PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1904, Page 14

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 29th July. Mr. C. H. F. West (Wellington), son of tho late Rev. Dr. West, who has been in the United Kingdom for tho past two years pursuing hi» engineering studios, has just been successful in gaining his certificate as second engineer, 110 has been studying chiefly at Glasgow, bdt his duties have takon him abroad a good deal, and ho Ims made numerous trips with tho Bruce Lino of steamera to Italiun ports. Reforo ho can obtain his certificate as first engineer, it will Imj necessary for Mr. West to spend, a year at seti, and at tb« expiration of that period lio will come back to this country and sit for the necessary examination. I hear that Mr. Yvcst is jjohig out to Anstralia as ono of tho •ngmtflTs on aoard the now turbine .steamer LooHgKTm, which has just been built, to the order *f tho Union Steam Shit* i Ownpwvy of New Zealand, for the ferry service hefcwf'en Mefcwwrnc and Launoe. I*t«m.1 *- t«m. It is expeoted that sho will bo ready for sen afetmt tho end of next week, when h«r trial trips will tnko place-, and in all ! probability sho will sail from Glasgow \ for Melbourne about tho middle of August. Tho Loongana will bo the first turbine steamer to "cross tho line," and much interest is bound to bo felt in her by people in tho colonies. I hoar that Mr. 11. G. Gilbcrd, who has been in London for somo timo studying optics with tho well-known firm of Messrs. Aitchison, in tho Strand, has just received an appointment in Edinburgh, and has left for the North to take up his new duties. While ho was living in London, Mr. Qilberd acted as Secretary to Uio Association ,of London New Zealandcrs which was formed some months ago, and which meets on tho first Wednesday i in each month at tho Old Bell lavorn, Knight Ryder-street, St. Paul's Church- J yard, when visitors from tho colony are always very welcome. Two yo«ng New Zealand doctors — neraely, Dr. Bailey and Dr. Fenwick, arc *t pr«irnt on the medical staff of tho liortenvAxyhiin. Mrs. and Mias Van Stavcren (Wellington) have recently returned to London from a visit to Amsterdam, and have again taken up their quarters at Muida Vale. Dr. J. S. Purdy, who until the Bth inst. was on the staff of the St. Pancras Infirmary, has since that time been travelling aWut a good deal, and him twico been to Aberdeen, where ho went in for an dxuHninatiou in Greek and Logis, in both of which subjects ho has pn«H;d. On tho 20th inst., on tho occasion of his second visit to Aberdeen, ho was present at the graduation ceremony, when lie was "capped," receiving his degree- of M.D. Dr. Purdy has received tho appointment of 'one of the Lecturers on Hygiene to the London County Council evening classes, so that ho will be in town during tho coming winter months, and has no immediate intention of going back to New Zealand. Dr. Hosking (Masterton) hns been in London, having arrived in this couutry about a fortnight ago, via America. 1 hoar that he in now attending a medical conference at Oxfovd. Mr. P. A. VniYs book on lawn tennis has been most favourably reviewed in this country. Mr. John Da vies (Manawatu), who has now gono to Paris on a visit, has been interesting himself in New Zeulund markets — frozen meat, butter, (lax, etc — and has' been collecting muoh information that may prove useful when ho gets back to tho colony. Mr. Norman Dnlston (Wellington), who arrived in the Mother Country recently from New Zealand, called upon me tho day beforo yesterday, lto informed mo that he travelled to Vancouver by tho New Zealand Union Steamship Company's new riteajner Manuka, with which ho expressed himself delighted. She is a splendid boat, said Mr. Dalslon. Air. James Coates, of tho National Bank of New Zealand, was a. fellow-traveller, with Mr. URlston and tho two gentlemen intend to return to anow Zealand together in November. "I have beon looking into several things that I think may be useful to New Zenland," remarked Mr. Dntaion, in tho course of our conversation. "One i« a new i hydraulic hand-milking machine which was invented by Mr. llutchiusoii. of Wol-

