ANGLO-GOLONIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10785, 12 October 1900, Page 2

ANGLO-GOLONIAL NOTES.

. , JSneUL TO if TBS WtESS.") lj ~ .. LONDON, August 31. Mrs PercxvaT Johnston, Miss Muriel Johnston, and Mr Douglas Johnston have been staying daring the last three weeks at Ostend. They all left yesterday for Paris to

visit the Exhibition, and after a stay in the French capital they .purpose going on to Wiesbaden, where Mrs Johnston will remain for a while to try tBo effect of the famous mineral waters. * Mr John Duthie, of Wellington, who arrived in London lately, is, I understand, at present taking charge of the business of his firm at their London office, 13, Lime street.

Mr M. A. Phillips and Mr H. H. Partridge, of who arrived in London a few days ago, had rather an unpleasant passage in the P. and O. s.s. Britannia owing to the exceptionally stormy weather. They intend to remain in London for a few weeks, when they leave for Scotland, and subsequently they return to Paris with the object of doing the Exhibition more thoroughly. Mr and Mrs A. P. Griffiths, of Auckland, amved in London recently, and are staying for the* present at Montague Mansion, Great Russell street.

Mrs and Miss Ballance have left Aix-Ia» Chapelle and gone to Boppard, a small town situated on the right bank of the Rhine, in a most beautiful bend of that glorious which here makes one of its most remarkable curves. Behind the town is the ancient nunnery of Marienberg, whkh is now used as an establishment for the application of the water cure, thafhas no doubt been the attraction in the present instance. Mrs and Mass Ballance are staying at the Hotel Belle Vue.

With regard to his gJeat cosmic-evolution theoiy, Professor JL Bickerton, of Christchurch, has just received a long letter from the President of the Royal 4Btronomical Society ('Mr E. W. Knobel) in which that eminent scientist says: "I do not think that this important theory which has only this year been brought to the notice of astronomers, will fail in receiving the attention and investigation it certainly deserves." The President further suggests that Professor Bickerton should contribute a paper on the subject at the approaching meeting of the British Association. He adds: "I strongly advise you to write at once to Dr. Common, F.R.S., this year's President of the Astronomical section. I cannot doubt that Dr. Common will do what he can, and when I hear from you I will write him a note." Messrs Sdnnenschein, the well-known publishers, have approached Professor Bickerton with the suggestion that he should embody his theory in a new popular work upon astronbmy with some such title as "A New Story of the Stars," whuch might be published in attractive form at a moderate price, say five shillings, bo as to render it generally accessible to students.

- Mr Charles Bickerton, son of the Professor, arrived in London on Sunday last-by the s.s. Paparoa. He comes Home to enter upon a lengthened course of study, but as his health is at present nob, quite satisfactory, he will take a year's rest and holiday before settling down to studious work. He is staying with his parents, who are now residing afr 33, Newlands Terrace, Queen's road, ;B»ttarsefli». .;-.

v! ComnMttfcing on Professor Bickerton's ,t»pqrjf,.._t | he j '-Standard" says:—"lt is certamly ingfiiioui, though whether it be quite so ifar-reaehing or in every part so novel K os he seems to suppose, mnst be left for experts to decide." On that head the utterance of the President of the Royal Astronomical Society is conclusive. According to that distinguMied authoritvj Professor Bickertbn's theory is "as novel as he eeems to suppose." Lieutenant Gardner, of the Permanent Pores, who recently arrived for training, is now with tflie 14th Company of the ftoyal Garrison Artillery at Ovlden Hill, in the Isle df Wig-lit. Mrs and Miss Loughnan are still on the Continent. At present- they are staving at the Hotel dv Lac, Riva, Lago Garda," Tyrol. Mr Jantes Hurse, of Christchureh, is now in town, and has already put in a good deal of time at SmtthfieM. iMr S. Sinclair, of Dunedin, returned to England.several weeks ago from his visit to the Exhibition, and since then has been piling farewell visits to many of the provincial centres. He is in London this wee'kv but purposes leaving again in a few 'dseyst for Brighton, -whence he proceeds to Torquay. Mr Sinclair's stay in this country is now brief, for he expects to leave on his return to "New Zealand in tihe course of the next few weeke, though lie has not definitely decided upon Ws route, which may possiblebe via America.

Mr and Mrs Allison Smith have settled down at 19 Cromwell. Oeseent, South .Kensington. Mr Allison' Smith is about to bring out a new and improved raotor-car. Quit* a, large number of invalid«d colonists are now met with every day and everywhere. In conversation with some of them" lately, I have found that great rivalry exists among them as to tvihioh contingents have "done the best." New South Wales men declare they were better than the Victorians, -who dispute it. Queenslanders contend that no other Australians could hold a candle to them. And it is the same with all t<he ©titers. But when New Zealand is mentioned they one and all concede that the New Zealandeis have done the best. Itis now almost the rule to read, when anything is done in South Africa, that "the New Zeaknders specially distinguished themselves. "

I learn that the meat brought in the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers is being landed in perfect condition. Since the Company adopted the Linde process of refrigeration there has not been a. single carcase condemned as a result of anything attributable to faulty refrigeration or insulation.

Wfth the three new twin-screw steamers now building, the New Zealand Shipping Company hopes to resume its monthly passenger service. Two of these steamers will come into commission next Decemiber, and the third by next summer. - The Company's passenger service will then be montihry, and all the steamers -will be of the twin-screw type, -with the single exception of the s.«. Papanui.

A sergeant in the New Zealand Mounted Rifles writes from Pretoria ■with, reference to the proposal that representatives from the various colonial corps in South Africa should be brought to England at the conclusion of the campaign. Hβ argues that all should come or none, inasmuch as it is impossible to select picked representatives when all are equally deserving of the honour.