NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 7

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD.

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON. (FBOM OCtt OWI COERE6POKDEKT.) ' LONDON, June 9. The "Bath Chronicle and Herald" records a visit to Bath of Mr Melville E. Hankins (Wellington). It is mentioned that 92 years ago his greatgrandparents, Mr and Mrs John Kilminster, with their family, left Bath to settle in New Zealand, being amongst the first British settlers in those islands, where they arrived in January, 1840. They died on the same day in the year 1902, aged 94 and 96 years. Mr Hankins believes he is the first of their descendants to come back to Bath. Having retired from the Government service, he •is on a tour round the world, during which time he has spent some time a*. "Home," as England is known to the New Zealander. About thirty members of the family, including Mr Hankins, came over during the war with the New Zealand Forces, but although he was in England for a short period he did not have an opportunity of visiting the birthplace of his greatgrandparents. He was gassed in France, and invalided back in 1918.

Flying Officer C. A. Washer, R.A.F. (New Plymouth) has been recategorised by the Central Flying School from Bto A2 (May 6). This officer, who is stationed at Malta as an instructor to the Fleet Air Arm, was recently in England on six weeks' leave, during which interval he qualified for his advancement.

The Bishop of Southwark has appointed the Rev. Harold Anson, M.A., vicar of Tandridge, Oxted, one of the oishop's chaplains, to the honorary eanonry of Southwark Cathedral, vacant through the death of Canon Pickering, vicar of Woolwich. The new canon was formerly vicar of Hawera and warden of St. John's College, Auckland.

Lord Salvesen, who has been touring in New Zealand, contributes a three-column article on his impressions to the Glasgow "Herald." In this he writes about Wellington, and of his comprehensive tour of the beafuty cs of the South Island. "Speaking generally," he says, "there is an evident desire amongst the whole people to improve the amenity of their towns. No town is without some portion devoted to public gardens—in some places a reserve of the native bush called a domain—and in none is there not a suitable memorial to the brave men who fell in the Great War. A loyal, patriotic, liberty-loving, and hospitable people whom it was always a pleasure to associate with, and who still regard the Old Country as Home.' Another article, probably dealing with the North Island, is to follow.

Dr. J. Ritchie Gilmour,. second son of Mr and Mrs David Gilmour (formerly of Invercargill) has had conferred upon him the degree of M.rt.CP. He has been for some time on the staff at London Hospital.

At a council meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons, held yesterday, Diplomas of Fellowship were granted to a number of candidates, including Messrs H. F. McNickle, M.8., New Zealand (Otago), and H. C. Barrett, M.8., New Zealand (Otago and St. Bartholomew's Hospital).

Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M. (Auckland), Mr G. S. Edlin, and Mr G. Beaumont came to England in a party by the Balranald. Mr Cutten (Auckland's principal Magistrate) has recovered from the attack of illness which occurred during the voyage, and is now in good health. Fifty years have elapsed since he was last in London, and he is, of course, finding much of interest. He is thoroujghly enjoying London and the beautiful weather. Mr Edlin has come to England to finish some technical engineering work on which he is engaged, and he anticipates that this will keep him busy for some months.

Mr M. J. Gresson (Christchurch) has come to London to conduct two Privy Council appeals. Both cases, it is expected, will be argued in July. Mr Gresson, who is accompanied by his daughter and one of his sons, is going to Cambridge for May Week to spend this interesting period with his son, Mr Terence Gresson, who is at Caius College.

Mr R. D. Bull (Auckland) has reached England after having completed a four years' contract with the Federated Malay States Government, during which time he was stationed in the States of Perak and Selangor, in Singapore. Two months were occupied in travel from Singapore to Southampton, the journey being made by Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki to Kobe, and thence overland to Yokohama and Tokyo, visiting on the way Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, where there was the opportunity of seeing craftsmen plying their ancient trades in the manufacture of cloisonne, satsuma, and lacquer wares in one of the few places not yet affected by mass production methods or by machinery. From Yokohama, Mr Bull sailed directly to Victoria, British Columbia, and then on to Vancouver. He visited all the chief cities of Canada, and left New York for Southampton. He has come to England to visit relatives, and he proposes to stay until about November, when he will go back to New Zealand.

Mr J. E. Comes (Auckland) is on a combined trip of business and pleasure, accompanied by his son. He went to the opening of the 1.0.0. F. M.U. Oddfellows' Conference at Brighton last week, and he intends to be present at the installation of the new Masonic Temple in London in July. Mr Cornes and his son have been visiting Lord Rosebery's racing quarters at Epsom, where they were tremendously interested to see the notable racehorse, Sandwich. Their interest was greatly enhanced, of course, because they had the good luck to draw him in the Irish Sweep last October when he gained third place in the Manchester November Handicap.

On Empire Day an address was given to the children of the Firecroft Road School, Tooting, South London, by Mr C. B. Burdekin, of the High Commissioner's Office. The address was preceded by the singing of patriotic songs and an historical play, acted with great zest by a number of the scholars, and was followed by the saluting of the flag. A quite unrehearsed incident of comforting significance to New Zealanders was the carrying by one of the senior girls of one of the New Zealand Meat Board's large placards exhorting all* and sundry to "Buy New Zealand Lamb," and the speaker, in complimenting the girl on her initiative, took the opportunity of pressing home the importance of applying the Empire Day spirit in a practical way by the buying of Empire produce instead of foreign. The Rev. J. Edwards, assistant, curate of Marsk-by-the-Sea, having been accepted by the Bishop of Melanesia for service •in the diocese, left England on June 2 by the Mooltan for Sydney. The Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Stepney, chairman of the English Council, will preside at the annual meeting of the Melanesian Mission, at Church House. The speakers will include the Rev. Douglas E. Grades, the Rev. F. R. Bishop, and Dr. L. M. Maybury. The dedication of the new Southern Cross has been provisionally fixed for September 12 at Princes Pier, Liverpool. The Bishop of Liverpool has consented to conduct'the service.