PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 180, 31 July 1900, Page 2

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, June 30,

There was quite a record attendance of New Zealanders at the Eoyal Colonial Institute's conversazione at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, last Wednesday night. I saw a meat many familiar faces, and there must have been an equal number of prominent New Zealanders who were lost in the crowd. Neither the A.U. nor Mrs Reeves were there, having started that evening for Switzerland, ,but I saw Sir Westby Perceval passing ■through the refreshment room, accompanied by his daughter, those who knew him only by name taking him for the brother rather than the father of Miss Perceval. Then there was Mr Justice Denniston, animated, as ever, meeting a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was in hign feather, two of his decisions, one dissenting from that of the rest of the Court of Appeal, having been just upheld by the Privy Council. He and Mrs Denniston and their daughters returned on Monday from their visit to the Eobinsons at Bristol, and on Monday the judge dined with the merchant tailors on the occasion of their annual dinner to the Skinners Company. The raison d'etre of the dinner appealed with special force to the judicial mind, for it was the outcome of a dispute in 1484 betwoen. the two companies as to which should take precedence in the Lord >layor's processions. The difference was referred by consent to the Lord "Mayor for decision, and he pronounced an award giving the companies precedence year by year and prescrit/ing. that they should dine with eacb other once a year. With the exception of the plague year these annual dinners have continued without interruption down to the present day, and the best of feeling has always prevailed, between the two •jompanies. Mr Justice Denniston had Jhe opportunity of seeing the loving cup passed round and hearing the toast master iv stentorian tones propose "Health and/ prosperity to the Skinner Co. Skinners and Master tailors. Master Tailors and Skinners, root and branch, and may they flourish for ever." The dinner also proved the means of bringing him into touch ■with his follow-Scotsman, Lord [Robertson, a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, who has proved courteous and hospitable to his learned brother of the colonial bench. / Late in tlfle evening I noticed the Hon. Williajn Kolleston and Mrs Rolleston, who had come on to the conversazione after dining out, saying good-bye to Mr and Mrs Oliver, with whom they have been staying for some time, and, thanking the latter for having made their stay in London so enjoyable. Mr Eolleston has not quite got over the cold which pulled him down rio much on his arrival, but he looks iii much better form and his trip to Derbyshire and Scotland, on which he started-with Mrs Eolleston to-day, shoujd quite set him up. I once more tried to induce him to allow me to interview him and to get his opinion on/ various matters politic, but the ve/ieran politician was; averse to the process. He declared that he was extremely unlikely ever to return to public life in the colony, and that he 'objected to thrusting his opinions on federation or any other topic upon the public of New Zealand. At all events he said it would be impossible to give me an appointment before his return to London in September, by •which time, he said, he woiild be an older and, he hoped, a wiser man. Two opinions he did give expression to in the course of our casual chatthat the press here and in Australia did a great deal towards governing the country, and that the great change he had noticed in politics in this country was the mixture and complication of parties, a fact which he evidently viewed with some apprehension, for he expressed to me his firm conviction that there ought to be only two parties in the lobbies. I do not yet deepair of persuading Mr Eolleston to submit to interrogatories for I am sure that his impressions of English politics and parties after nearly half a century's absence from this country would be full of interest to New Zealanders. Sir Walter Buller was chatting to Mr and Mrs Henry Mackenzie and close at hand I found that constant attendant at these functions, Mr S. W. Silver, and his wife in converse with Mr Walter Kennaway and his daughters. Ascending the staircase I cannoned into Mr "Wally Edwards," in buoyant spirits, just returned from the wedding that afternoon of his brother, Mr "Jack" Edwards' to Miss Squier, of Sydney, at Cowfold, a pretty but quiet function, owing to recent deaths in the bride's family. Mr "Jack" Edwards' meeting with his bride was rather romantic. He had been to the isle of Elba in connection with the iron trade, and on the vessel on Which he returned met his future wife. A five days' acquaintance led to a betrothal, which after a year's probation has terminated in a happy marriage. I was glad to hear that Mr N. W. Edwards and his partner, Mr Chynoweth, have more than trebled tneir business in the last year or two.

