OUR LONDON LETTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 June 1907, Page 1

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 3. News was received in London on Ist inst., of the death at Lucerne of Miss Ballinger, daughter of Mr T. Ballinger, manager of the New Zealand Bowling t«am. Mr Ballingar arrived here on Friday last, but was summoned back the following day by the news of the serious relapse of his daughter. A steamer has just been launched at the Neptune Works of Messrs Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson, Ld., which is being built to the order of the Union S.S. Co., Ltd., of New Zealand. A large number of people were present, and as she left the ways . she was named the Waihora, the christening ceremony being performed by Miss Geraldine Mills, daughter of the Chairman of the Steamship Coy.' The vessel is built of steel, 385 feet in. length by 52 feet Beam, and is to carry a deadweight of 7500 tons on a light draught of water. She is constructed under the survey of the British Corporation. Her propelling machinery consist of a set of triple expansion' engines, which, together with their boilers are also bsmg constructed at the Neptune Works, and are expected to drive the vessel when fully loaded at a speed of lOf knots. . This year's meeting at Bisley will commence on Monday, July Bth, and conclude on Saturday, July 20th. A new feature is an inter-regimental team match for the Hopton Challenge Cup, presented by Colonel John Hopton, captaizt of the Army eight, for the encouragement of the rank and file, and to afford a test of practical shooting. Mr Fred Hobbs, the New Zealand baritone, is playing as "Fo Hop" in "San Toy," at Glasgow, where his performance is much appreciated. Under the patronage of the Lord Mayore and Lady Mayoress, and several distinguished Colonial visitors, a violin recital will be given by Miss Audrey Richardson at the Aeolian Hall on Monday afternoon. The artist was born at Dunedin, 14 years ago, and, after exhibiting remarkable musical ability as a small child, was brought to England. In 1902, then nine years of age, she entered the Guildhall School of Music, where she has studied with Mr Johannes Wolff, She holds the scholarship of the Merchant Taylors' Company. Some fine bowling was seen in the Trinity and Petorhouse match at Cambridge a few days back. Trinity scored 117, H. W. Priestly, the Uppingham Freshman, making 47. Mr M. C. Sprott, going on late for Peterhouse, took five wickets for nine runs. Peterhouse were all out for 67, A. J. Bostockfclill taking four wickets for seven runs, and C. Reunert five for 30. The eleventh annual New Zealand dinner will be held at the Hotel Cecil on May 15th, when the Hon. W. Pember Reeves will preside. The dinner is promoted in order to afford an opportunity to all who are connected with, the colony, either by residence or business relationships, of meeting together for social intercourse. The Paris correspondent of a wellknown evening daily gives an interesting account of the pictures of the Second Salon there. Quite one of the bedb on view, he says, is an extremely nice portrait of a lady in black by a New Zealander. The Methodist Union has just published a song, "I am sailing for God's Own Country To-night," founded on the lastr words of Mr Seddon. As a hymn, it is said it will be very suitable for Sunday School classes, girls' and boys' clubs, mothers' meetings ,etc. I The music is tuneful and easy, and the words are interesting, owing to the history of the title. ' Not the least valuable of the import-' ant public service rendered by Sir Penrose Julyan during a long career were the inventions for which h# was responsible during the Crimean War. When the war with Russia broke out, Sir Penrose was recalled to the Commisteariat Department of the Army, in • which he had previously served, and was responsible for the invention of the floating workshops and other contrivances for the supply of food and forage in sound condition, including a marine steam flour mill and a floating bakery. He also invented what was known as the amalgamated field forage, a combination of chopped hay, bruised oats, and bran, which was used by the army in China, New Zealand, and Abyssinia. He has passed away in his 91st year. Canada is still far ahead in the art of population getting. An average family man can be sent out for £30, and that amount includes suitable clothing and a few dollars to provide for initial expenses on the other side. Many poor families cannot afford, this sum, . and to meet the case a charitable organisation has been formed, which helps the necessitous deserving cases. At the meeting on the Ist inst. of the Education Committee of the London County Council, the Day Schools Subcommittee reported as under: — "We have haJ before us the Question of making suitable arrangements for duly observing "Empire Day' (May 24) in public elementary schools maintained by the Council. We do not think the time remaining will permit of any detailed scheme, for tEe complete organisation of the whole of tbe schools, being successfully carried out, but we desire that arrangements should be made with a view to awakening in the minds of the children attending the schools a true sense of the responsibilities attaching to their inheritance as children of- the Empire. Whilst we are of opinion that some elasticity in regard to detailed arrangements may properly be" allowed in different localities for celebrating 'Empire Day,' we think that the object in making any arrangement should be the inculcation in the minds of th© children the idea of the essential unity of the Empire, of the close family tie which exists among British subjects, however widely separated, and of the freedom characteristic of all its institutions. We recommend that arrangements be made for _ celebrating Empire Day in the public elementary schools maintained by the Council, in accordance with the terms of the foregoing report." The recommendation was adopted.