Hngl-ou, and winch T Uiink is likely to find a big demand in Canada. Also, I am in correapoiMk-uce with Uio man who discovered acetylene gas, Profcasor Wilroii, of Canada, who is desirous to start the mtuiufacluro of Hint gas as a new industry in New Zealand, where he thinks it would bo carried on with much success." Mr. and Mrs. T. Q. Mason (Mastcrlon), who arrircd in this country about a fortnight ngo, made their homeward journey via, San Francisco. They only .spent about ten days hi America, as their time waa limited ; they went to the St. Louis Exhibition, and, liko most other visitors, were unfavourably impressed with' Ha unfinished condition. "In my opinion," remarked Mr. Mason, "the New Zealand exhibits sxro on for too modest a. Bcalc. N«w Zealand has no separate building of her own, but the exhibits arc scattered in two diiforent buildings, and bo in a largo degree^ they are lost in the immensity of space." Mr. Mason's principal object in coming to this country was to consult a, specialist with regard to an internal complaint from which he has for some tirno suffered. Ho accordingly has consulted JJr. llamson Cripp, who is considered to bo Iho leading specialist in disorders of that class, the result beiug 'that it has been deckled to perform an operation. With this object Mr. Mason went yesterday to a private hospital in Holies-Street, and the operation is to toko place to-day. Now that the Bisley Riilo Meeting is over, tho various members of tlio New Zealand team are scattered abroad. Mr. Arthur Ballinger (Wellington) intends leaving in about a month's time on his return to tho colony. Mr. R. J. lying (Masterton) is at present in London, but he leaves town next week for a visit to Bournemouth, and probably also 'to Brighton. lie intends going into the North of England before returning to New Zealand on tho 11th Augihsl by the s.B Tongariro. By tlio Tongariro, which, arrived lost Saturday, Sir Walter Buller received from Wellington Ins beautiful collection of New Zealand birds, comprising, I understand, about a thousand carefully prepared specimens. Sir Walter is engaged upos> a third or supplementary volume of his famous "Birds of New Zealand," and in order to kce-p pace with tho growth of orinthological science he will lmvo to revise the whole of the classification and bring it up-to-date. He will require- the collection, too, for the uso of his artist, Mr. Koulemaus, as the volume- is to be profusely illustrated both with coloured plates and reproductions of photographs by modern processes which produce perfect result*, being, if possible, an 'improvement on the photographs themselves, as having the apptarance of engravings. The work will be published by subscription, and as Sir Walter has been so fortunate in" tho I past, there can bo no doubt that the I book will have a good demand. It is a curious fact, which I have on the authority of the publisher himself, that !• although Sir Walter Buller refused, on principle, to give away a single copy to reviewers, no scientific book of modern times had a better or more unanimously j favourable notices than tho "Birds of New Zealand." Even The Times, which has an almost inflexible rule ns to presentation copies, gave him nearly half a column of most eulogistic comment. The book is now scarce in this country, and

ihere is not a copy to be had in the market. There hns' been a standing udfertiscment in the "Publishers' Oivculax" altering 'a good price, but thoio if. no response, if any subscribers in Now Zealand hnve copies to dis.posa of, they could not do better thuu fend them to lht«- country. Tho portrait, in marble, of tho Into Mi. William Ho. lest on by Ihe sculptor, Mr. Hampton, of Maida Yale, is said by a fnoncl who has ivcontly seen it to be a wonderful likeness^ seeing that Mr, ILnnpton had nothing but photographs to woik from. Mr. mid Mrs. W. H. Triggs (Christchttrch) and Misi Triggs havo been nvtking a tour of the English l«ikcs. whero <hey spent a very pleaaant time. Mrs. mi Miss Tricge tlion camo back to London, M\. Triggs Roiug on to Scotland, where he hns been travelling during the current w«ok. He i* expected back in London again to-morrow. ' ■' i