Mr Howard Tripp, radiantly happy, was making his fiancee, Miss Laidlaw; acquainted with his many' friends, and I noticed Dr. Gerald Harper close at hand.

There was a quiet group of Christchurch people renewing old memories in a convenient corner. Mr J. H. Baker was puzzled to remember at first who Miss Stack was, and later on she and her companion, Miss Mellish, Mr and Mrs H. yon Haast, Mrs and Miss Kimbell and Mr F. G. Andrews were having a confabulation. The Kimbells have just taken a house In St. Stephen's Rpad, Bayswater, for five years, so they will be settled in London for some time to come. ;

Almost the whole clan or Rhodes' was gathered together. Mrs Willes and her daughters, Mr and Mrs Alister Clark, Mr and Mrs Arthur Ehodes and Mrs Hunter Blair were n^uch in cvi- ' dence. Of the delegates to the Congress of Chambers of Commerce I noticed Mr Maurice Cohen and his wife, and Mr W. D. Wood, the latter "bearded like the pard, unrecognised by many of his friends." From him I learnt that with the exception of Mr McMillan, of Auckland, the, New Zealand representatives have taken / little part in the discussions at the Congress. Although they have not said much, like the parrot, they have thought a great deal, and have undoubtedly picked up some wrinkles from the kings of com merce of the ojther parts of the Empire. Mr Tolhurst, who was accompanied by Mrs? and Miss Tolhurst, was i foregathering with a number of New Zealand business men.

There was a very representative gathering of Dunedinites, of whom I noticed Mr and Mrs P. C. Neill, and their daughters, and Mr Bean Neill, Mrs Gibson, and Miss Nina Gibsun, Mrs W. H. Reynolds and two of her daughters. Mrs Reynolds, who has not long arrived with two of her daughters, after a delightful journey through America, was, thanks to the kindness of a friend, able to step straight into a most artistic and comfortable flat in Ashley Gardens, close to Victoria Station and overlooking the huge new Roman Catholic Cathedral. In the flat Mrs Reynolds found Misses Manic and Vida Reynolds awaiting her, and there the whole family were At Home to their friends last Tuesday and Wednesday! Miss Vida Reynolds was to submit herself to inspection by the doctor again this week, and !t seemed possible that she might have to undergo another slight operation involving a fortnight in bed. In coming across the States Mrs Reynolds departed somewhat from the usual beaten track. From 'Frisco she went down to California, visiting several ranches there, and going so far south as Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Thence they struck out to New Mexico, and then made for the north, and saw something of Niagara and Toronto before embarkingl at New York.

Those were a few of the New Zealanders who came across my own limited horizon, but I believe that could they all have been rounded up from the mob the assemblage would have been as large as that of any representative social function in any town in the colonjr.

The Governor's speech at the opening of the New Zealand Parliament, of which Renter has cabled us a full summary, has been read here with a good deal of interest. The general prosperity of the country, her exuberant and generous loyalty, and her determination to take her full share of responsibility for the establishment of the Pacific cable are the theme of general congratulation and approval. Mr Seddon's scheme for the administration by New Zealand of the Cook, the Fiji and the Friendly Islands is hardly taken seriously. Anglo-Austra-lians see in his latest move an attempt to keep the New Zealanders, who they assert are federally inclined, from joining the Commonwealth by giving them a little federation of their own. They make unkind references to "King Richard" wishing to add to his titles the "King of the Cannibal Islands," and to the fable of the frog and the ox.

Even Anglo-New Zealanders anxious to see New Zealand preserve her own individuality and work out her own destiny are inclined to think that "King Richard" is opening his mouth a little too wide, and that "too many Cooks" might spoil the, at present excellent, New Zealand broth.

