Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-03
VISITING IN THIS CITY
Man Who Taught Bob Fizsim. mons to Shoe Horses.
 


 here Saturday for other parts. MT O'Driscoll is brother-in-law of John Higgins of Fuller street, and a brother of Mrs John Casey of Bald win street, and of Mrs Katherine Sheehy of North Willow street.
 MT O'Driscoll was born in Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, about forty eight years ago. He attended school until he had attained the age of six teen, when he took notion to see some of the world and concluded that he wanted to locate in New Zealand where hehad heard the old folks often say that one could pick up money on the streets. He was not sure wheth- CT this was so or not, but he was young and full of adventure and took his chances. After voyage of four teen weeks in sailing vessel he landed at the point of destination and immediately commenced looking around for something to do. The most promising position he could find was an apprenticeship as farrier in the south island where he worked un- til he mastered the business, and soon after he left for the north is- land and opened a place of his own, which he conducted with consider able success and had one of the larg- est farrier shops on the island when he thought he saw readier road to wealth and gave up shoeing horses and built splendid hotel at Hawera, a thriving town of about 5000 in habitantS. While conducting the far rier shop MT O'Driscoll had many ap- prentices, but perhaps the one which has acquired the widest fame of all is Bob Fitzsimmons, the world famed prize fighter, who first tried his hand at the manly art of self defense in MriODriscolls blacksmith shop. The men used to carry their dinners and when they got through eating it was common thing for the young fel- lows to try what they could do with the gloves. At that time "Fitz' hadn't got his solar pleXus whack re- duced to a science and had all he could do to hold his own with men who never figured in the roped arena. MT ODriscoll is modest man and rarely talks about himself, but his close friends claim that when young Fitzsimmons was in his glory and none of the fighting blood in New Zealand cared to give him a go, his employer could take care of him easily. He looks it too.
 MT O'Driscoll conducted the hotel at Hawera for five years when he got chance to lease it to a suitable per son and then commenced his first trip around the world. He visited Waterbury and also made call upon his old friend, Bob Fitzsimmons. Re. turning to New Zealand he devoted his time to handling race horses fol a few years, but not finding enough to occupy his time at this all seasor he removed to Wauguani and engag ed in the hotel business where ht remained about five years when ht struck out for New Plymouth ant erected hotel at an expense of $20, 900. When he had 1t running on ( paying basis big fire started in il one night and reduced it to ashes He carried no insurance on it so that the thing was a total loss. He re built mightier than ever and when ht had the structure standing the frs thing he did was to insure it for al 1t was worth. While this was goint on he kept look out to see some wa! of making good his loss and finall! staked his hopes on one of his horsei known as "Waiwera," which mean hot water in the language of the na tive New Zealander, and at the na tional hurdle races the animal swep the field and MT O'Driscoll raked il $10,000 and also won a prominen place in the great literary work pub lished some time ago under the til, "Men of Mark in New Zealand"
 A few years ago MT O'Driscol leased >the hotel at New Plymouth and has since spent practically al his time at his private residence. H. is married and has a son, who i considered one of the best jockeys il that country. although he never ride any horses except ones owned by hi father.
 Mir O'Driscoll says New Zealand i a good country for working peopl who have an ambition to make som headway. The government fixes tn , minimum wage schedule and regu lates the number of hours which con stitute a days labor. Nobody is al | .aA N, nN per diem and workmen must stol when they have put in eight hours whether they want to or not. o course employers may and often d. pay more per day than the minimum First class board in hotels can be ha for s5 a week. There are no sucl places as poor houses because ther are no paupers. When a person ha atttained the age of sixty-five year the government pays him a pension provided he has been a resident fo twenty-five years. so that really tn poor are few and far between. Sue charities as are conducted there ar maintained to a very large extent b private subscription and never e1 eept in case of a great epidemic ar the authorities called upon to hel out. but when it does get to that
 levy is made for that purpose on al rate payers. The people elect tn mayor and city council and these fl all the other offices by appointment - In the appointive positions no one } discharged unless for cause. Tn
 liq1or trafic is confined entirely [
 the principal hotels. the idea of
 license to sell In any other place b,
 ing so absurd to the mind of the ru
 ing power that it isn't thought o . Women vote at all general election but at municipal elections the list Ieonfned to rate papers and the