PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 8

PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

[From Oxjvl, Special Correspondent.]

LONDON, Angust 17. Mr and Mrs Joseph Mandel (Wellington), who with their family are on a visit to the Old Country, have seen a great deal of travelling since thev landed in England some fourteen months ago. They have lived' in Franco, Austria, Italy, Belgium, and Hungary on the Continent, and have toured in England, Wales, and {Scotland, visiting most of the chief centres of interest m all these lands. They mad© a prolonged stay in Buda-Pesth among relatives, spent a month in Paris, and enjoyed life in the Riviera for over half a year. At present they are indulging in a period of comparative rest in ■ the Isle of Wight. Early in September they return to London, and will remain here till it is time for them to travel to Southampton to catch the N.D.L. Barbarossa for Sydney. This steamer leaves England on November 5, and tho party hope to reach Wellington, early in the new year. Among the New Zealanderc at present in London is Mr J. H. Evans, of Kaiapoi, who left the colony early last February, and has been on trek over since. His first place of call was Australia, but he only spent ten days in the Commonwealth before proceeding'' to Japan by way of Manila, "Hongkong, Canton, and Shanghai. He spent three weeks travelling in Japan, and then headed for Vancouver, whence ho crossed the American continent in leisurely fashion, visiting, of course, Chicago, Niagara. New York, and other centres of American and Canadian industry on route to the Atlantic coast-. Crossing from New York to Queenstown, Mr Evans made an overland run to Dublin, and cam© thence to Liverpool. From tho "good old town" he travelled north to the English lake district, and so to Scotland. Here he toured for a brief period, prior to paying a visit to the North of Ireland. From tho land of tie Orangeman Mr Evans returned to Liverpool, and thence made an excursion into Yorkshire; and then travelled south by way of Coventry and Shakespeare-land to Bristol. The charms of the West Country hold him in pleasant bondage for a brief space, and then, working his way along the South Coast watering places, ho came to London. Here he hopes to remain for some timei and when he goes hence it will probably bo to the Continent, on route for Egypt, whore he may winter. As to tho date when he will leave England or arrive in New Zealand Mr Jivans is quit© uncertain. But when he does return to the colony it will bo with grave forebodings that unless the Old Country speedily mends her ways in fiscal and other matters she will be undone. We are, Mr Evans declares, being "eaten up by the Americans" in trade, and are, generally speaking, well on the down grade as a nation. Some people at Home have had for quite a long time an idea that all was not quite well with the Old Country, but it is only when we get the cold tenth from visitors like Mr Evans that we begin to realise how swiftly we are -drifting towards ruin.

Mr Henry Black M'Nab, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand in London, and formerly secretary of tho bank at Auckland, passed away at his residence, Blairgorra, Western road, East Finchley, on Angust 9, at the age of seventy-six, and his remains were interred in St. Marylebone Cemetery in tho presence of many sorrowing relatives and friends on Saturday. Mr M'Nab had been connected with the Bank of New Zealand for forty-five years, but retired from active service some fourteen years ago on a pension. A Scotsman by birth, he had some colonial experience in Canada before entering the service of the bank in New Zealand. .

Mr I. H. Howard, a prominent member of the Lambeth Carlton Bowling Club, and a fine player, is proceeding to the Antipodes shortly. He is taking his bowls with him, and hopes to roll them over a good many Australasian greens ere returning to the Old Country. It is his intention to take part in the open tournament to be held at Christchurch during the ruu of the New Zealand Exhibition.