All Australasians are, however, agreed that the British Empire should acquire possession of the Pacific Islands and allow them to be absorbed in the colonies in the Southern Hemisphere, which, and not Downingstreet, should be responsible for their administration. It would seem the consummation most devoutly to be wished that for the purposes of the relations of Australasia to the rest of the Empire, and for the government of the islands, New Zealand should be bound by loose ties to the Commonwealth, so that while completely free to go her own way in domestic and internal affairs, Australasia should speak with one voice in what may be called foreign affairs and matters of general Antipodean interest. We do not want Australia and New Zealand competing for spheres of influence in the Pacific. Perhaps Mr Seddon's action will hasten rather than retard New Zealand's joining the Commonwealth on favourable terms.

Speaking for Anglo-Australians here, they were as much annoyed as Mr Seddon with the cession of Samoa, but they thought the equivalent which we were getting for it, Germany's guarantee for the non-intervention of Europe in the South African struggle, would more than compensate us for its loss.

Some bolder spirits go so far. as to assert that England should have been bold enough to adopt a Monroe doctrine with reference to Polynesia, and that United Australasia might do so even now.

These may be "wild and whirling words," but it is certain that Australia and New Zealand should be In complete accord as to our Pacific policy.

The Agent-General's letter on clause 74 to the Colonial Office, and its subsequent communication* to the House of Commons by Mr. Haldane, must have rather surprised Mr Chamberlain's satellites, who are not accustomed to having any of their correspondence with the colonial representatives published until it appears months afterwards in a Blue-book, when the subject is as stale as Cromwell's Commonwealth. However, the office recovered in time to send Mr Beeves a polite note, assuring him that clause 74 in its latest guise makes it necessary to invoke the High Court for leave to appeal in constitutional questions only in purely domestic and internal matters, and that where the jxirisdiction or the rights of any colony outside the Commonwealth are in-: volved it will be for the Privy Council, and not for the High Court to decide whether or not leave shall be granted to appeal. While there may be still room for a shadowy doubt on the legal aspect of the clause, there does not seem much likelihood of there being any danger to other parts of the Queen's dominions in its practical working.

Mr Beeves has doubtless said his last word on the subject on behalf of New Zealand before the Commonwealth Bill becomes law, and the ability and moderation with which he has conducted the case of his colony have been much appreciated in Anglo-Colo-nial as well as Imperial circles.

The Agent-General left last Wednesday night to attend the Postal Conference at Berne. He intends travelling via Rotterdam and up the Rhine as far as Mayence, probably visiting Heidelberg on his way to Switzerland. An article from his pen on the Commonwealth Bill will appear in the British Review next week.

That popular Aucklander, Mr A. L. Myers, arrived in London a few days ago from America with his mother. Mr Myers left the colony suffering from the effects of overwork, but today he looks fit as a fiddle, and seems to be enjoying his holiday most thoroughly. Leaving Auckland by the Alameda (isn't it time this boat was taken off?) Mr and Mrs Myers spent a couple of weeks in 'Frisco, and then travelled by way of Salt Lake City, Chicago and Niagara to New York and Washington. At the latter town Mr Myers got in touch with many of the legislators and political bigwigs, and

discovered that they took a good deal of interest in New Zealand's methods of dealing with social and industrial problems, and only regretted that they had not equal facilities for dealing with them. Mr Myers spent a couple of weeks in New York, and whilst there he paid a good deal of attention to finding out what was the true mental attitude of educated Americans towards Great Britain. He was convinced that the vast majority of them are in warm sympathy with the Old Country in her South African troubles, and traces their attitude back to the strong1 moral support given by Great Britain to the States during the American-Spanish war. Of his experiences in New York Mr Myers can yarn amusingly for hours. Get him to tell you the story of his first shave there, and his drive in the park. He and his mother came across the Atlantic by the Etruria, and reached London last Sunday. He is attending the fourth Chambers of Commerce of the Empire Congress as a delegate from the Auckland district, but so far has opened not his mouth. He is of opinion" that at congresses of this kind delegates should not talk for the mere sake of talking, but only when they know the subject and think they can assist the meetings to come to definite conclusions.

