PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME

Evening Star, Issue 13001, 21 December 1906, Page 8

PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME

[FhOM OCR SrECIAL CORBJSSFONnEHT.J LONDON. November 9. In connection with the jubilee extensions of the Missions to Seamen, the Rev. G. F. Wilson. M.A., superintendent, is going out on a mission tour to the South Seas to visit Australasian porta, and "by conference and co-operation to. take part in tho developments of the sailor work which lias been started with so much sympathetic and kindly energy by the Church in theoolonies, in conjunction with the Church at Home; Mr Wilson .hopes -to reach - Melbourne early in January, holding interviews en route with sailors' friends at Fremantlo and Adelaide. The Missions to Seamen chaplains at Melbourne and Sydney arc arranging for Mr Wilson a round of visits to the principal ports in Victoria and New South Wales before hoboes t.-i New Zealand, to observe and discuss whnt more oculd be done to proteot and assist .crews frequenting other port.s in the South Sp^s. Mr ,1. Harold Kvans *cf K.niapci), who is takinc: whit he casualiv describes as "an kller's round the world." Starting out N,<u- c:ii.ind early in February. He travelled through Tasmania and round the roast nf Australia t" Thursday Island, Bornon. M-mila. Hnnp Kong, Canton, and Shanghri. and thence to Japan, where he spent abe lit a month, aoinp; all through the country. From Japan he-proceeded to Vancouver, through Canada to Chicago, thence ha-ck into Canada to Montreal: a.nd on to New York. Mr Evans then over ro Quoenstown, completed ;■ tour of Ireland, and came on to Liverpool. After touring throuch the like district, ho went to Scotland, all through Wnles. and on to London. After staying here about a month he crossed over to Rotterdam, and mad« an extensive tour through Hollard, Germany, France. Italy, and Switzerland. Ho is now hack in London, and from here he will go to Kgypt. thonoe to India and Australia, and so home to New Zealand.

Recent callers at the High Commissioner's offices :—Mr and Mrs E. E. Atkinson fWanjraniii). Mrs l)e B. Hovell. Mr R. R. 8. J. Hovell (Nanier), Mr S. T. Silver (Wellington), Mr Hubert R.'-Mor-ton (Auckland). Mr C. A. Graham (Wellington). Mr F. Shickov (Auckland), Mr and Mrs J. G. Firth (Christcharch), Mrs Sunderland, the Misses Sunderland (Gisborne). Mr Chas. N. Taylor (Greymooth), Mr J. R. Evans (Kaiapoi), Mr J. Martin, Mr W. Martin (Martinboroutrh), Mr F. F. Newman (Wellington!. Mr L. E. Riddiford (Wcllinsrton), Miss Marjorio Willcs (Auckland), Mr F. M. Prinple (Timaru), Mr T. A. Uixon. Mr E. L. Marchant (Timaru), Mr Ethelred R. A. Taylor (Wanganui). Amongst New Zealand \-isitors in London this week was Mr Lionel E. Riddiford (of the Hutt). who is studying for his decree at Exeter Collesre, Oxford. . Mr Riddiford came to Ensrland about a year ago, and intends remaining at Oxford three of four years longer. He hopes before returning to the Hutt to be called to the Bar at the Inner Temple. So far there is no further word of the eight chamois which the Emperor of Austria is presenting to the New Zealand Government. How to tranship them when they arrive in England is a problem which is "at present exercising the High Commissioner's LVoartmeht. The Zoological Society kindlv offered to -110030 the animals at the " Zoo " during, their stav in this country, but the quarantine authorities have intimated that the chamois must not be brought past the docks. Consequentlv makeshift quarters will haveto be provided pending their reshipment into a New Zealand-bonnd steamer. Chamois do not thrive well in cantivity, and they will require to be looked after with great care. Fortunatelv thev will be in cxnerienced hands. Mr Bertling. the headkeeper of the " Zoo" in London, having accented the New Zealand Government's invitation to take charge of the shipment on tho voyage to the colony. Major-general H. C. Mapetris, late colonel of the. Royal Horse Artillery, has died in Ireland at the ace of sixty-eight. Entering the Royal Artillerv in 1857, lie served in the New Zealand War in 1861-62. and in thc Afghan War of 187880. obtaining mention in despatches. For his services he received the' brevet of lieutenant-colonel and the medal. He retired in 1885. - Major-general Magenis was a magistrate- and Depnty-Lieutenant for County Antrim,- for which -county he served the office- of High Sheriff.