PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 91, 17 April 1906, Page 3

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, March 17. Tjr. George Fowlds. M.K.R.. arrived by ■gje s≤ Briton last Saturday, acconrpan?a j by Miss Fowlds. his daughter, and Woceeded at once to Kilmarnock, in Ayrto see Ms father. Mr. Fowids, senr.. is to celebrate his I OOth birthday ~ m Hay 22nd. and it is with the intention o f oeiag present a t the festivities that jjg son" has come from New Zealand. ge found the centenarian in good jealtli. and able ro accompany him to cfenreh on Sunday. After spending kro or three days in Scotland Mr Fowide daughter returned, to London, and m lfcnda-y they leave on a three weeks' fiat to the Continent.

On his way to England Mr Fowlds spent a month in South Africa. He visiced all battlefields of tile late war. stopped at Johannesburg, Pretoria. Bloemiontein and Kimberley (where he nsed to live before settling in New Zealand) and then went up to Mafekins. whence he travelled south to Capetown to join the Briton. At Johannesburg- Mr fowlds had the honour of lunching with lord and Lady Selborne. He also discussed the Chinese labour question with some of the mining magnates and the representatives or labour on the Hand, and ssw for himself the conditions under vMch the Chinese collies worked. In his opinion these conditions could not be said to bear the taint of slavery. The Chinee were vreli treated., and though lodged is compounds permission to visit JohanjiEsbnrg was readily granted to the coolies, Mr Fowlds saw many Chinese about the streets during his stay there. The affiditians oi their employment, he says, are not nearly so rigorous as in the case of the Kaffirs on the diamond mines at Snnberley. where the natives are shut up <m their location for the whole three jncnths of their engagement, in order to prevent illicit traffic in diamonds. Mr Fowlds intends visiting Naples and Borne, where he hopes to meet Sir Joseph Ward, who is due to arrive there at the end of this month. The birthday celebrations at Kilmarnoek will take place on 3£ay 22nd, and will be the occasion of a Mg family re-union, as in addition to Mr George Fowlds and his daughter, his tliree brothers in America intend erossfn<r the Atlantic, accompanied by their wives, to be present at their father's centenary. It i~ probable that Sir Joseph Ward also will visit Kilmarnoek for tie occasion.

"VfiFs Helene Fodor, of Christch.ureh, arrived in London a few days since, after spending more than a fortnight in Paris with her brother on her way Home. Miss Fodor has been engaged in literary woric in New Zealand for some rime, contributing to the "Red Funnel" and other papers, and she has come to England to try ier hand at literary work here. While in Paris she was fortunate enough to meet with some literary people, and her kHowiedge of French stood her in good stead, for she was successful in settins some of the illustrated papers interested, in Xew Zealand. "They admire the scenery of the colony immensely." says Jliss Fodor, "and are willing to publish descriptions of Xew Zealand life and ■ways. I found the French taking a lively interest in our charming country. They watch its polities and admire the 'sffiletic proportions of its men. as ircnght before them, by the Xew Zealand footballers."

Miss Fodor intends to stay a while in Lmdon. and then in Paris, returning ac intervals to London on business.

Mr Clias. M. Begg, M.D.. F.R.C.S., 3LB-C.P. lEdin.) .is returning to New Zealand nest month, with a view to practising there. Since qualifying in Edinburgh some three years ago, Dr. Begg has been holding various surgical appointment* in British hospitals and visiting some of the better-known Continental medical schools.

Mr. and Mrs W. A. Crawford, of Dunedin arrfred on the 3rd inst. by the P. and O. liner India. They left New Zealand on June 30th last, anil spent wo mouths in Sydney, a montb. at the Bine Mountains, and three months in Victoria. From Melbourne they to West Australia, and spent three weeks & the goldfields before joining the Mia for London. They are here on a pleasure trip, and trill not leave for the colony until October next, ilcst of the time will be spent in Scotland, but they intend visiting some of the English ■watering places and Paris andMarseiD.es Before joining their outward-bound steamer.