On Monday Mr Myers went with the delegates to the Woolwich Arsenal, and found much to interest him in the various departments. The War Office and Admiralty have provided him with everything necessary to a thorough inspection of the dockyards at Portsmouth and Chatham, and the chief military depots in the- southern district, including Aldershot. These facilities have been obtained through the Colonial Office, which nowadays is the most obliging of Government Departments when dealing with colonists with Gubernatorial or other p' ' introductions. Mr Myers thin, of spending a couple of months in England before going on to Paris. Thereafter his movements are uncertain.

Synchronizing with Mr Myers arrival in London" was the publication of the announcement of his brother's (Dr. Bernard Myers) engagement with Miss Violet Hayman, eldest daughter of Mr Latchmere Hayman, of 9, Pembridge Square, Bayswater, a prominent member of the well-known AngloColonial firm of P. Hayman and Co. The date of the union has not yet been decided by the principals.

Mr J. C. Stevens included in his sale on Tuesday at the well-known Covent Garden Auction Booms a collection of Maori curiosities or carvings from Tologa Bay. These included 12 carved pieces of a Maori pataka, which realised 40 guineas; two "Potokomanawhas," 22J guineas; two "tutakas," b|)th representing male figures,' 20 guineas.

Mr R. W. Allen, of Auckland, has, since his arrival in England, paid scant attention to the pleasures of the cinder path, but last Thursday he donned the spiked shoes, gripped the corks, and in pouring rain turned out for the Guy's Hospital annual sports. He .won .his heat in the 100 yards with ease in 10 3-ssec, but mulling his start in the final was only able to get third. He then turned his attention to the quarter mile, which, after a desperate finish with S. P. Wadson, a Cambridge and L.A.C. sprinter, Allen won by a foot'in 54sec. On this performance he was selected as one of the 440 yards Guy's strongs in the Inter-Hospital Sports' at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. He drew oxitside position in a field of eight and was badly placed through. In the last fifty yards he put on steam, and passed all his men save Wadson, who; finishing strongly, beat the New Zealander by a long two yards in 53 l-ssec.

"Teddy" Reynolds, of,, Auckland, landed in London last Saturday afternoon, having come over by the Campania from New York, in which city he was obliged to wait a week before he could secure a passage across the "silver streak." For the' time being Mr Reynolds is a "bit uncertain as to whether he will race in Paris. There is some petty quarrel over something trumpery going on at present between the National Cyclist Union'bosses and the French cycling authorities, and there are rumours that the N.C.U. are going to boycott the Paris races. What the trouble is I cannot' say for certain, but it appears that the N.C.U. people want to putmore fingers in the Parisian pie than Frenchmen are inclined to admit. The Dutch authorities, it appears, are backing up the N.C.U., so perhaps there's more in matters than meets the eye of the mere outsider. Until he knows just "where 'c are," Reynolds will keep himself fit by spins at Herne Hill or the Crystal Palace, and while away his leisure in business transactions. It is to be hoped he will be able to show the quality of New Zealand wheelmen in the Gay City, but, of course, if the N'.C.U. decide to boycott Johnny Crapaud's bicycling teurney, the Auckland wheeler cannot very Well play a lone hand and risk the consequences.. Apart from his trip to Paris, Reynolds proposes to do a little racing at Home, and intends to join one of our leading clubs. He expects to remain on this side of the water for some six months. Lady yon Haast. arrived yesterday morning from Poland and is staying with Mr and Mrs H. yon. Haast at Chelsea. The first news she heard after her arrival was tha-t she was a grandmother, Mrs George yon Hagst having presented her huband with a son last Monday' evening. Lady yon Haast ' in splendid health and looks younger and stronger than she did on her last visit to London. Life in, Poland seems to have agreed with her thoroughly.

