PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 3

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

' LONDON, October 13

The inquest on the two soldiers who died at Aldershot and whose, deaths were laid at the door of New Zealand cheese took place at the military centre on Wednesday last. The attempt to fasten the blame of the fatality on cheese failed utterly. It was shown that one of the men had not been iv the habit of eating cheese, and that for several days prior to 'his death he hacl suffered from acute diarrhoea. The other victim's stomach contained traces of cheese, but uo proof was adduced to connect the cheese with, the intestinal inflammation which was the cause of death. The jury's verdict was death, from natural causes, arising from inflammation of the intestines, but from the evidence produced they could not trace the origin of the inflammation. Mr Cameron, with a solicitor, attended on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Their presence would have been wholly unnecessary but for the strange conduct of the solicitor employed by the firm which supplied l)he cheese upon which the blame for the soldiers' death was at first placed. No mention had been made, of the place of origin of the cheese, but the solicitor in question must needs drag in New Zealand. He did so two or three times in the course of the proceedings, and at length Mr Cameron was forced to protest. He pointed out to the Coroner that there was no evidence before the Court to show where the cheese came from. It might have been made in Nova Zembla or Timbuctoo, and he strongly objected to New Zealand being dragged into this deplorable affair. Tbe Coroner agreed and during the remainder of flic proceedings the cheese was cheese and nothing more, and reports of the inquest which have reached London, I am glad to see, contain no references to its country of origin.

According to Sir George Whitmore, who was recently interviewed by a representative of "Commerce," there is a good deal of misapprehension extant concerning the extent and potential value of the New Zealand iron sands. Sir George says that though there are great quantities of the sand a very few years' working would see the end of it if fihe manufacture of iron therefrom assumed any large proportions. Sir George also tells us that there are much larger deposits of the same kind of sand on the coast of Norway and Sweden, containing quantities far beyond anything that exists •in New Zealand.

The golf correspondent of the "Manchester Courier" says that Dr. W. Baxter Gow, one of the most prominentmembers of the Bury Club, who was latterly attached to the medical staff of Prestwich Asylum, has been appointed medical superintendent of a lunatic asylum under the Government of New Zealand. Dr. Gow recently took the degree of M.D. of Edinburgh for a thesis on an interesting point in lunacy. Manchester will lose an enthusiastic golfer in Dr. Gow, and best wishes will accompany him on his appointment "down under." The name of Gow is well-known in the Manchester district, and although we lose the doctor for a time, fortunately we shall have in 'his two brothers, one a member of the Bury and the other of the Heatoh Moor Club, two equally enthusiastic golfers.

I regret to have to record the death at the ripe old age of 81 of Lav dy Clifford, widow of New Zealand's first Premier. Lady Clifford's end was hastened by an accident that would probably have proved fatal to most people half her age. From the evidence tendered at the inquest held at Kensington I gather that Lady Clifford, whilst returning from a holiday tour in Ireland late last month, caught a severe cold, but though bronchial troubles began to declare themselves refused to call in a doctor. Last Sunday, soon after lunch, she was at home, at 10, Cornwall Gardens, alone, except for the household domestics. The people "below stairs" heard the sound of a heavy fall, and, rushing up, the butler found Lady Clifford lying at the bottom of the drawing-rbom flight of stairs. She said to him, "I'm afraid I've hurt myself; it was worse than a fall in the'hunting field." A doctor who was hurriedly summoned found that Lady Clifford had broken her arm and fractured three or four ribs. After the fall the bronchial trouble developed rapidly, and her ladyship gradually sank and died on Monday.

Lady Mary Ann Clifford, who was the daughter of the late Mr John Hercy, of Cruchfield House, Berkshire, married Sir Charles in 1847. .

The death at Southsea is recorded of Surgeon-Major E. Y. Kellett, of the Army Medical Department, who joined the great majority on Sunday last, at the age of 68. The deceased, who sawservice in the Crimea, and in the New Zealand Avar, retired from the Army in 1880.

Many of the elders of the. colony will regret to hear of the death of Mr October 7. Mr Farmaner, who was in Tooting, who fell asleep on Saturday, October* 7. Mr Farmaner, who was in his 80th year, spent the best years of his life in the colonies, but was more intimately associated with the Cinderella colony than any other. For many years past he 'had carried on the business of a colonial merchant in conjunction with Mr Hainsworth, at 8, Coleman-street, E.C. The funeral took place at Tooting Cemetery on Tuesday last.

