LONDON PERSONALS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 2

LONDON PERSONALS.

(PEOJC OUB OWN COREESPOHDEKT.) LONDON. September 21. On the morning of September Bth the wedding took place quietly at the Kensington Register Office of Mr F. M. B. Fisher to Miss Kathleen Laura Crabbe, of Queen's Gate Terrace, South Kensington. The bride was dressed in a plain black travelling costume with a black silk hat and small brown fur. She carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley. Mr Fisher wore a navy blue suit. There were no relatives or friends at the ceremonly, the only people present, apart from the Bcgistrar, being the witnesses, Mrs Eankin and Mrs Vacam. After the ceremony they left for Vienna and Rome. Most of the London papers referred to the wedding, Mr Fisher being a well-known figure in lawn tennis circles, and he is generally described as a former New Zealand Cabinet Minister. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.L.C., and Mrs Hanan are in London, having crossed from Ireland a few flays ago. They will shortly be leaving for the Continent, where they will tour for six weeks before joining the homeward bound vessel at Marseilles. Miss Sheila E. Tobin (Christchurch), the holder of a Johanna Lohse Scholarship, expects to be in London for three years, as a student at the Royal College of Music. She will take the pianoforte with Mr Marmaduke Barton, and singing (as second subject) with Miss Dorothea Webb. Miss Tobin came by the Ballarat, via the Cape, and arrived a fortnight ago. Mr and. Mrs J. B. Reid are on a visit to Brides-les-Bains. They expect to be in London at the end of the month. Mr and Mrs H. G. Wake (Christchurch) are in Paris, and after three weeks' stay in the French metropolis they will tour, mainly in France, until April 13th, when they will leave for the United States' and America. Mr and Mrs Wake expect to reach NeNv Zealand a. year hence. Miss Edith Irving (Christchurch) has returned from a round the world tour, which has been full of interest. She landed at Auckland last October and spent the summer in Christchurch with relatives and old friends. Christchurch, in her opinion, has grown in beauty as well as in extent. From New Zealand Miss Irving went to South Africa, travelling extensively for some time. Near Umtala she stayed for two months with her sister, Dr. Hannah Irving. She finally continued her voyage Home | by the Anchises, and she looks forward to re-visiting New Zealand at some I future time.

Miss H. C. Strachan .(Timaru) has booked her return passage to New Zealand by the Orford, leaving England on October 13th, She has had a very pleasant time in her native Scotland, where she still is. She will, be returning south in a few days to see a little of the Continent before joining her ship.. Miss Strachan remarks: "I may say I love my adopted country, New Zealand, and I have lived there for over forty years. I am looking forward very much to my return. New Zealand is small, but beautiful, and we live a more natural out-door life and have everything we want or require—good food, plenty of Bunshine and space, amusements of every kind—to say nothing of the scenery." The Rev. George Wallace (Enfield, Oamaru) and Mrs Wallace are leaving Tilbury by the Otranto, and they ex-, pect to reach New Zealand during the first week in November. They have had a very enjoyable stay in the Mother Country. Mr Wallace has .bear, investigating social problems, particularly in Scotland, and he is satisfied that great advancement has been made. This is especially true regarding the drinking habits of the people. He has been somewhat appalled, however, at the large number of unemployed and the undercurrent of discontent with things in general. Mr Wallace came into contact with many of the miners and with workers' generally, and the impression created on his mind is that the average working man is opposed to revolutionary and unconstitutional tactics. The* religions life is not as virile as it used to be, and this, Mr Wallace attributes largely as the result of the advent of motor-cars and better facilities for Sunday travel. fl do not know exactly what I will be expected to do. 1 may have to act as the little mother' to the bachelors of the team. It is my first trip with the team, and I am looking forward to the novelty." So said Mrs A. P. F. Chapman, wife of the captain' of the Test Team, who, with-Mrs J. B. Hobbs, will accompany the cricket eleven to Australia. Mrs Chapman, who is a New Zealander, is described in the "Evening Standard" as a striking young woman." To her, of course, the tour means a visit to many friends as well as to home.

There are now, on an average, six times as many divorce cases brought before the British courts as there were in pre-War days.