Among the new Fellows elected at last Tuesday's Council Meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute was Mr Herbert O. Fenton of New Zealand.

Messrs H. R. and S. G. Worsp (Auckland), after a month in England, go to Paris for a fortnight, and then visit in succession, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway. They will conclude their tour by a month on the Continent, catch an Orient steamer at Naples, put in a fortnight at Ceylon, and get back to Auckland early in December.

Mrs Motion, of Pokeno, Auckland, who arrived by the Australia the other day is up at Alton1, West Kilbridc, in Ayrshire, Where she intends to stay for * months. She purposes touring in England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The Royal Humane Society has awarded a medal to Private Cassidy, N.Z.M.1.. for his plucky rescue on Ist April of Lieutenant Pindlay from the Hnrtiebeest River, Cape Colony. Bravo Cassidy! and Bravo Sharp! "Handy ashore, handy afloat." Hands; all round!

At West Kilbride are also staying Dr. and Mrs Ernest Roberton, with Lady Roberton at Auchenames. They varied their trip across the United States by visiting Yosemite Valley, and spending some time with relatives and friends in Minnesota and Canada. They crossed from Boston to Queenstown in the New England and visited Killarney and Dublin before landing in England on June sth.

Dr. Robertson's chief object in coming to Europe was to recuperate his health by resting from professional duties and to visit his friends. He is, I am glad to say, feeling so much stronger that- he is able to undertake some study, and hopes during the next few months to pass a great part of his time in Professor Woodhead's laboratory at Cambridge and in the hospitals at London and Vienna before returning to New Zealand early next year. Since leaving home his interest in secondary education, as one of the Governors of the Auckland Grammar School, has led him to inquire into the working of the secondary schools in the United States. Conditions vary considerably in different States, but he was much struck by the pride shown by those in the Western States in their high schools, and by the high standards adopted in them. He was received most courteously and hospitablywherever he sought information, and at times found the eagerness lor information about New Zealand somewhat embarrassing. One needed to be a walking encyclopedia to. answer all questions. On two occasions he addressed large schools on "New Zealand" and found most interested audiences.

The curriculum at the high schools differed from that of Ihe New Zealand schools, chiefly in the attention given to what they term "Mechanical Art." The equipment of laboratories and workshops in some schools was very elaborate. The "Mechanical Art High School" in Boston for instance combines the work of a high school with that of a technical school from the time the boys enter and pupils pass on to the Polytechnic Institution as from other schools they would pass to the University. The Lewis Institute of Chicago has similar aims, but its curriculum is more advanced, and special provision is made so that classical studies are not neglected. In Washington he had a most interesting interview with Dr. M. H. Harris, the U.S. Commissioner of Education. He hopes to have the opportunity of seeing some of the town high schools in England, Scotland, and Germany before returning.

Among the New ZealaJid complement of "Gothic" passengers landed in England early in June, was Mr W. W. Murton, of Auckland. Private business brought Mr Murton to the Old Country, and whilst matters in cennection therewith are maturing he is taking" the opportunity afforded to visit the principal centres of the hardware trade in England in order to become thoroughly an fait with the latest improvements in the trade. He anticipates being in England for about three months.

Mr W. W. Brown, of Auckland, who came Home by way of America, and, after an enjoyable stay of a month's duration in the States, reached London about the middle of May, has been doing the sights of London. His next venture is a trip to Paris, which will probably be made in company with "Teddy1' Reynolds,- the cycling crack. Mr Brown expects to make a move towards New Zealand in September. His trip is entirely one of pleasure, and he seems to be enjoying it to the full.

Mr Percy McMillan, of Auckland, who served in the Imperial Light Horse and went through the siege of Ladysmith, is staying appropriately enough at the Waterloo Hotel just now.

