ABOUT PEOPLE. NOTES FROM LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1908, Page 2

ABOUT PEOPLE. NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 20th December. It is with very sincere regret that I have to record the death of 'Mr. J. C. Wilkin, of Christchurch, which took pla<;e in Paris tho day beforo yesterday. Mr. Wilkin, who, with his wife and two daughters, has for some months past been on a visit to the 'Mother Country — his first holiday in half a century — had purposed leaving on the 13th inst. by the P. and O. liner Macedonia, on his way back to New Zealand, via Australia. He had, however, been feeling "out of sorts" and "run down" in health, and at last was persuaded to put himself into the hands of a medical specialist, who strongly advised a period of entire rest, and various alleviative measures of treatment. These Mr. Wilkin. duly underwent, with tho result that he felt much better, and decided to start for Paris with the intention of joining tho steamer at Marseilles. Apparently, however, his condition changed for the worse after arrival in Paris, for a letter from Mrs. Wilkin, received the night before last, described his state fls "critical," and mentioned that he had now been laid up in Pari3 for seven weeks, that he had 7 " been obliged to undergo a serious operation, and since then had had two trained nurses in constant attendance day and night. Gra l ye apprehensions were excited among his London friends by these disquieting letters, and these proved to be only too well founded, for a telegram received yesterday announced the sad news that he had passed away. Mn>. Wilkin and her daughters will leave by the P. and 0. steamer IvTooltan, which sails from Marseilles on tho 18th January. I regret to hear the news of the death of Mr. Hadfield, an. Auckland builder, who came to England by the s.s. Runic, .with his family, last year. It occurred at his home, 7, Mount Pleasantroad, Lewisham, on the 14th inst. Mr. Hadfield had been in poor health since his arrival in this country. "In June last Dr. Frera performed an operation, whidh, unfortunately, prfoved unsuccessful, the patient having been ronfined to Ms bed ever since then. Jis wife, his son (Mr. Edwin Hadfield), arid his 'married daughter (Mrs. John Reid) were with him to the last. There have not been many callers this week at the New Zealand Government Office, tho number having included • — ! Mr Percy A. E. Worthy (Timaru), Mis\s I Dorothy Cplbeck (Auckland), Mr. Lion- ■ el E. Riddiford (Wellington), Mr. W. ! H. Robinson (Christchurch), Mr. N. ' Guthrie (Christchurch), Mr. J. W. Leg- i gat (Invercargill). j Refering to tho fact that the birthday I of His Excellency the Governor of New i Zealand occurred this werk, the St. | James's Gazette says : "Lord Plunket is 43 to-day. _ Three years ago he kissed hands on his appointment as Governor of. New Zealand. The Plunkets have done i good work for Ireland for generations. ' But it was not until 80 years ago that j their services found recognition. Lord Plunket by the way, is n, plunkefc Avith ono T, the Earl of Fingall,' Lord Dun-s-my, find Lord Louth are all the two 'teed' Plunkcts. Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, where the Governor has his headquarters, is probably the windiest city in the world. It is on the rim of a funnel that separates the two main is- I lands, which makes it a veritable cave ' of the winds. Nevertheless, Lord and Lady Plunket • have, made Government . Housa a. very comfortable abode, even to | 1;ho fitting up of a private theatre in i which amateur theatricals occasionally take place. Tho Governor can turn his hand to most things, as witness his taking his share in digging the foundations . for a Roman Catholic institution at Wellington, when his staff turned out in full force to help the students of St. Patrick's College !" ' One day this week I met Mr. Gilbert Anderson in the Bank of New Zealand. He was looking in excellent health. I hear it is not unlikely that Mr. Anderson may start business in London. Among those who have already left England for the winter months are Lord and Lady Ranfurly, who are at present staying at the Palace Hotel at St. MoTitz. Mr. Colin Gilray is to form one of the three-quarter line in the football match, Scottish provinces versus Anglo-Scots, which is to be decided at Tnverleith, he is with the latter team. A football critic remarks that "much is expected of the Foiiiirshire-bred threequaiter back, of whom tho New 'Zealand Northern Unnion team speak highly. Tho change of climate has so fai told adversely against him."