Mr Alfred Saunders, of New Zealand, was married last Friday to Miss Sarah Box, youngest" daughter of the late Mr Richard Box, of "Freemantle," Shirley, Bear Southampton. The matrimonial bond was tied by the Eev, C H. Perdue, at the parish church of Shottermill, Surrey, in the presence of a numerous gathering of relatives and friends. -

N.Z. newspapers are desired to spread. abroad the news that on Saturday last, October 7th, Mr Edwin Percy, otherwise "Chris" Hodder, eldest son of Mr Edwin Hodder, of South Croydon, took to wife Miss Carrie Kipps, younger daughter of Mr Edward Kipps, of Upper Norwood. The wedding — a very smart affair —took place at St. Aubyn's Congregational Church, the Eev. William Houghton tying the matrimonial knot in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends.

Mr Robert James, M.E., who has but recently returned to London after an absence of three years, during which time he was general superintendent of the New Albumin Gold Mining Company (Thames district),; New Zealand, was, I gather from the "British Australasian," entertained by a number of his old Australian and other friends at dinner at the Trocadero Restaurant on i lie 7th inst. It is good news to learn that Thames mines run to complimeivtary dinners. Perhaps by-and-bye some of them wili pay dividends.

Lord Glasgow's eldest son. Lord Kelburne, w'ho (as I mentione;]; last week) has been seriously ill from Mediterranean fever in the Naval Hospital, Devonport, was making the most satisfactory progress, when he suffered a relapse. His condition became sn serious that Lord Glasgow was communicated with and returned to Devonport, where lie and Lady Glasgow had been staying as the guests of Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax. Ly latest accounts /Lord Kelburne was going- on better 'although some time must elapse before he can hope to be (it for duty again.

ill- Gabriel Lewis, of Auckland, who came home on mining and other business about, a. month ago, is leaving for the States to-morrow, and will, 1 understand, arrive in New Zealand with the 'Frisco mail leaving London on the 21st inst.

Among the young New Zealanders at present in London is Mr (1. E. R. Adair, of Gisborne, who came in May last by the Hawke's Bay, and has been touring in Irela.nd till recently. Mr Adair is now holding a responsible position in the well-known firm of Messrs Crocker, Son and Co., calico printers and warehousemen, of Fri-day-street, London, who do a big trade with the Antipodes, and have in their employ also Mr Robert Wighton, of Wellington. Mr Altai r, I understand, expects to remain in England permanently.

Lord Onslow has tired of the London County Council, and resigned his seat as Alderman and his leadership of the Moderate Party.

The Duke of Leeds, who has two or three times been mentioned in collection, with Australian governorships, and is now understood to be one of the aspirants for the Federal Vice-Royalty, met last week with a serious accident while cub-hunting. The Duke's horse fell in crossing a fence, and came down heavily on its rider. The horse then kicked the Duke, who was insensible. very severely on the.shin. He is going on favourably, but will not be able to hunt again for a considerable period.

A tombstone has now been erected over the grave of Sir Julius Vogel, in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery, bearing the following inscription: —

Sacred to the memory of the HONOURABLE SIR JULIUS VOGEL,

K.C.M.G

At one time Prime Minister and Colonial Treasurer of and subsequently Agent-General for New Zealand, Who

died 12th March, 'DO Aged 04.

The secret consciousness of duty well performed the public voice of praise that honours virtue and records it;

all these are yours

The tomb is a solid block of marble carved in the form of-a scroll. At the head it is so shaped as to represent a massive roll gradually diminishing towards the foot,-which finishes with a smaller roll. Each of the sides is cut in high relief so as to form the twisting of a huge scroll of paper which it is meant to represent. The incline thus formed from the larger to the smaller roll is utilised as a space of ;the inscription. The scroll rests on a bed of flowers.

The late Colonel Trimble is the subject of appreciative obituary notices in the Liverpool papers and the "Inquirer." The latter says:— -

"Although it is nearly twenty-live years since Colonel Trimble left England for New Zealand, and a new generation has sprung up to whom he was unknown, so , many remain who remember him with respect and admiration that we cannot record his death without adding a few memorial words.