Owing to ill-health Sir John Stainer is unable to act as one of the selection' committee for the Auckland Chair of Music. His place will be filled by Dr. F. Iliffe, of Oxford, and Dr. Abdy Williams has accepted his mandate. ■■'..'

I hear that Professor Cook's two daughters.are returning to New Zealand by the Gothic on sth of July, having completed their musical studies in Germany.

Mr E. Cohen has been appointed one of the four Assistant House Surgeons at Guy's Hospital.

Mr Charles Onyon, erstwhile of Auckland, was one of the passengers by the German steamer Gera, which, after a protracted voyage, landed her passengers at Southampton last week. The voyage was not partic\ilarly exhilarating. The first thing to depress the A'oyagers was the fact that a fireman showed symptoms of such an alarming nature that he had to be landed at Adelaide, where the medicos at once declared the man to be suffering from bubonic plague. Landing at the South Australian capital was therefore tabooed, and, to the disgust of Mr Onyon, he discovered on arrival at Freemantle that a wire from Adelaide respecting the bubonic case hM queered all chance of a trip ashore there. Mr Onyon will spend some weeks in England visiting friends, and will then trip to Paris for to see the great show. Thereafter he will probably spend a few weeks touring in Prance and Switzerland before commencing his homeward trip. ' His health seems to have improved greatly since he left New Zealand.

Mrs Edith .Palmer, the well-known nurse and masseuse of Wellington, who arrived by the Barbarossa at the end of April, has been consulting Dr. Pickering Pick about her health. Although he reassures her, he orders her imperatively to give up nursing and massage entirely.

Mr J. B. Wiseman (Dunedin), who arrived- in April with the mission of selling Messrs W. and G. Donaldson's Scheelite Mine, spent a very successful month in London, which resulted in his finding out the principal users of this valuable mineral, and of his placing an important enquiry for the purchase of the mine in the hands of one of the members of the firm.

R.G.M. contributes some notes from New Zealand to the "Northern Ensign" at Wick, which give an account of the rise of the firm of Eoss and Glcndinnirig, and of some Gaelic ladies in New Zealand who have never learned to speak English.

Private E. T. Twogood—officially No. 99, Ist N.Z. Contingent—who was invalided Home arid arrived by the Cymi-ic on May Bth, is I am glad to hear quite himself again, and to-day sets his face once more in the direction of the land of Fever and Lies.

.Mr and Mrs Abraham, who, with their eldest daughter, are on a health and pleasure pilgrimage to the Motherland, were among the Gothic passengers on her last homeward trip, the pleasure of, which was somewhat marred by an outbreak of influenza on board, which went pretty well through the ship. Mr Abraham attended the Congress of Sheepbreeders' Association at York last week as a delegate from the North Island 5.8.A., and did the York Show thoroughly. He describes that annual affair as a "magnificent exposition of English stock and agricultural industries," but was surprised at the poor attendance and the absence of "side shows" such as Hunters' Competition, etc., which are gone in for to such an extent in New Zealand.

Mr Abrahams proposes? to spend the next month in London, and later, after visiting relatives and friends in different parts of the country, purposes touring in Scotland for a few weeks. Thence he will go to Dublin for the Horse Show, and at the end of October will take his wife and daughter to the Continent for the Exhibition in Paris. They will take steamer home from either Naples or Marseilles, as most convenient.

Before leaving England Mr Abrahams will buy a number of stud sheep for Mr Geo. Wheeler. He is in treaty at present with Mr File, of Elham, near Canterbury, a well-known breeder of Romney Marsh stock, who has on hand some very nice quality sheep.

Mr Robert Smith, of the firm of Smith and Smith, of Dunedin and Wellington, who has brought his wife and two daughters Home for a trip, broke the journey at Ceylon, where he spent 14 days visiting Kandy and Newera Eleya. Plague prevented them from landing at nearly all the ports of call, but did not debar the steamer from taking on board passengers from any plague infected place in India. After six weeks in London, the Smiths intend to visit some of the picturesque parts of England and Scotland, and to do some sketching.

