PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 250, 19 October 1908, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

CFrom Our Special Correspondent.) THE KING'S RETURN. LONDON, September 14. King Edward returned to his own people last Saturday after a month's absence. His sojourn at Marienbad appears to have done him a world of good for he looked in splendid health, and appeared to be in high spirits. The weather at Marienbad was very trying during His .Majesty's residence there, and at least three of the royal suite were laid up a≤ the result of the wet and cold prevailing. But the King kept well throughout, and the results of the "cure" are officially stated to be even more satisfactory than in former years. The inclemency of the weather was such that Dr. Ott, the King's physician, thought it inadvisable to prescribe mineral baths for his distinguished patient, who therefore only took the waters, but at the same time followed a strict diet and took plenty of walking exercise. Dr. Ott states that the robustness of the King's constitution at his age is quite -wonderful. On his return to London, the King was very warmly greeted by a huge crowd, which lined the streets between Victoria station and Buckingham Palace. Everybody seemed delighted to sec His Majesty looking so well, and indeed he looked several years younger than when he left England four weeks ago. At night the King was present at the production of Mr Jerome's "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" at St. James's Theatre, and on the morrow, after holding a small investiture at the Palace, left for Kufford Abbey, where he will be the guest of Lord and Lady Savile for the Doncaster race meeting. There can be no question of King Edward's fondness for "'the sport of Kings." He attends almost every really important meeting during the flat racing season, and though the Royal colours are not on view very frequently, and seldom nowadays catch the judge's eye at the right time, His Majesty gives no signs of resenting Dame Fortune's unkindness in the manner some of his subjects would like him to do, namely, by turning his back on the turf and all things connected with it. With the visit last Saturday of four New Zealanders to the Streatham Constitutional Ground, the full complement of colonials visiting the club reached 40 since the opening of the present season. The rink of Maorilanders was composed of Mr F. W. Haybittlc (chairman of the Northern Bowling Association of New Zealand, Aldermun James Godber (Wellington), Mr T. B. Jones (Wellington), and Mr T. Bush (ex-president of the Wellington 8.C.). This side was opposed by Messrs Stephen Fortescue, J. W. Drake, E. Howitt, and J. Skegg (skip) in a. morning game, in which the New Zealanders scored 15 against 22, while in the afternoon the visitors were ag.\in beaten by a narrow margin by four other members of the club. Mr Fortescue, in proposing the health of the New Zealanders, pointed out how very pleased he was to welcome his old friends whom he had met in Wellington four years ago. Mr Haybittle, in reply, expressed a hope that the long-promised visit' of ai tearo. oi Motherland players would shortly take place. Recent callers at the' High Commissioner's Office: —Mias Edith Arndt (Wellington), Miss A. Beaver (Wellington), Mr A. E. RatcJiff (Feilding), Rev. James Lynch (Palmerston South), the Very Rev. P. J. Power (Hawera), Rev. A. MoMullar (Ranfurly, Otago), Miss J. Burgoyne Hudson, Miss P. goyne Hudson (Melbourne),. Mr Sydney W. Andrews (Christchurch), Miss Mary Smith (Invercargill), Mr C. G. Hume (Wellington). Among the New Zealanders at present making holiday in the Old Country is Professor Tubbs, erstwhile Professor of Classics at Auckland University. Since his arrival in England early in August Mr Tubbs has been touring in the country visiting relations and old friends. He is not at present certain whether he will return to New Zealand, but in any case will spend seme months on this side of the great waters. The "London Gazette" of Tuesday, September 8, announced the King's approval of Mr M. Hendenstrom as ConsulGenernl of Russia for the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand. A few days ago, being in the neighbourhood of Harrow, 1 ran against Dr. A. 0. Knight, the erstwhile Ponsonby medico. He was looking remarkably well; "although,"'said he, "my friends the other side of the world have the idea that 1 am out of condition. I don't think," he continued, "they would say so if they saw mc now. for the English climate suits mc. I have never felt better." Holding out both his hands, smiling, he said: "Look; 1 have just been doing a day's work in the garden." "I suppose you have been seeing the sights, doctor?" "Yes," was the reply; "the first few months at Home I visited Irela.nd, North "Wales and various parts of England, but," he continued, "one gets tired of sightseeing and holidaying, so that it was a delightful change when I received a request from the Baptist Deaconesses' Mission to help them, one of their doctors being laid aside through hard work. On Friday last I treated over 50 patients at the institute." Dr. Knight and his family are likely to remain in England not far short of three years. True to the old tradition, Mrs Knight has been elected president of the Women's British Temperance Union at . Wealdetone. and to inaugurate her term of office she held a garden reception for members of the W.B.T.U. at "Hare Mai," their residence in Harrow.