"Settling in Liverpool early in the fifties, on becoming a member of the Hope street Church his strong personality soon made itself felt. An earnest worker in the Sunday School, one Of the originators of a useful and freespirited Mutual Improvement Society, a manager, of the British school supported by the Church, in these and other ways he exercised a commanding influence. He had the courage of his convictions, and spoke out freely but modestly when he deemed the occasion demanded plain speech. Beyond his religious associations he was well and widely known for his public spirit and high character. He took a deep interest in politics, being a sound and logical Liberal, espousing he cause of the North in the American civil war, and working earnestly to relieve those whom that war threw destitute on the world. He took an active part in the volunteer movement as private, as captain, and as colonel, giving time, labour, and means to .he cause year after year."

The new captain of the Orient will, it is understood, be Mr Bertie Gace, till recently chief officer of the Ormuz. Though young to be in command of such a large steamer, Mr Gace is a first-rate sailor, and at both ends of the world his appointment is sure to be cordially approved.

"Russia" is the title of a newly established journal, which has for its object the propagation of. "advanced ideas." In the course of one article on the "Unparalleled Reign of Queen Victoria" we get one of these "advanced ideas" in the shape of a statement that one of the main achievements of Her Majesty's reign has been "the extermination of tbe Maoris in Australia and New Zealand."

The many personal friends of Sir F. Bevan Edwards in the colony will sympathise deeply with him in the loss of his wife under exceptionally painful circumstances. Lady Pevan's body was found late last Saturday night on Southborough Common, near Tunbridge Wells. "At the inquest ittranspired that the deceased lady, who was in her 58th year, had been in illhealth for many years, and this had caused hysteria and mental disturbance. Since 1593 she had been under the immediate care of doctors, and for the past five years her husband had not been allowed to spe her. his presence bringing on violpnt hysterical attacks. Lately her health seemed to im*--*"" 1"-" '"."'d '_'*.'T/OWi i" *"*h. se house

Lady Edwards resided, was in hopes that in coarse of time he would lie able lo completely cure his patient. On Saturday he left his home at 3.30 p.m. to go his professional rounds. Lady Edwards then seemed to be in very good spirits, but when Dr. Low returned two hours later his patient was missing. A search was at once instituted, and late at night the police found the body of Lady Edwards on the common. A past mortem examination showed that it was a case of suicide, Ihe operating doctor stating that ihe unfortunate woman had taken -I drachms of salts of lemon. The jury

returned the usual verdict, adding a rider that they thought the authorities ous'ht to schedule salts of lemon

lisa poison

The scandalously small hues and terms of imprisonment inflicted by the Liverpool Stipendiary on tlie cowardly seamen who looted the Scotsman passengers has excited astonishment and remonstrance amongst those who habitually "g-o down to the sea in ships." Such an extraordinary miscarriage of justice seems incredible, and cannot but have the worst possible effect. Our mercantile marine is now made up of tag rag and bobtail of all nationalities, who require the most drastic supervision and general treatment. Those who doubt this may be reminded of the character of the Scotsman. The vessel was no ocean tramp, but a smart passenger boat of a smart passenger line. Yet her crew seems to have been picked up anyhow. The general expectation was •that the thieves would get 12 months. They are said to have been amazed themselves, one or two thanking the magistrate.

In view of the Paris Exhibition, all sorts and conditions of men appear to be exhibiting a tender interest in the shoals of Australian visitors who are expected. Mr Grant Allen, for example, is to have a new volume ready in the course of a few days, entitled "The European Tour: A Handbook for Americans and Colonists." Intending tourists should certainly order this. T can't, of course, say what the book is, but I do know ' (indeed, we all know) the man, and also, jjh'at this is the class of work in which he has few, if any, superiors.

Mr Harry Lynch, the manager of the well-known Lynch Family Bellringers and Vocalists, who leaves London for the Continent on Monday next en route for the colonies, takes with him lo Australia the largest peal of hand-bells cvrr manufactured in England. The bells number 175—several octaves are duplicated ami triplicated — and have all the latest improvements. This peal will be used by the Lynch Fatnilv on their visit to England in March next, and will form a welcome addition to the other attractions of the cTitenainment. Mr Lynch also lakes with him a set of resonant gongs of three chromatic octaves, which he intends utilising, as well as a fair quantity of musical walking sticks. As far as novelties are concerned Mr Lynch seems to have been on the warpath during his residence in England.

