PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17628, 4 December 1922, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

GOSSIP ABOUT NEW

ZEALANDERS.

(fkosi our own cokf.espondest.')

LONDON, October 24,

The King, at Buckingham Palace, yesterday morning received in special audience Commander F rank Wild, leader of the Sliaekleton-Rowett Expedition, and Mr John Quidder Rowett, wiio was responsible for financing the undertaking. His Majesty expressed his deep regret at the untimely death of Sir Ernest Shackleton. He complimented Commander Wild on the splendid way in which ho had carried the

work or the expedition to a successful termination.

Sir John Foster Frazer, tlie wellknown journalist and lecturer, has in ins house three small water colours of scenes about Auckland harbour. These ho prizes very highly, but owing to an unfortunate accident he has never been a't>lo to thank tlio donor. When he was leading Auckland after his tour of Now Zealand some twenty years ago, lie was handed these threo paintings, but the accompanying ,note was lost before lie had time to send a reply. Should tho lady who presented the paintings to iSir Jolm bo alive still it will no doubt interest lier to know of his continued appreciation of her gift, and of his hope some day to tender his personal thanks. Dr. I*. Marshall is leaving for New Zealand in tho lonic on November 2nd. Ho lias lately been in the field with members of the staff of the Geological Survey. He found that the director and experts were keenly interested in the work he has done on the volcanic rocks in Duneclin, and were very anxious for specimens of them. Dr. Marshall has been staying with Professor Harker, at St. John's College, Cambridge, with whom ho has corresponded for many years about geological matters.

Professor W. Henderson ■ Pringlc iDunedin), who c-ame Home recently on account of the unsatisfactory state of his eon's health, has remained in London since his arrival hero. His son, who is a scholar of tho City of London School, is suffering from a nervous breakdown, and hie health is causing considerable anxiety. Professor Pringlo will probably be visiting Scotland in tho course of the next few days.

Colonel Robert Logan -and Mrs Logan attended the reception given by the ITigh Commissioner last week. They are at present living in Devonshire, which they consider a county with a delightful climate and delightful people. Mr G. H. Kent (Christchurch), who came Home with the intention of procuring an aeroplane to fly the Tasman Sea, met with an unfortunate accident while flying in the North of England recently. When up 2000 ft. his aileron control broke, and the machine crashed to the ground. Luckily Mr Keat and uis obsenver escaped serious injury, but the former hurt his back to. such an oxtent that he will not be able to fly for some time.

Dr. E. Douglas Pullon (Christchurch) lias passed the examination forF.R.C.S. at Edinburgh, and at a recent meeting li.H election to the Fellowship was confirmed. After a short seaside holiday at Filey, to which he took his wife and threo years old daughter, he took charge of his father's practice at Hudtdersfield for somo weeks. Dr. Pullon and his family leave London for New Zealand at the end of November. , October 27.

Sir James .A"Hon was last week-end at Shepton Mallett, Somerset. This was the little town where he spent eight or nine years at school when a boy, before proceeding to Clifton College arid Cambridge. Some time ago ho accepted the position aa president of the Old Boys' Association, and last week he went down for the double purpose of presenting the prizes to the children of his old school and of giving an illustrated lecture on New Zealand before the Sheptonian Society. The chairman at this latter meeting, it may be said, was a late resident of Poverty Bay—'Mr Somervile —who now has property' in Somerset. The High Commissioner touched on the scenery, the settlement and the early history of New Zealand, the industries, the exports of the country. He referred-to the record of the Expeditionary Forces, and finally gave some information with regard to Samoa, the Cook Group, and Nauru Island. Sir James had the pleasure of meeting quite a number of his old school fellows, many of whom are prosperous farmers in the district to-day. Mr H. C. Cameron accompanied £'>• James and assisted with the lantern slides.

On the appointment of the I>uke of Devonshire to the position of Secretary of State for the Colonies, in place of Mr Winston Churchill, the High Commissioner (Sir James Allen) forwarded the following letter to his Grace:— | 'My Lord Duke.—l take this opportunity of congratulating your Grace upon the very important position that lias been allotted to you in the new Government. So far as my Dominion and other Dominions are concerned, you will realise that probably it is the most important of the Ministerial posts. I am sure that every consideration will be given by you to the requirements of the Dominions, and I have no doubt that your_ relations and ours will be most cordial." The Duke of Devonshire replied: "I am much obliged to you for your kind message of welcome to my new office. lam looking forward with great pleasure to cordial co-operation with you and the other representatives of the Dominions whose interests I need not tell you that I shall have closely at heart."

Then followed a request that Sir James Allen 6houldi make-it convenient to call at the Colonial Office.