Personal Paragraphs.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue XVII, 27 April 1895, Page 391

Personal Paragraphs.

THE news of the death of Mr J. T. Matson, of Springfield, Papanui, which took place at his residence last week, was received with great regret, though it was generally thought he would never be seen about again. He had been laid up for five months, and has only once or twice been well enough to get out into the garden in that time. He suffered much the last three months until within a day or two of his death, and passed quite peacefully away at last. It has been a sore and trying time to Mrs Matson, for it is only two years and a-half ago they loft their eldest son, a shock from which neither Mr nor Mrs Matson have ever recovered. He was charitable, hospitable, and genial, and until the last few years, when it was known he had a strong political bias, never had an enemy. He was a strong supporter of the church at Papanui, the parishioners being indebted to him for the gift of the bells, a muffled peal of which rang out yesterday during the funeral procession, which was a very long and representative one, including relations, friends, clients, employees past and present, etc. He leaves a wife, four sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. Two sons still carry on the old business of H. Matson and Co., started by the late Mr J. T. Matson’s father, and when the late Mr Matson came came over from Victoria about 1866 and joined his father, adding auctioneering to the business, made it one of the most flourishing firms in the colony.

INFLUENZA is still very prevalent all over the colony. The Rev. A. C. Yorke, of Masterton, has had a very sharp, and indeed dangerous attack, but is now (writes a correspondent) quite convalescent.

Mr J. M. Clark, well-known as a capital elocutionist, has returned to Wellington after an absence of several years. He has already given an elocutionary entertainment in connection with one of the local literary societies.

Mr T. B. Bax. a well-known resident of Blenheim,

swung two clubs weighing two pounds two ounces for twelve hours and a half on Saturday for a wager. This feat is claimed to be the world’s record. Mr Bax finished his task very strongly.

A duel between Paul Blouet, better known as Max O'Rell, and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) is not an impossibility. O’Rell is very angry over Twain's article criticising ‘ Outre Mer,’ by Paul Blouet. Max O’Rell, at Chicago, on sth March, said :— * Mark Twain has offered a gratuitous insult to women of the French nation. It is no excuse for him that “Outre Mer ” is pretentious, ridiculous, and foolish. That M. Blouet attempted an analytical criticism of American men and women in all seriousness after only a six months’ visit here was simply a bit of humour. Now, this is what I take particular exception to :—Blouet had written jokingly, “ I suppose life can never get entirely dull to the American, because whenever he cannot strike up any other way to put in his time he can always get away with a few years trying to find out who his grandfather was.” See how Mark Twain answers this : “ I reckon the Frenchman’s got his little stand-by for a dull time, too. because when all other interests fail he can turn in and see if he can’t find out who his father was.” Now I call that answer an unwarranted, gratuitous, vile insult.’ Mr O'Rell added that Mr Twain could have satisfaction of any’ kind. Most readers of the Graphic will sympathise with Mark Twain. He scored most decidedly. Mr * Max Rell ’ is, too, the last person to object to a witty jibe of this sort. His books are full of them. But it is the old story of the sensitiveness of humourists.

The new organist at St. Mary’s, New Plymouth, who comes from Opawa, was entertained at a ‘ valedictory ’ before leaving the place. In a few kindly words expressive of goodwill and esteem the Ven. Archdeacon Cholmondeley, on behalf of the choir, asked Mr Cooper’s acceptance of a handsome Gladstone bag and a travelling rug ; the recipient suitably replied in acknowledgment of the gifts. Mr Cooper is to be succeeded at St. Mark’s, Opawa, by Mr Alfred Bunz.

Mr James Oliver, of Maheno, one of the most popu-

lar men in that district, died last week from the effect of injuries received in his recent buggy accident at Timaru. General regret is expressed in Oatnaru, Timaru, and other places where deceased was well known, at the unfortunate ending to the accident.

Mr Thomas Salt, Chairman of the Midland Railway Company, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Burchell, left Auckland on Saturday last by the Mariposa, and proceed to England by the A. and A. route.

Mr H. D. Bell, M.H.R., has accepted the position of President of the Wellington Rugby Football Union.

The canting hypocrite with the long hair, who called himself‘The Second Gough,’ and who has libelled NewZealand in London because it was too wise to have anything to say to him, is not a fair sample of the clerical critic. They mostly like New Zealand. *My trip to Maoriland ’ was the subject of an interesting lecture at Hobart recently by the Rev. J. T. Piercy, Primitive Methodist minister. To his mind, he said, New Zealand was the coming colony. He considered it the most beautiful, interesting, and productive colony south of the Line. The New Zealand colonists he characterised as most hospitable and refined, and he showed how rapidly the Maoris were advancing in civilisation and intelligence. Very many of them were already splendid citizens, and were heading the lists of the Universities.

One of the oldest colonists in the Moutere district, Nelson, Mr Richard Tennant, is dead. He arrived in the colony in 1842, and has lived for upwards of 50 years fn the Moutere district.

A man went up to Mr Hogg, M.H.R., when the latter gentleman was at Pahiatua, and asked why men were being sent up from Wellington to work on the railway line when so many local men were out of work. The member asked the man how long he had been about the place, and the reply was nineteen years. Mr Hogg looked at him with surprise, and subsequently gleaned that he had only arrived from Hawke’s Bay that morning.

The banquet to be given at Lupeka to the Hon. Mr Larnach will be a big affair. The Premier and the Minister of Lands are expected to be present.