PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14635, 9 April 1913, Page 4

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(FROM OCa OWN CORRESrO-tDENT.) LONDON, February 28. The Hon. James Allen, with his wifo and daughter, spent the week-end at Cambridge as the guests of Professor IL F. Scott, master of Mr Allen's old College (St. John's), and Vice-Chancel-lor of the University. I>r. Scott, by the way, was a contemporary of Mr Allen at Cambridge, and pulled in a college boat which Mr Allen coached. On Monday Mr Alien dined at high table at the College. This is a special dinner held about once a year, and the New Zealand Minister met at it several other distinguished students of ,6fc. John's of his own college days. Lord Courtney of Pcnwith, one of them, was much interested in proportional representation ; and another of tho diners was Professor Foxwell, the celebrated ! economist, now a Professor at the London University (working in conjunction with Mr' Reeves at the School of Economics) and director of economic studies at St. John's, Cambridge. During the week, by the way. Mr Allen was I waited on by Mr J. H. Humphreys, the | prominent advocate of proportional representation, with whom he discussed at length the New Zealand Electoral Acts. To-day tho Ministerial party. R-ith Sir Walter Buchanan, went down to Farnborough to. inspect the Royal Mi.itary Aviation S_hool, in which they were ail much interested. Monday.and Tuesday Mr Allen will spend at Oxford, where, with his wifo and daughter, ho will be the guest of the celebrated Warden of New College, Dr. SpooncT. On Tuesday they will be entertained at lunch at Merlon by the New Zealand Rhodes Scholars now in residence, and in tho evening they will dine with the Raleigh Club, a newlyformed organisation for the study of Imperial affairs. Lord Milner will bo one of the speakers. On Wednesday j next Mr Allen will be the guest of the j Leathersellors' Company, and he will spend tho week-end with Lord Roberts at his country scat at Ascot. Mr Allen is to speak on universal service at Bradford early in April, but it is needless to say he will only touch on the Nevf Zealand experfence. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward aro still at Whitehall Court, and they will probably remain there throughout tho month of March. They are looking fOl ward to a motor tour of the United Kingdom should the weather be more settled in April. Sir Joseph has promised to address the Australasian Section of the Royal Colonial Institute, and he will also attend next week another Leathersellers' banquet in tho Company's Hall. A coming engagerrcnt of a public character is a dinner of the Chamber of Shipping, to bo given at tho Trocadero. This week Sir /oscnh Ward attended tho dinner or the Borderers' Company, at the Metropole Hotel. The Company is 350 years old, and the proceedings were marked by two special and interesting features. After tho health of tho Worshipful Master has been honoured, tho Worshipful Master replies by way of a song. , He sings from the original manuscript, which is now . over threo centuries old. although "the words are supplied in modern En__lish for tho benefit of tho cuests, who join in tho chorus. , Then the Loving Cup is passed round. It is of solid gold, and cost four thousand guineas. Its value to-day is over ten thousand guineas. Two cups, presented by former Worshipful Masters, stood on the main table on either side of the Loving Cup, and they aro both dated about 1650. Lord Middleton proposed tho toast of "Tho Guests," to which Sir Joseph Ward responded. Miss Eileen "Ward has crossed to Ireland- on a short visit to Dr. and Mrs Woods at Qucenst_i**n. Mrs Woods wili bo remembered as Miss llubi Seddon.

Sir William and Lady Hall-Jones are still at Bournemouth, but the lease of their house will be up on March Oth. Then* they and their daughters will come up to London and spend a fortnight here before joining their steamer for Australia, en route to New Zealand. Sir William and his family havo had a very pleasant sojourn at Bournemouth.

A yecent London wedding of New Zealand interest was that between M:ss Daisy Devenish Meares, daughter of Mr W. Devenish Meares, of Christchurch, and Mr M. Tosswill, solicitor, of tho firm of Messrs Dymcnd, Fridriscn, and Tosswill. The ceremony took place very quietly at St. James's, Piccadilly, and was performed by the Bishop of London. None were present but relatives and a few intimate friends from New Zealand. Immediately -after tho ceremony, the bride and bridegroomwent direct to the station en route to Church Stietton, Shropshire, where the honeymoon is being spent. Their home will be Torquay. Mr Devenish Meares entcirtnined the guests at 12 Cork street, Alayfair. Mr and Mrs M. Tosswill were the recipients of many vajnable presents.

Mr Detenish Meares has left town on a round of visits to relatives and friends, and he does not expect to be back for some littie while.

Major Nelson George (late of Auckland) i;as been in ttt'e South cf Franco avoiding part cf the Eng.ish winter. Ho is expected back at his Bournemouth home this week. Other New .Z.alanders who have fine residences at Bournemouth, which is growing more and mo.c popular as a wiiuer resort for visitors who remain in England ti-rough the year, are Captain W.ay, of Timaru ; Mr G. Grey Russell (Dunedin), Colonel Bui"ton (Auck-a-na), Mr and Mrs E. C. Batkin, of WcLiugtou.

An "At Home" given on Wednesday by Sir George Reid was attended by Colonel the lion. James 1 Allen, Mi's and Miss Allen, Sir Waiter Buchanan, tho High Commissioner and Miss Mackenzie, and sir Joseph and Lauy Ward. The Misses Burton have planned aContinental tour, embracing Itaiy, Switzerland, and France, and they wid start in April. Miss Burton is now away from town, on a sketching tour iv Cornwall with friends.

Mr A. F. Wilding is playing lawn tennis in the South of France. Just now the International Tournament is taking place at ilonte Carlo, and tho |s"ew Zealand,-* is tho holuer of the championship. In tho fir_t round he walked over, V. de Ooubabch scatch.d. lln the second round he beat A. C Hunter (6-0, 6-2). In tho doubles, Messrs Wilding and_ 11. Kieinschroth have beaten Messrs E. li. Allen and C. G. Allan (.0-2, 0-2), also they have defeated 0. Gault and V. Poulin (6-1, 6-1). In the Open Mixed Doubles, Mr Wi.ding and Miss E. Ryan beat C. W. Murray and Mrs O'Nei.i (U-7, 7-5). New Zealand visitors at the High Commis-ioiier's Ofiice have this week included :—Sir Arthur Dousls. s (late of (Wellington). Mr and Mrs' Bankart (Auckland). Miss A. Dexter (Wanganui), Mr J. 11. Wilson (Wellington). Mr W. Stewart Loci-head (Dunedin), Mrs Uhgh Macdonaid (Dunedin), Major T. W. .McDonald (Wc*__iri__-<ra) and Mrs McDonald, who have left for Dover, the South-East Coast Headqu, _*t_rs Defences; Mr H. Joosten (Wellington), Si** Walter Buchanan (Masterton), the 1 Misses Newbould, Mr J. F. Buxton (Christchurch), tho Misses Mabel and j Lu.u Buxton.

Debutantes at one of the May Courts will include the Misses Mackenzie, daughters of the High ComnJssiouer.