PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Ouk Own Cohmsjokdkht.) LONDON, December 24. The directors of the Colonial Missionary Society, at their December meeting, held in London, appointed, acting for the Congregational Union of' Now Zealand, the Rev. Ernest A, Bridger, as assistant at Mount Eden Ohurch, Auckland, having charge of the outlying missions at Mount Roskill and other places, and the Rev. Win. Tanner to tho charge of tho new church which has recently been formed at Waiapu, North Island. Tho Rev. E. A. Bridger is a native of Havant, Hampshire, and was led to give himself to his work some years ago when the Rev. Richard J. Wells, tho present secretary of tho Congregational Union of England and Wales, wa6 pastor there. Mr Wells presided at Mr Bridger's ordination, 'which took place last week at Guildford, the other'.ordaining ministers being the Rev. George Jackson, tho Rev. D. Burford Hooko, tho Row A. Cowe, and tho Rev. J. Westlcy Jones. At present ho lias charge of the outlying work at Guildford, and during the timo he has been there the congregation at tho principal station,' called Stoushton, has more than doubled. The Rev. w. Tanner comes from 'Swansea. Not merely the_ Congrogationalist, but the other churches in New Zealand, will be interested to know that ho has been / associated with the church which has given v one of tho foremost missionaries of to-day—vij., tho Rev. Dr Griffith John, of Hankow, China, whoso fomo is world-wide. Mr Tanner is to bo, ordained early in January, at Swansea.. The Rev. W. Jonos 16 to preside, the Rov. Principal ' Jackson (of Harley College) is/ to deliver the charge, and tho Rov. D, Burford Hooko will describe the sphere Both gentlemen will sail on January 20 by the 5.6. Rinmtaka, and so should reach Wellington early in March.

■ This week tho Royal Academy of Musio prizo list has been circulated. One of tho Academy Qlub prizes has been awarded to Arthur Alexander (a native ,of Bunedin, New Zealand) for sight-playing of pianoforte music. The University of Edinburgh has just issued its latest list of successes in its medical section. A number of names well .known in New Zealand arc to bo foiuid in this listnamely: Tho degreoof M.D. lias been conferred upon Kenneth Mackenzio, John M. M'Phail, Charles T. 11. Newton, Arthur B. Pearson, WaUlemar Bartbalin. Sommere, and Victor F. U6shcr. Among those who have passed the final examination for tho dogrco of M.B. and Ch.B. are: Mirza S. J. Kegg, Robert Hamilton, and John B. Haycraft. Tho names of William A. Bowie, George Cromie, 8.A., and Hubert 0. Washburn are to bo found among the list of thoso who have passed in chemistry of the first professional examination. Thoso who have been successful in anatomy of tho second professional examination include: F. J. Henderson )3eg'g, Gilbert V. Bogie, 8.A., Allan, L. Christie, Maurice B. Lawrie, Charles J. Tisdall, William B. Stewart, and Charles' M. Rout, Hugh W. 801 l and Arthur T. Todd have got through their physiology in ,tho second professional oxaminntioiu David 0. Monro has passod in .pathology of tho th-ittl professional examination, and. those who have been successful in physics of tho first professional examination include: Andrew R. Hamilton, Leslie F. E. Jefleoat, John M'Phail, and Alexander H. Michic. Mr Jamos Mills is returning to New, Zealand by the .Orient steamer Osterley. He will join her at. Marseilles, and will leave Lohdor on Monday for that purpose... Mrs Ballanoo is making; arrangements to' leave for New Zealand in .February. ' To-day the s.s. Ruopohu;has sailed from', London'in command of Captain F. Forbes, and with Dr B. W. Mudd as medical officer. The first saloon passengers arc:— 1 Mr and Mrs A. Dougall, Mr and Mrs P. Gibson, Mr and Mrs J. Sinclair Thomson, Miss Sinclair Thomson, and .Master Sinclair Thomson, Lieutenant-colonel R. D. Wynyerd, Mrs Hatlantyne, Mrs Gerrard, Mrs E. Martyn-Shannon and son, Mrs S. White, . Miss C. J. Wylde-Browno, Miss 'Herbert, Miss Foster, Mr W. Ching, Mr J. Duncan, Mr R, C. Foster, Mr W. Murdoch,- Mr A. Spcnce-Htitcnmaii. Second saloon:Mr and Mrs W. E. Metheroll and Misses Mefliercll (2). Mrs A. R- Duff, and C. S. Matthews, Miss M. TJdcn, Miss M. L, Harper, Miss E. IT. Dannatt,. Mr D. Bringans, Mr C.-;Ai Brown, Mr.-.C. P. Browne, Mir. H. Dodd, Mr H. E. jHarpor, Mr E. W. Ransom. In the' third. class j there aro ju6t over 100 passengers.-. \

