lately made a count by His Holiness the Pope, and now has received the honour of being made a C.M.G. Mr Russell, the Government astronomer of New South Wales, and a very able man, has also been made a C .M.G. Everybody in this colony feels an interest in the Bank of New Zealand, and the general feeling on reading Mr David Bean's report must have been one of satisfaction. After the charges that had been made against the management it was very encouraging to have the opinion of an expert like Mr Hean that all must be well with a little careful nursing. Of course that £165,000 is not a very pleasant item to let drop, but it must go, and the position as it is must be fairly faced. As Mr Hean says, the current business is sound and •rood, and capable of great extension. The affairs of the Bank no doubt were disgracefully mismanaged at one time ; but there need be no fear for the future if only moderate care is taken. By the way, there is likely to be some talk about the way in which the £165,000 deficiency is to be met by the shareholders. The holders of new shares will claim that the holders of old will have to sutler, because the loss is mainly on the old ylobo assets, and the holders of old shares will claim that the loss must fall on all shareholders because the new men went in with their eyes open, and must lie prepared to share in any loss incurred since they joined. The question is sure to cause discussion when it comes forward for settlement.

A cablegram was published throughout the colonies some little time back to the effect that Edward Lloyd, the vocalist, was dead. By the English mail to hand this w eek it will be found that this was an error, for the Edward Lloyd who died was proprietor of the London Daily Chronicle and Lloyd's A'<«w, two very influential English newspapers.

Government House is flying the I’nion Jack once more, showing that the Govermu has returned to us after nearly a year’s absence. Sjieaking impartially, I do not think we can blame him for his long absence. We had got somewhat spoilt by Sir William Jervois, who was of so essentially domestic a disposition that he never was so happy as when settled in his head-quarters, surrounded by his household gods, and engaged in his favourite pursuit of watercolour painting. Lord Onslow is a photographer, of no mean skill, but Sir William preferred pencil and brush, and would ramble into all sorts of out-of-the-way places in search of a good subject. His adventures in some of these rambles were peculiar. He generally set out of an afternoon with his private secretary, a long-legged individual, and the pace at which the pair travelled was fearful. Each, apparently, had an ambition to l>e ahead of the other, and the speed produced by this incessant competition was remarkable. Sir William had a great desire to get a good sketch of Wellington Harbour, and with this object he once dashed with his usual impetuosity into the precincts of the house signal-station, and had just found the right point of view when the mistress of the house appeared. ‘Good afternoon,’ said Sir William. ‘ I was just looking out for a place from which I could draw the harbour.’ ‘Get along, I knows you!" was the reply. ‘ I'll have none of you chaps hanging about this. Clear out ! Drawing the harbour indeed ! I'll draw you !’ ‘ But mayn’t I bring my-sketch-book up here ?' remonstrated Sir William. ‘ Sketch book ! Do yon think I don’t know what you’re after. No ; dear out !’ ‘ But I’m the Governor,’ said Sir William, bursting with laughter, and liefore ten minutes were gone he had learnt all the trials of a signal-station keeper's life, and ensured himself a warm welcome on all future visits. On another afternoon it once occurred to him to pay a sudden visit to one of the forts. Arrived at the entrance, he found the gate, an obstacle some ten feet high, locked, and so was brought up short. He shouted, but to no purpose, so getting a leg up from his private secretary, His Excellency carried the fort by escalade, ami had just landed with a grunt of satisfaction on the right side when the artilleryman in charge came rushing out, half dressed,from his quarters to find out what on earth was the matter. ‘ I came to see if you were all comfortable here,' said Sir William, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘and I think you are,’ and without waiting for a reply he passed on to the gun-pits, leaving the man open-mouthed. On yet another occasion he was discovered scrambling, with the usual assistance, over the wall of the Jewish Cemetery. The enclosure was a new one, and he wanted to see what was inside. In fact it was difficult to find an obstacle to turn him, and he never was defeated but once in his exploration round Wellington, and then not by a fence, but by- a bull. I hear now from a good private source that Sir William has not yet fixed upon a home in the Old Country, and never ceases sighing for New Zealand.