Mr Alex. Palmer (Dunedin), who, with his wife and son, loft New Zealand early in 1905, has now decided to return to the colony with Mrs Palmer by the Mooltan, but Mr Palmer, jun., remains in England to continue his professional studies at the London Hospital, where he has already distinguished himself athletically and academically. Since leaving New Zealand Mr and Mrs Palmer have seen a very fair portion of the world's habitable surface. Their first trek was to Vancouver by way of Sydney, Brisbane, and Honolulu, and after spending a week there they journeyed across Canada, stopping at all the principal towns 'twixt Banff and Quebec. Thence they repaired to Prince Edward Island to visit relatives, and then came south by way of Halifax to New York and Boston. Ensued a trip across the Atlantic by tho Lucania to Liverpool, where they landed on Midsummer Day last year. After touring a while in the United Kingdom, Mr and Mrs Palmer went on to the Continent, and spent nearly ten months touring leisurely and as fancy dictated. Outside Russia, Turkey, Greece, and Spain, they appear to have visited almost every place worth mention between Paris and" Naples, and from Monte Carlo to Berlin, spending the winter months in the Riviera. Of course they paid a visit to Monte Carlo, which "gambling hell" Mr Palmer describes as a "paradise." He tried his 'prentice hand at the Casino, but apparently did not break the bank nor yet cripple his own finances. From the Riviera ho and Mrs Palmer went on to Milan, and then visited the Italian lake district, after which they sojourned a while in Switzerland before coming on to London "by way of Paris, where they spent three" weeks resting. They are now touring the health resorts of the South Coast of England, and will join tho Mooltan at Marseilles on September 21. Their trip has been very interesting and most enjoyable, biit to do the tour round the world properly Mr Palmer thinks a time allowance of between four and five years is necessary. Ho returns to New Zealand fully convinced that the tipping system prevalent in Europe is an unmitigated curse, and a disgrace to everyone concerned.

Mr Henry E. Smith (Christchurch), who came Home in company with his wife by the Rnapehu, arriving in May last, has found his health greatly benefited by the trip. He and Mrs Smith spent the early days of their stay in England travelling in Devonshire and Cornwall, and then spent six or seven weeks touring in the North of England and Scotland. Returning south, they made brief sojourns at Devonport and Weymouth, and are now enjoying a S2>ell of sigljt-seeing in London, their headquarters being at Mr Smith's birthplace, Wimbledon. Their next excursions will be to Bristol and Exeter en route for Plymouth, where on September 8 they join the N.Z.S. Company's Turakina for the outward trip to New Zealand. Mr W. B. Commin (Gisborne), who came to England some weeks ago chiefly in order to consult a specialist, has, his friends will be glad to hear, made satisfactory progress under the treatment of the physician consulted. He, however, anticipates having to continue the treatment for a considerable time to come, and his future movements are therefore uncertain. At present Mr Commin is staying at Dumfries, in Scotland. " v

Canon Charles Jorddri (Waiupu), who arrived in London recently, proposes to stay here for a few weeks prior to paying a visit to Kerry, Mis native county, where he hopes to get plenty of salmon and mountain mutton to help to pick him up. His movements thereafter are somewhat uncertain, and he has not yet decided- upon the time of his return to New Zealand. Mr C. A, Hiile {North OtagoL whe •-•»*.

to England _by the Mongolia, arriving early in August, intends spending the rest of the month in London. Then he proposes to tour in Scotland for some weeks, prior to making a trip to America. Thence he will make return to the* colony by ,way of Suez, doing the Continentand spending a few days in-Egypt en route. Mr L. ,E, Wopd'jAucklaiid) and Mr S. Feazer (Wellington), who arrived : in England recently, --have come' Home; intending to combine, business with pleasure. They have no definite travel itinerary, hut propose to. visit/Scotland shortly, make a brief stay-,'in the North of Ireland, and then to tour awhile on [the Continent, visiting as many. ;of the chief cities as time will permit.: ,-.. , .-,.,' For the time being Mr Dan Reese has forsaken the cricket field, in favor.., of, the engine room; of the S;S. Cymbelinc, of which he has been appointed second engineer. The vessel sailed from Cardiff this week for Philadelphia, where she will load for Liverpool and Manchester. Mr Adderley Willcocks (Nelson) has arrived in London on a trip in which business is being combined with pleasure. He came Home by way of Canada, and expects to remain here for some time.

Dr Gilbert H. Mirams (Dunedin), who came to England by the N.Z.S. Company's Rakaia, arriving in London oh July 20, has spent most of his time, since then in sight-seeing, but has now settled down to professional:work. He purposes spending six months or more in London, and during that period hopes to greatly enlarge his professional experience by attending the cliniqucs at the various hospitals here. Before leaving.New Zealand he spent a couple of years doing locum tenens work in various parts of the colony, but oh his return it is his intention to commence practice on his own account.