Now Zealandors who are returning by tlio Orient steamer Osterlcy, which sails to-day from Tilbury, arc—Mi and Mrs F. P. Burbury and the Misses Burbury, Mr and Mrs Jones and family, Mr and Mrs J. J. 'Wooler, die Misses Wooler, Mr and Mrs J. Clogg, Mr and, Mrs J. Brown;, Miss N. Morton, Mrs Davis Hunt. Miss A. Dixon, Miss L. Corcoran, Mrs C. Ross, Mr J. 0. Kirkloy, Mr R. Woolei> Mr 11. 0. Edwards.' Mi- E. Philirs, Mr H. D. Stride, Mr J. W., Swindell, Mr T; W. Waitc, tho Rev. H. Reeve. . Major-general Roblcy was able to obtain from the family in possession tho tiki which Was Riven by Tamihana—son of the famous chief Rauparaha—to Colonel Mundy (author of "GUI' Antipodes"). It was given m gratitude for h* ea.ro of i his father when he was taken prisoner by' Sir ifioorgc Grey in 1846. Tamihana was tho ohiof who, after being baptised by the Rev. Mr Hadfield, went with his cousin Matcno To\ Whiwhi on the mission (1843) to repair the injuries inflicted on the southern Maori by Rauparaha vajds. The Ngaitahu were- won over to tho Christian faith, but during the wholo time epent on the mission these young men were in jjreat danger, The tiki is well worn, but complete, of the typo with chin uplifted, and ears; tho left hand across-the breast. It has tho usual six lingers and six toes of old art. From India comes the '/announcement of the marriage of Mr Henry David Nicolson, first lieutenant, R.N.R., B on of the Hot. W. Millar Nicolson,: D.Sc, and Mrs Nicolson, Ravensbournc, New Zealand, to Mela, widow of Mr Turner, of Rangoon. Tho marriage took place on the * 24-th November at Christ Church/Rangoon, Burmall.

On the IBth inst., at St. JMaryleßine Church, Marylcbone road, Dr It. Walter Baron, youngest eon, of Mr H. W. Baron, of Dunedin, Now Zealand, wa& married to Miss Margaret Henrietta. Sadler, third daughter of the lato Mr Thomas' Sadler, banister at law and treasurer of the Eighty Club, and of Mrs Sadler, of 5 St. Andrew's place, Cambridgo Gate, Regent's Park, and granddaughter of tho late Right Hon, Sir Henry Storks, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., etc.,. M.P. Tho ceremony was performed by tlio '80v,.', Dr Morrison, assisted' by tho Rev. Alex. Lloyd and the Rev. W. D. Pcttcr. Dr Alfred E. Baron officiated as beet man, and the eervico was choral. There wore sii bridesmdds-the Misses G. A. and Ruth Sadler (sisters of the bride), Mabel Christopherson, Gwendolen Whitcombe, Margaret Whitcombe, and Ethel Judge. Mrs Sadler held a reception, which was numerously attended, and later the bride and bridegroom left for Torquay. Dr. Baron has a practice, in London, and he has no intention of returning to New Zealand. Many beautiful presents were received.

A young colonial musician had a remarkable escape from, kidnapping at the hands of an alleged Russian countess last week. He was Mr Magnus' Laing-Meason, formerly of. Timaru. Mr Meason. whoso professional name is Magnus de la Laing, has been studying in England for romo "ears past, and resides here with Lis mother. Ha is 21 years of age, and gave his first concert at the Beehstflin Hall more than two years ago. He studied under Busoni at Berlin and under Leschetizky in' Vienna, arid has had some concert successes on the Continent, Mr A. M. Finlayson the able young Otago geologst, who is now studying at tho School of Mines .in South Kensington, lias just been elected a Fellow of the Gelogieal Society and an Associate of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Finlayson appeared before tho Geological Society re. .oently. , with another paper on Britieh mineral deposits, tho result of hi 3 work during last summer. Mr H. K. Allison (Christchuroh) haa reached > England from America and has now settled down to work at the Royal Dental Hospital, with the object of taking his L.D.S. Ho graduated at tho University of Pennsylvania (dental department) last June, and spent the summer months with come Australasian classmates on an island in Lake George. Mr Allisop is going across to Dresden to spend Christmas with his sister. Old Oliftooians in New Zealand will be uiterested to hear that Mr-J. B. King, himself'on old Cliftoniati, has been, ap-

This appointment also is interesting to old students of Manchester Grammar School and Bedford Grammar Sohool, for Mr King was head nlastev.of the former for 12 years, ami lie has beoii head master of tho latter' since 191)3. '"''

This week tho callers at the London ■ ofiico of the 'New - Zealand Government have been :-Mr T.P.Talbo 1 " (Christchurch), Mr C. A. Gray, Mr C. Allison (Auckland), •Mr F. Tufts (Christohurch), Mrs J. Edmoml and.Master Udmoiid (Invereargill), Mr ,T. T; Wclhvcod (Hastings), Mr Guyon A. M. llacdohald' (Orari).

Miss Constance Barnicpat is in Switzeilniid( where; she will remain until' tho be■ginning of February.'• • She is engaged iir literary work—editing a Swiss winter sporW papor, published in ■ English. Her duties involve a good deal of travel in tho Bernese Oberland—Adclboden, Grindehraldi Wetigcn, etc.,—but her headquarters aro at Intcrlaken. • "

Miss Weston (" C. do Thjorry") is very \msy in "the' Conservative interest, working on behalf of Mr Riehavd Jcbb, who is a candidate for East'Marylcbonc; the- Now Zealand lady is one of his principal and most ©nthueiastio canvassers.