A letter from Mr T. Simpson, of Gore, about the enthusiasm in New Zealand over the war, is published by his brother in the "Scotsman."

Mr J. A. Beach, of Hunterville, sends some notes on New Zealand, its harvest, its poets and its loyalty, to the Hereford "Times."

Mr A. A. Seamer. of Wellington, who, with his wife, left New Zealand in the early part of the year, and, cony ing by way of Australia, landed herd early in May, has been travelling in Cornwall, Bedfordshire, and Herts, foi* the past month. They are at present doing the lions of London from headquarters in Guildford street. Bloomsbury, and expect to remain in Town about a month. Then they repair to the Mecca of the conscientious tourist, Paris to wit, and after doing the Exhibition thoroughly will make a brief tour in Scotland. Accordingl to pre j sent arrangements they will leave for New Zealand in October.

Another Wellingtonian at present in London fs Mr H. W. Rhmdell. His visit is not one of pleasure, his object in leaving New Zenlnd being to study dentistry, and for the pnst few weeks he hap been h.nrr] nt work at the Grent Portland Street Dentn.l Hosnitni. The vacation of that institute Mr Blundell proposes to spend in Paris. He will not in all probability see New Zealand again till 1902 is with us.

Mr and Mrs W. Adams and their two sons (Wellington), after a short stay in London, visited Swindon and then went on to Bideford. They go from there to the Gloucester district and then to Paris, returning to New Zealand in November.

Mrs Munro, of Dunodin. has settled at 20 Penywern Road, Earl's Court, for the present, and is now making arrangements for the musical education of her daughters nt the Royal Academy of Music. After two or1 three years in London, they are going Oiii to Germany to complete their studies, after which Mrs Munro hopes to return to New Zealand.

Mr and Mrs Woodcock, of Whitecliffs, who brought one of Mr G. T. Booth's sons with them, are enjoying their quiet- visit to Mr Woodcock's parents. Thry have been cycling round the Isle of Wight, and are going north soon to Scotland.

The good among you, and, maybe, some of the unregenerate, will be gratified to hear, on the high authority of the Rev. C. F. Evans, the ActingChaplain at the Cavalry Barracks, Shorncliffe, where most of the invalided colonials are sent to recuperate, that the behaviour of the men from "down under" has been most exemplary and has won the admiration of the whole camp. Mr Evans, I may mention, has been unremitting in his attention to the Britishers from over the seas, and his efforts not being confined to merely attending to their spiritual needs have met with appreciation.

Mrs Broughton and her sister (Miss Young}, of Christchurch, after a short visit to Melbourne, came on in the Prince Regent Luitpold as far as Naples, which they made the starting point for sight-seeing in Italy; after visiting Pompeii, Baia, and other points of interest, they went to friends at Rome, and after a pleasant time there came on to Southampton by another North German liner. A matter of business requires Miss Young's presence in Great Britain, but their trip is mainly one of pleasure. After a brief sojourn in London they go to friends in Scotland and Ireland. Fitzwilliam Palace, Dublin, will be their head-quarters.

Mr Leonard J. Lloyd, of Wanganni, has brought his wife home by the Gothic for a pleasure trip, and is staying in London at Torrington Square. They are both pretty tired of London and its bustle, and presently commence a provincial tour. Later they will go to Paris, where Mr Lloyd hopes to see his fellow countrymen,1 Sutherland and Reynolds, taking part in the forthcoming International bicycle races. Mr and Mrs Lloyd propose to remain on this side of the water iill the approach of our winter.

New Zealand had no stall at Princess Christian's Naval and Military Bazaar at Olympia last week, but I saw Mrs Hunter Blair in charge of a large bran dip at the stall of her husband's regiment, the Gordon Highlanders. She looked very picturesque in her white dress, dark tartan sash, and purple bonnet with silver badge, after that worn by the famous Duchess of Gordon when she went recruiting.