The fact that Lord Leitli is King Alfonso's host at Fyvie Castle this week recalls the fact that during his brief naval career—he entered the service in 1860 and retired with the' rank of lieutenant in 1871 —his lordship distinguished himself by an act of gallantrv in New Zealand waters which won for him the silver medai of the Royal Humane Society. In 1866, whilst Lord Leith was still a "midshipmite," a seaman named Hillier fell overboard whilst his ship was cruising off Auckland. The young middy promptly dived after him, and succeeded in keeping him afloat till a boat picked them up. Recent callers at the High' Commissioner's Office: Mr George Fletcher (Auckland), Mr Frank Holmes (Southland), Mr Norman Heath (Wellington), Mr and Mrs C. A. Hill© and Mr D. Hille and Miss E. C. Hill© (Otago), Mr T. R. Rhodes (Timarn), Mr Samuel Frazei (Wellington), Mr L. E. Wood (Auckland). Miss A. Savers (Christchurch). Mr D. H. Smith (Southland), Mr A. Willcocks (Wellington), Dr G. H. Mirams (Dunedin), Mr H. R. Sargent (Wcstport), Mr J. H. Evans (Kaiapod), Mrs E. Towgood (Napier), Mr T. Doncliff (Westport), Mr J. J. £iven (Napier), Mr C. B. Kline (Wellington), and Mr J. Ricketts (Taranaki).

Mr Frank Holmes (Southland), who left New Zealand in April, arrived in London last week by the s.s. Sophocles. Mr Holmes, in order to visit his brother, Mr Robert Murray-Holmes in Johannesburg, broke his journey at Durban, and remained in Africa for one month. It was during his visit that the native rebellion in Natal broke out, and was the cause of emphasising the depression in trad© existing in that country. Mr Holmes is here on business, but is going to visit friends in Ireland and in the North of England for a month before leaving for the East to resume lxis duties superintending mining interests, where he has been engaged lor several vears.

The British and Foreign Sailors' Society are sending their secretary, Mr Edward W. Matthews, on a colonial tour round the world. He leaves to-dav in.the s.s. Wakool for the New Zealand International Exhibition. Your late Premier granted free space for th§ society to erect a Victory stall. Among'other' things associated with Nelson's flagship taken bv the secretary are 100,000 shilling Victory charms made of copper from the sheathing of Nelson's flagship, "bearing the initials of King Edward. These are to be presented to the boys and girls, of New. Zealand and other parts of Australasia.. A very fine piece of oak from'"the Victory is taken out for the Parliament bearing the inscription: "England expects that every man will do his duty. October 21, 1805—October 21, 1906. This bust of Nelson, standing on Victory oak, and containing copper taken from his historic ship, is presented by the British and. Foreign Sailors' Society to the Parliament-of New Zealand, on the occasion of the opening of its International Exhibition, November, 1906, and is associated with the name of the late Right Hon. the Premier, R. J. Seddon, P.C., LL.D., who, like Nelson, died at sea, both dying in the service of their King and country. 'Thank God, I have done my duty." E.R. VII." Mr Matthews will stay a short time at the Capo ere going on to Australia and New Zealand, and he will return to tho Old Country by way of Canada.

( A painful story was unfolded to tho Southampton magistrates on Saturday, when tho Australian actor Brand KayeBrand appeared before them charged with stowing himself away on th© Union Castle liner Briton, with the intent to secure a passage to South Africa without the consent of the owners. Th© prosecuting solicitor said that Brand left Southampton on Saturday week in the Briton, ami the following day reported himself to the purser. When the ship reached Madeira he was taken before the British Consul, and entry in the log concerning him was read to him. Brand could not lie landed at the Cape, as lie was without means, and the only course open to the ship's officers was to put him ashore at Madeira, and afterwards send him back to England by another vessel, which was done. The third class fare to Madeira was six guineas, or £ll 2s 6d return. Brand stated that early in February he. went to San Francisco with a theatrical company. He was there during the earthquake, and lost everything owing to the calamity. He then came to England, but was unable to get an engagement,, and having sold everything he possessed, he walked from London to Southampton with the object of getting a passage to South -Africa, where he had friends, as a stoker or in some other capacity. A letter was read which, ifc was stated, had beon written by a member of the Cap© Legislative Assembly to Brand, in which the writer intimated that if the magistrates only imposed a small fine he would pay it, as ho was aware that the accused was a deserving person. The Chairman said that while they sympathised with Brand, such offences were becoming frequent, and they could not do less than impose a fine of £lO and costs, the alternative being a month's imprisonment. The money was paid.