PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14308, 20 March 1912, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(FROM OTjR own correspondent.) LONDON, February 9. The many friends in New Zealand of 3lr and Mrs Pember R«evcs would learn with regret of the death at Torquay on Sunday of Mrs Reeves's father, Mr 'William Smoult Robison, n his 81st year. Though an octogenarian, Mr Robison had been in excellent general health until the recent very cold weather, when he contracted pneumonia,; which resulted m his death. His wife, who has also enjoyed very satisfactory health io her advanced age, was with him at the time, and also their two daughters. Mrs Reeves and Mrs Lascellos. The funeral took place at Torquay on Wednesday. The friends of Mr Harold Beauchamp, chairman of tho Hank of NewZealand, will be pleased to learn that after persevering with tho rest euro for manj- weeks, he now shows a decided improvement as compared with his condition when ho arrived in England. In fact, his health is so much better that ho is looking forward to doing some motoring in the British Isles before sailing with his family for homo by the Malwnon March Bth. Mr Reauchamp will join the vessel ;»t Marseilles. Mr and Mrs George Coates, who are well-known in art circles in the Dominion, aro thinking of taking a trip to Australia in the coming autumn. If they go, they will take with them some of their most recent pictures, including thoso that have appeared in the Paris Salon and the London Academy exhibitions. Sir Ernest Shackleton has abridged and adapted for school use his book relating his Antarctic experiences. In its new shape it will form one of Mr Heinemann's "Hero Series," which he is now publishing. New Zcalanders will bo interested to learn of tho prospeetivo arrival in London of Miss O. Winifred Honey, daughter of Mr Edward Honey, of Toorak, Melbourne. Miss Honey has been awarded tho travelling scholarship of the Victorian National Gallery, which is valued nt £150 a year for three years, and she is coming homo to prosecute her art studies here. Miss Honey commenced painting when a pupil at Girton College, Dunedin, continued at Girton College, Christchurch. and afterwards at tho Technical School at Wellington. Her work shows very great promise. Mr S. L. Veenstrn, a representative of tho Dutch Government, has been in London this week on a special visit to tho New Zealand High Commissioner. His mission was to enquire whether the Dominion would bo willing to accept Dutch farmers as emigrants, and he had long interviews with Sir William Hall-Jones and Mr Donne. Sir John Kirk, director of the Ragged School Union, has arrived in London greatly benefited in health from his visit to New Zealand. Ho says ho found the public conscience of New Zealand keen on the question of the welfare of the child, and gave two reasons:—ln the first place tho people value the child for its own sake, and in the second they require additional population. Therefore they are ready to protect the boy and girl, to give them every possible chance in the matter of education, and to take the necessary steps for the preson'ation of health and general welfare.