Hγ- G. W. Thomson, A.0.5.M.. has retnraed to London from the Far East.

is i= three years since he arrived from J€w Zealand, where he was known chkilv in Duneain and at Reefton. Since slien Mr. Thomson has been with the Itaff Development Co_. Ltd.. in Kelantan Malar States, on the Malay Peninsula. Se was tLe Assistant Mining Engineer lor 2A years in charge of ihe mining station, containing about 400 Chinese coolies with smaller numbers of Javanese and Malays. He had. however, to K&iqmsh the position on account of Malarial fever, from which he has now aitireiy recovered. Just not , .- 3lr. Thomson, is busy renewing acquaintance with Some of the mininrr •engineerrns firms, .'*%&■ a view to obtaining another appointment either at home or abroad. In addition to being a Fellow pf the Royal Cobnial Institute, he has recently been tifieted an Associate of the "Institution tf Mines and Metallurgy.' ,

"Hie High Commissioner, assisted by experts, will shortly appoint a Et3a ise master tor the Auckland College SE i Grammar School. A considerable of applications hare been re«SYetL

J- W. Harding, a large landowner *& farmer in Taranakii is visiting in Nottingham. Mr. Harding Ravelled through" Argentina, and exthe highest opinions concerning "*_ tanning and cattle-producing cathe South American Republic. Zealand, in Ms opinion, pos--35£5 one advantage over its rival, in ™fT< a man cajj start farming in the colonly £100, whereas in Argen- ??■ &£ estancias are on so large a that the intending farmer requires *capaal of froni £5000 to £10.000.

' Imperial Government's section at «~ Zealand International Exhibit,ff 3l occupy 20.000 square feet. The ■rjj? 20 -°°o squar f«*t in the British be fiT - by private exhlbiApplications ~r space are coming b Commissioner's office in numbers.

-W. A. Bowring, the Chrlsiehnreh intends returning to tie colony, j£™g London about the middle of Mi. Bowring has had a very

useful year's experience in his profession in the Metropolis, and has had drawings accepted by "Punch," and most of the leading illustrated papers. Latterly he has given up black and white work, and devoted himself to the study of por-trait-painting, a branch of his art in which he hopes to find a field in NewZealand. Mr. Bowring- is just bae£ from a trip to Paris, where he visited the art schools, and met some of the leading men in the artists' colony

Bγ. J. S. Purdy, of the Hutt, who is now • in, the Egyptian Quarantine Service, states in a letter to the secretary of the New Zealand Association in London that " New Zealandera who pass through the Suez Canal will always get a warm -welcome" at Port Said, where the doctor is stationed. Dr. Purdy is greatly interested in the reorganising of the New Zealand Association, of which he was one of the original founders. He has written to Mr. Seddon. suggesting that the time has arrived for the New Zealand Government to take official cognisance of the Association, and asking the Premier to present a full-length photograph of himself to jiang in the common room of the Association in London.

Mr. Benno Seherek has gone to the United States to assist in "the direction of Miss Nellie Stewart's American tour, and also to prepare the way for little AOseba Elman. the boy violinist. Mr. Seherek recently toured the English provinces as Mischa Ehnan"3 accompanist, and is one of the most enthusiastic admirers of the wonderful boy.

Dr. W. L. Christie, who hails from New Zealand, has been lecturing on the colony at Bristol. Ha described New Zealand as the healthiest place, and its institutions as the most liberal, in the world. The New Zealanders were intensely loyal to the Old Country, and they painted such pictures of the Motherland that he had felt compelled to come and look at it!

Miss C. de Thierry (Jessie Weston) read a paper before the Royal Colonial Institute this week on " Our Policy in the West Indies." The trend of the ex-Auckland journalist's indictment of than policy may , be gathered from the following excerpt from her paper:—"Under the influence of Cobdenism this country has ceased to have a definite aim in the world. Her horizon is bounded by imports and exports, or would be only that circumstances are too strong for her. In this way sound Imperial strategy is sacrificed by our fiscal system. Nowhere ia it more marked than in the Western Hemisphere. L T nderth'e pressure of events we have indeed formulated an Asiatic policy, and begun, to think of India and South. Africa as parts of a strategical whole. Bat -we have no American policy, unless indeed it is abandonment, in which ease it is not constructive but destructive, and therefore out of harmony with Imperialisjp. But, said the Colonial Secretary a while ago. the rumour as to the cession of the West Indies is absurd. And so we pan only suppose that the Government is drifting."

