LONDON PERSONAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15901, 12 April 1912, Page 4

LONDON PERSONAL NOTES.

NEW ZEALANDERS’ DOINGS ABROAD. [Frou Our Correspondent.] LONDON, March 9.

During his brief visit to Birmingham last week-end for tho purpose of attending tho annual Chamber of Commerce banquet, Sir William Hall-Jones was givon the opportunity of inspecting the famous factory of the Birmingham Small Arms Company, at Small Heath. The shop and office area of this factory alone covers over eleven acres, and the average staff of workmen and clerks is well over 5000. From Birmingham tho High Commissioner went to Oxford where he was tho guest of the Rector of Exeter College over tlie week-end. On Saturday night Sir William was the guest of the Oxford University Colonial Club at dinner, and replied to the toast of “Our Empire.” Whilst in Oxford he met two New Zealand Rhodes scholars in residence at the University, to wit, Messrs M’Dougall and Marshall. Dr J. Macdonald Bell, formerly director of tlie New Zealand Geological Survey, is lecturing before the Royal Geographical Society next Monday on “ Some New Zealand Volcanoes.”

Among the gentlemen who had the honour of being presented to the King at last Monday’s Levee at St. James’s Palaco were Mr Alfred Kidd, of Auckland, and Mr Robert Stout,, whose sponsor was the High Commissioner. ■ Sir William Hall-Jones, who was in attendance. The Earl of Onslow was also presented on succeeding to the title, by the Secretary of State. A largo audience assembled to hear Lady Stout give an address on “Tho truth about votes in New Zealand,” under.the auspices of the Wimbledon Women’s Social and Political Union last Friday evening. None of the evils Britain dreaded, said Lady Stout, had appeared in the dominion, and the only people who would wish to return to tho exclusive masculine vote were those interested in the liquor traffic. Legislation had certainly tended to improve tho homes of the people, sweating was non-existent, divorce laws wore equal, crime and drunkenness had notably decreased wherever the temperance regulations had been enforced, tho father of an illegitimate child- was brought to hook, and illegitimate children might be legitimised on the marriage of the parents; deserting husbands might even ho sued in an adjacent colony and made to provide maintenance for their homes, although New Zealand wisely dispensed with their return to the colony. Tho co-operation of man and woman, in managing the affairs of the Stato had distinctly worked for the saner care of the home and tho welfare of the children. Women’s imperial instincts had boon prominent in their proffered help to tlie Mother Country.

Numbers of New Zealanders aro at present visiting Florence, among these being Miss Lindsay, Miss Hill, the Misses Douglas, Mr and Mrs Burgoyne, son., and daughter, Mrs and Miss Henderson, Mrs J. M’Pliail Geddes, the Misses and Messrs Geddes (all of Auckland), and Mr Robert Bell (Ashburton). Mr and Mrs Ephraim Norden, of Christchurch, arrived in England via Suez last week on a visit of business and pleasure combined. They intend visiting Germany, America and France and spending a short holiday in Ceylon before returning to tho dominion about June.

Callers at tlie High Commissioner’s office this week have been:—Mr T. D. Thompson (Auckland), Mr A. C. Galbraith (Napier), Rev W. W. Brown (Sterling), Mr and Mrs S. Johnson (Wellington), Mr C. S. Holme, Mr and Mrs E. Norden (Christchurch), Mr R. A. Simpson (Christchurch), Mr N. Maney (Dunedin), Mr 0. A. Pinkerton (Waipawa), Mr Alfred Vowels (Gisborne), Mr R. Fieldwick (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs J. 11. Dolamore and Miss Dolamore (Gore), Mr and Mrs Peter M’Skimming, jun. (Stirling), Dr W. M. Grattan Guinness (Auckland). The Rov W. A. Allen, who accompanied the Imperial Representative

Corps when they toured New Zealand, and who made many friends while in the dominion, had a narrow escape from death last week, when he. made a mis-step at tho West Kensington Railway Station and fell on to the linos. Mr Evans was at once taken to his homo, and tho latest nows is that ho is progressing favourably. New Zealanders to bo presented at the third Court of the season, on March L 5, aro Lady and Miss Geraldine Mills, of Dunedin, and Mrs and Miss Francos Cracroft-Wilson, of Christchurch. The latter will bo presented by Mrs Lewis llarcourt, wife of the Colonial Secretary. It is probable that Lady Stout and Miss Janet Stout will bo presented at a Court after Easter. Neither New Zealand nor Australia have satisfied Mr St Michaol-Podmore apparently, since the following plums are culled from his recent book. “ Rambles and Adventures in Australasia, Canada, India, etc. :—“The climatic conditions in Auckland aro very erratic and, the winters cold, damp and unsuitable for persons subject to rheumatism and kindred complaints.” “ Wellington, the capital of the dominion, is situated in an exposed position in the south of the North Island, and is subject almost daily to cold, violent winds.” “New Zealand has been over-advertised and ridiculously exaggerated.” “ Tlie scenery is decidedly beautiful, but when compared with other parts of the world it is insignificant, and tlie railway service in the North Island is inferior to any other part of the Empire.” “ One finds that exported meat from the Argentine is often superior to Canterbury lamb when it has been killed near a seaport.” “Fortune-hunters should give New Zealand a wide berth unless they have soveral thousand pounds to invest.”

From the “Pall Mall Gazette” of March 6:—“NewZealand, most British of British dominions, has the knack of leading the way in all patriotic and Imperial causes. She has now demonstrated that compulsory military service is not a thing abhorrent to democracy by recruiting for her Territorial force thirteen hundred men more than are liable for service. In other words, that number of men who are above the age-limit have enlisted voluntarily. It is a splendid example to the wholo Empire, and to the Mother Country in particular. The essential duties of manhood are realised in that free air. Enlisted though they be for home defonco only, we have no doubt that sons of such spirit, in the day of the Empire’s need, will join the flood ‘of British valour pouring on the foe.’ ”