Wellington has lost two well-known men in the past week —Mr Prouse,the singer, and Mr Frankland, the head of the Government Insurance Department—both of whom have left us for the Old Country. Mr Piouse, the New- Zealand Santley, as a Christchurch paper kindly but most unjudieiously dubbed him, is said, I know not with what truth, to be in hopes of pursuing a musical career in England. If so, he will return a wiser and poorer man. Nature has given him a good voice, but he did not discover the gift until comparatively recently, and he now finds himself getting on for forty years of age without technical training or musical education. He will discover if he tries that it is too late for him now to think of competing with the countless trained baritones that advertise for engagements every week in the English musical papers. We shall miss him, for he is the best baritone in Wellington, but compared with Santley—we might as well call the best vocalist in the colony the New Zealand Sarasate.

Mr Frankland left behind him a memento in the shape of his library, the sale of which occupied an entire day. It was a curious collection, and instructive as illustrating the wanderings of a sceptic in search of a creed. But more curious was it to observe the sums paid for his books, in many cases in excess of the published price, and this although not a volume was rare or difficult to obtain. I noticed the same thing at the sale of the library of Mr Carter, who recently made a present of books to the Museum. On what principles people here buy books surpasses my imagination. I can only account for their vagaries in one way—Mr Carter and Mr Frankland had both the reputation of being great readers and learned men, and therefore the public concluded that all their books were good. As a matter of fact there was a deal of rubbish in lioth collections t which could have been bought (supposing it worth purchase) at any second-hand book shop in London for about the value of the binding. The good stuff, on the other hand, would in many cases have been imported from England at less cost than was paid for it in the auction room. In fact a good living could l>e made in New Zealand

in a quite new and original way, viz., by importing books from England, cutting the pages, adding a-few )>encil notes, and then selling them by auction. The vendor should, however, l>e careful first to obtain for himself a reputation as a reader and thinker. This he could easily do by a little judicious advertisng, an assumption of srqierior knowledge, a certain amount of tall talk, and the addition of a few letter’s to his name. Nor would the enterprise be wholly of a selfish nature if hechose good literature only, for people will buy at a sale books which they will not look at in a book shop, even though they save no money by the transaction.

Still, some books were sold very cheap. I was surprised to see ‘ The Fair Haven,’ by the author of ‘ Erewhon,’ knocked down for a couple of shillings. I make no scruple of mentioning the work, because although an ironical defence of Christianity, it was recommended by all the orthodox newspapers when it first appeared. It is worth studying, not only for its subject-matter, but for its subtle irony, its quiet humour, and its beauty of style, which in some passages rises to a really high excellence. The idea, too, of issuing the book as a work of a fictitious person, deceased, and introducing as prelude a brief biography of that fictitious person, though not perhaps altogether original, is wrought out with rare skill; so much so that we cannot be surprised that it should have taken in all the reviewers. Nevertheless, in spite of intrinsic worth and of local association (for is not Samuel Butler half a New Zealander?) the ‘ Fair Haven’ went for two shillings. There has been considerable complaint this season that pheasants and native game stand in great danger of extermination in New Zealand, owing to their export to Australia. Year after year birds have become fewer and wilder, and now the enthusiastic sportsman must either betake himself to the wildq or tramp around all day and be satisfied to have a shot at one wretched little sparrow. Before he gets home in the evening he must buy a few birds to save his reputation, and he goes to bed cursing the refrigerator and the Sydney public. I hear few stories now of ‘ fine bags,' and the best of our shots will be very well pleased if he can bring down a dozen birds in a day’s rambling. His , Excellency the Governor, Lord Onslow, was out on the first day of the season, and made a very good bag. He proposes totake a shooting box at Featherston, in Wellington province, and his action will doubtless cause greater interest to be taken in our game. There can be no question that large numbers of birds are exported to the other side, and that they will become very scarce in this colony. But our exporters get a fine price for them, and many a young country settler looks forward to the shooting season as a time when he will make a substantial addition to his income. Our town sportsmen will have to be satisfied to go further afield. The long tramps and stiff country will be good for their muscle and wind.

