MEN OF THE DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3518, 8 May 1912, Page 7

MEN OF THE DAY.

BACK TO THE COMMONS. " i The Hon. Rupert Guinness, who has been returned unopposed as Unionist .member for South-East Essex, is the eldest son of Viscount Iveagh, and was born in 1874. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He won the Diamond Sculls at Henley in' 1895, and the Diamond and Wingfield Sculls in 1896- He was an officer of Volunteers until 1905. He served in the South African War, being employed with the Irish hospital, and was mentioned in despatches. He has been commander of the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve since 1903. Ho has been a member of several public bodies, including the London County 1 Council. He unsuccessfully contested Haggerston at the General Election of 1906, represented that constituency in the House of Commons from August, 1908, till January, 1910, and was an unsuccessful candidate at both the January and December elections of that year. A FAMOUS SCIENTIST. Sir Joseph Thomson, who has been appointed to the Order of Merit, is one of the most eminent of living scientists. Ho succeeded Lord Rayleigh as Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge in ISS4, and his work, following on that of Clerk Maxwell and Lord Rayleigh, has made the Cavendish Laboratory one of tlie most famous in the world. Sir Joseph received the 1 first part of his University education at Owens College, passing on to Cambridge, where ho bad a brilliant career. He was Second Wrangler and Second Smith’s Prizeman in 1880, in which year he was elected a Fellow of Trinity College. The famous scientist has produced a number of important works, dealing chiefly with electricity and magnetism. He has been honored by many universities at home and abroad, and is a member of an enormous number of learned societies. FROM SHEFFIELD TO HONG KONG. It is announced that Sir Charles Eliot, Vice-Chancellor of tlie University of Sheffield, has accepted the Government appointment of Head of the University at Hang Ivong. Sir Charles, who was born in 1864, was formerly in the diplomatic service, and had a varied experience in St. Petersburg, Morocco, Constantinople, Bulgaria, Servia, and Washington, before becoming Special High Commissioner for Samoa. From 1900 to 1904 he was Commissioner and Com-mander-in-Chief for the East African Protectorate, and was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University in 190-5. Sir Charles was made a C.B. in 189 S, and a K-C.M.G. in 1900. CHINA’S NEW PREMIER. The first Premier of the new Chinese Republic, Tang Shao Yi, is a self-made man. Twenty years ago lie was picking up an uncertain living as a clerk-interpreter. He had studied law in the United States, and was a splendid linguist. He had the good fortune to attract the notice ot Yuan Sbih-Kai, who made him his secretary, nad started him on tlie road to power. Ho held various Government posts after that, and during the recent upheaval in China, 'ho was Yuan Shili-Kai’s right-hand man. He has been Ambassador in Washington, and knows both America and Europe very well.. He; is one of the most progressive men in China. THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAPTAIN. The captain of the South African cricket team which is to visit England this year is Mr. F. Mitchell, who played for Cambridge at Lord’s in 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897, being captain in 1896. He displayed for England against Yvales, Ireland, and Scotland at Rugby football in 18951896. Ho captained a cricket team in America in 1883, and played for Yorkshire in 1894, ’97, ’99, and 1904. He was captain of Cambridge at Lord’s when, so. .that Oxford should not follow-on (in those days tlie side which was ahead bad no option), bo instructed the bowler to bowl wide on purpose. Three balls went to the boundary—and Cambridge were able to'bat again instead of being obliged to field because their bowlers happened to be too good for the Oxford batsmen. The law on the point has since been altered. The direct result of hi-s act was that tlie fielding side were awarded tlie option of going in again or of making their opponents follow-on. The affair caused a great stir in the cricket world at the time. AN ARCHITECT’S SUCCESS. One of the romances of the new London County Hall is tlie sudden rise to fame of Mr. Ralph Knott, the architect. Mr. Knott is quite a young man, and was barely beginning to make his way in his profession when he submitted his design for the new building. Many of the most eminent architects ; of the day competed, but Ml-. Knott’s design was chosen. His fee as architect will amount to the very substantial total of £40,000. In this respect be will fare better than some of bis celebrated predecessors. Sir Charles Barry made a bad bargain over his fees for the Houses of Parliament. At the initial stage of his appointment lie agreed to afixed fee of £25,000, but at that time

tiie estimated cost was £BOO,OOO, exclusive of fittings and furniture, whereas the actual cost came to £1 ,- 600,000, and the work took almost a lifetime to execute. AN ENGINEER KNIGHT. Sir Maurice Eitmaurice, who has received a knighthood, designed the engineering work for the embankment wall of the new County Hall. 'Sir Maurice has been Chief Engineer to the London County Council since 1901. He was horn in 1861, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Among the works with which lie has been associated i no-Lon don as engineer are the Rotherhithe Tunnel, the new Vauxhall Bridge, Kingsway and the tramway subway, and the electric tramway service. He was also engaged in the construction of the Forth Bridge, the Blackwall Tunnel, and the Nile reservoir dam at Assuan, for which he received the Order of the Medjidieh. In 1902 ho was’created C.M.G. ROYAL COMMISSION CHAIRMAN. Lord Mac Donnell, who has been appointed chairman of the Royal Commission to inquire into the Civil Service methods of appointment and promotion, has been a peer since i9UB. Ho is better known as Sir Antony Mac Donnell, and has a distinguished record of public service, rendered chiefly in India. Sir Antony is an Irishman. Born in ..1-1, he entered the Indian Civil Service when twen-ty-one years of age. In 1889 he was appointed Acting Chief Commissioner in Burmah, and two years later became Chief Commissioner of the eCntral Provinces. He was a member of the Viceroy’s Council from 1893 to 1395. and was for six years Lieutenai'T- Governor of the North-West Provinces For some time after his retu: n from India Lord Mac Donnell was Under-Secretary for Ireland.