Mr. Matthew G. Heeles and Mr Arthur E. Pearee, both Xew Zealanders, have been elected Fellows of the Eoyal Colonial Institute.

The Xew Zealand footballers must come to London to hear news about tliernseires. The " Evening Xews'" declared the otheT day that ** the profit earned by the ; AII Black' will surely be divided between. Tfee-players": and went on to sayj " it will be interesting to observe* the attitude of true Rugby Union towards the colonials' on the occasion of their next visit. According to the Rugby L'nion code of morals the "'All Blacks" are not amateurs." The '* Evening News" ought to make sure of its premises before launching- its thunderbolts oi logic against the "All Blacks" and the Rugby Union. Unfortunately for its argument, tie money gained on the tour -will not be divided between, the players.

The News' " statement about the "All Blacks'' not being amateurs has not been allowed to go uncorreeted. A number of correspondents pointed out the error, amongst them being Mr. C. Wray Palllser. the N.Z.R.U: representative in London. "I am in a position to know, and can state emphatically," says Mr. Pafliser, "that not one of the players received any payment for playing football. Sot witi any player be allowed to a.ecept in any shape anything in the way of a presentation or compensation on pc turn to the colony. The K.Z. Rugby Football Union is as jealous of its honour in respect to pure amateurism as the Rugby Union of England. I may add that in all cases the players vv-ill be very largely oat of pocket by thefr journey, and in many cases to my personal knowledge members of the team will require to seek employment immediately upon their arrival in the colony. They did not consider the monetary loss entailed, by the tour too great a sacrifice to make when the chance was given them of coming Home to the Old Country, and all willingly accepted the offer made to them by the Xew Zealand Union."

I The lonic of the Shavr, Savill, and Albion Co."s fleet, left Plymouth last Saturday for New Zealand via Capetown and Hobart. She takes the following passengers for New Zealand ports: Sirs. A. East (Wellington).. Mr. 'J. K. Goudy (Napier). Miss B. H- Montefiore (New Plymouth), Mr. P. Myere (Wellington). Mr. A. Ahrens (Wellington), Mr. C. N. Alder (Lyttelton), Mr. J. Beever (Wellington), Sister Benedict (Lyttelton), Mr. F. W. Burgon, Mr. B. W. Burgon (Auckland). Mr. and Mrs. J. Chilwell and family (Auckland), Mr. C. Cowper (Wellington), Mr. D. Dickinson (Auckland), Mr.'and Mrs. W. J. Edwards and two daughters (Auckland), Miss F. Finlayson (Lyttelton), Mr. and Mrs. G. Fleming, Mr. A. Fleming, Mr. G. W. Fleming (Wellington). Mr. W. Forbes (Auckland), Mr. D. Fraser (Port Chalmers), Mrs. A. L. Gordon (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. J. E. TTarfing and two sons (Wellington), Mr. E. J. Eeskefch (Auckland), Mr. T. D. Hopkins (Auckland), Mr..C. S. Kelman and Mr. E. N. Kelman (Wellington), Mr. A. S. Knight (Wellington), Mr. J. O. McNae (Napier), Mr. G. MacEae (Lyttelton), Sister Magdalen (Lyttelton), Miss C. E. Master (Auckland), Miss C. MDligan (Napier), Mr. S. M. Nicholls (Wellington), Mr. W. Powell (Auckland), Miss H.Row (Wellington), Miss L. Smith (Wellington), Mr. J. T. Smith (Timaru), Mr. J. !Taylor (Port Chalmers), Miss A. Tomes (Wellington), Mr. W. J. Ward (Auckland), Mr_,,:J. WaEon (Wellington), Mr. D. Bailey"*(Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Batchelor (Wellington), and 172 third-class passengers.