The Auckland Amateur Opera Society propose to produce ‘ La Mascotte ’ very- shortly, and it is rumoured the |>erformance will be as conspicuous a success as was that of ‘ lolanthe.' Mr A. L. Edwards, the popular tenor, has just returned from England after an absence of about nine months, and will take the part of ‘ Pippo,’ for which he should be very well suited.

It is a noteworthy- fact that people who have resided in New Zealand for any considerable length of time, and who have then left for other parts of the world, always cast back longing eyes to these beautiful islands. Meet the New Zealander where you will, and he will always tell you that he would be glad of a chance to get back if he could make a good living. There is something in the air of this beautiful land that endears it to all who have breathed it. These remarks have been suggested by the news that Mr and Mrs Isidor Alexander, formerly- well-known residents of Auckland, have returned to the colony after an absence of over six years, and have decided to settle in Auckland permanently.

The Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association will hold its seventh annual show in July next, and there is every- prospect of as great success as has attended the show for several years past. The Secretary, Mr Robert E. Bannister, has been hard at work for some time collecting subscriptions, and has met with deserved success. Contrary to what is the rule in most shows of the kind, all prizes will be paid in full as advertised. Captain Olive, who has for a considerable time past been secretary of the Auckland Club, has received a similar appointment in connection with the Australian Club in Sydney. During the years he has spent in Auckland the captain has made many friends, and his loss will be much felt by them, though all will lie pleased at his having obtained such an important position. Captain Olive returned to Auckland from Sydney by the Waihora on

Wednesday, 21st inst., in order to settle his affairs liefore his final departure for Australia. The Kauri Timber Company have voluntarily made a reduction in the number of hours the men must work—a wise step in faee of the great labour organisation that is being called into existence. In this connection it may l>e mentioned that Mr George Holdship, New Zealand director of the Company, is now on his way home to England on six months’ leave of absence. He has taken passage by the P. ami O. steamer Britannia, and writing from Albany to a friend in Auckland speaks of having had a very pleasant trip across. Sir Harry Atkinson, the Premier, is in very weak health at present, and that he cannot possibly continue to work through the session is certain. In fact it is considered that it will be necessary to appoint a new leader of the House as soon as the session begins, if not before.

Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M., who has been in Auckland some time relieving Dr. Giles, R.M. of that town, has finished his duties there, and last week went overland to Napier. He will proceed thence to Wellington, and then to Sydney fora holiday.

structed, is the liveliest in the colony, ami Wellingt onians may lie proud of it. It juts out from near the centre of the town, running, as does the harbour, in an easterly direction. The wharf itself is not very long, but from several points tine tees are built, so that there is extensive accommodation for shipping. The depth of water along the wharf is very great, in fact it is considered inadvisable owing to this fact to make any further extensions ; and additional berthage is obtained by extending the tees. There are at present three sets of these tees, all wider than the main wharf. The latter is 55 feet wide, the first tee is 65 feet, the second 80 feet and the third 100 feet. The wharf offices are on the first tee. Some little distance to the north is the Railway Wharf which acts as a kind of breakwater when the wind is strong from that direction, so that vessels have perfectly safe anchorage alongside the main wharf. To the south is the reclamation lately completed by Mr Maguire, of Auckland, which will give a large piece of land for business premises, ete. The sheds on the wharf are in keeping with their surroundings, and are very convenient for the receiving and discharging of goo Is. The doors at the side open almost flush with the edge of the wharf right on the ships' hatches, so that there is as little trouble as possible in shifting goods from

sjiecifications prepared under the direction of Mr Ferguson, Engineer anil Secretary to the Board, to whom lielongs a great part of the credit of the admirable arrangements on the wharf. The present Board is a thoroughly practical one, determined to keep up the name for good, management already gained, and is under the idiairmanship of Mr John Duthie.