The October instalment of Stevensou's letters in "Scribner" contains the novelist's frank opinion of Father Damieu, whom he defended (in the famous pamphlet that, now fetches £40) so effectually. Stevenson writes: -—"Of old Damient, whose weaknesses and worse, perhaps I heard fully. I think only the (more. It was a European peasant; dirty, bigot-ted, untruthful, unwise, tricky, but superb with generosity, residual candour and fundamental good humour; convince him he had done wrong (it might take hours of insult) and he would undo what he had done and like his corrector better. A man, with all the grime aud paltriness of mankind, but a saint and hero all the more for that."

The member of the famous Australian theatrical "firm" whom no one seems to call anything but "George had a great time the other evening when that skittish American mixture the "Belle of New York" celebrated its 600 th performance. The piece was handsomely redressed and remounted (fresh scenery by W. B. Spong) for the occasion from which one may, 1 suppose, assume business is still brisk. I confess the extraordinary success of. this American importation has always surprised me. But then the phenomenal run of "Dorothy" amazed me likewise. The fact is that if the public catch on to a piece because of some song like "Queen of My Heart, there's no saying how long it may last. They go not to see the piece but t<J beai the song. Mr Musgrove on Monday bud a great reception, and was twice called before the curtain and greeted with (I quote and I gloat) "deafening cheers." Rattle Browne has found a congenial playmate in Arthur Roberts, and is becoming a warm favourite in the North of England

So Harry 'Richards has engaged Marie Lloyd., Marie Loftus, and Fanny Leslie for an Australian tour. The latter are two good old favourites, but I should have thought Miss Lloyd was rather strong meat for Australian iiidienccs. Bab and Jennie Leonard and Bilec Barlow are also engaged.

It is rumoured that Mr Wilson Barrett has made a vast sum of money by successful investment or speculation on the Stock Exchange.

The übiquitous "Dagonet*' knows everyone, especially everyone theatrical. This, I suppose, accounts for his being able thus early to tell the story of a painful domestic breach in which a lady known all over the colonies is concerned. I heard about it last week, and was bound over solemnly not to say a word at present. As usually happens when I am weak enough to give a pledge of this kind I read the whole business in the papers next morning. Names are not given but that is all. Here it is: A husband had o-one out of town "on business," and given his wife a big hotel at Liverpool as the address at which to write him. The day after his departure the wife went to see her brother, a merchant in the city, and while in the office the brother was rung up on the telephone from Manchester. "Oh," said the wife, ''how wonderful. Can you hear what they say?" Assured that one could hear perfectly, the affectionate wife, thinking to give her husband a pleasant surprise, asked to be put on to the hotel in Liverpool at which he was staying. The connection was made. Now her husband had taken a private sitting-room, which had a private telephone on the writing table. Th- manager of the hotel, ascer<- .ning that the guest was in his

room, instantly switched London through to the private apartment, The husband went to the telephone and said, "Hulloa, what is it?" and at the same time a lady in the room exclaimed, "What! do you say London lis speaking to you? Oh! do let me : listen!" Tbe astonished wife at the , other end started back with an ex--1 clamation of horror. She knew the > voice of the lady. The husband listened in vain for London's message. ilt was never given. After waiting ' some time he rung off, concluding that it was a mistake. Rut late that . night the mistake was explained to him. His vile arrived at the Liverpoo! Hotel. The rest of the story will be told before Sir Francis Jeune early in A"oveir.ber. I regret in say that the popular actor, .whom you all like so well, Mr Laurence Cautley, is seriously ill. He met with a severe accident some weeks ago which affected his head. He seemed to recover, but contrary to the advice of his rnedieal attendant he undertook the part of Captain Winton in "Boy Bob," performed last week at the Metropole Theatre, Camberwell, and this has caused a return of his illness. On the first night of "Boy Bob" it was generally noticed —and indeed mentioned—that Mr Cautley didn't s^eem to know his part, but few in front had heard how ill he was. I -