PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[FROM OOR OWN COKHE3PONDENT.] London, March 5.' The Hon. J. B. Whyto and Miss Whyte have left London for Scotland where they intend to make rather a lengthened stay. Mr. C. Y. O'Connor, formerly one of the chief Government engineers for New Zealand, and now Engineer-in-Chief for West Australia, arrived in London a few daye ago. Sir Wesbby unci Lady Perceval hare been etayin» for tome time in (he south of France, with the object of escaping the English wintry weather. They are expected back in England next Week.. Mr. Henry Reynolds hai decided to leave for New Zealand by the outgoing San Francisco mail, namely, on Saturday, 20th inst., in connection with the business of the Hauraki Development Syndicate. Mr. Edward J. Bold, formerly manager of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand in Wellington, has entered into business in London, as a financier and stock broker, and I understand he has every prospect of success in his new undertaking. Mr. W, P. Reeves has been "interviewed" again, this time by Mr, Harold Cox, as 11 representative of the Daily Chronicle. I understand that the interview Iwted two solid hours, and that it is likely to afford some interesting reading. It has not yet) come out. The Moefc Rev. ArchbUhop Redwood, the Roman (Jutliolio Primate of New Zealand, has arrived in London, and preached last Sunday at St. Anne's Church, Underwoodstreet, delivering a very eloquent sermon, which was much admired by those who were able to be present. Mr. Henry Gray, whose resignation of his position as London Produce Surveyor to the New Zealand Government I mentionod lait week, will bring his present duties to a close at the end of the current month, and shortly afterwards will take hie departure by the lonic, accompanied by Mrs. Gray, for New Zealand. I regret to record tbe death which occurred a few days ago of Mr. William Henry Piokebb, who was formerly a purser on the Shaw, Siwill, and Albion Company's steamer Tainui. Mr. Pieketb died very suddenly at Romford, in Essex, where he had been staying. The deceased gentleman was in bis 54th year.

Mr. Henry Hartwright, who was formerly in the New Zealand Government) Audit Office, and later hold a position in the same department) of the New Zealand Agency-General in London, bub who retired on a pension some years ago, has just brought oub a new historical work entitled " The Story of the House of Lancaster." Ib will be remembered that about ten years ago the gentleman who is now Sir Edmund Lechmere, and who was then barely twenty years of age, married a Chrietchurch (Now Zealand) young lady, Miss Alice Samuels, who soems to have been cordially welcomed by her husband's people in Worcestershire, where they have owned property ever since the Conquest, and where they are justly citoomod as among the oldest English families. Lady Lechmere died some time ago, and now the young baronet, who is scarcely thirty, has married for a second time, his bride in this caso being Miss Katherine Fayton Wright. Mrs. Harrison-Davia'g new play was brought out in the provinces a few days ago, and appears to have met with a very favourable reception. I have seen some exceedingly good notices of it) in the provincial papers. Ib is entitled "A Life Polioy," and I need hardly say ib consists in the dramatisation of Mrs. HarrisonMavis's well-known novel, " For So Little," which, it) will be remembered, was founded upon » very shocking domestic tragedy in Canterbury, which horrified all New Zealand some dozen yeara ago. I hear that the various thrilling incidents of bhnb cause colubre are worked up with much skill, and form some highly effective stage "situations." Ib will be remembered that Lady Onslow, wife of the ox-Governor of Now Zealand, was a daughter of the late Lord Gardner, who died fourteen years ago. A curious circumstance has attracted attention in connection with the Gardner family. The present! Lord Gardner is Lady Onslow'e cousin, and ho has for some reason abstained up to the present time—-that in for fourteen years — from sending in the necessary certificates to prove his title. Ib is alleged that he married a black girl, said to be a great grand-daughter of the late King of Delhi, and it is suggested as a possibility that the next) Lord Gardnor may bo, as Lord Salisbury once very Infelicitously put Ib in the case of the first Indian member of the House of Commons, "a black man,"

The following paragraph from one of the London daily papers with reference to Archbishop Redwood, will doubtless be read with interest by his numerous flock in Now Zealand !-<-" The Most Rev. Frauds Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington and Primate of New Zealand, who occupied the pulpit) at St. Anne's, Spitalfioldj, last evening, it generally accounted the finest orator of the (Jatholio Church ill tho colonies. It was at St. Anne's that he received epieoopal consecration, at the hands of Cardinal Manning on Maroh 17, 1874. All his brother! are Well-known sportsmen and owners Of raoehorees, and he himself says he is tired of contradicting the story that he was a jockey in his youth, The Archbishop differs from the rest) of the family on sporting subjects, but acknowledges a weakness for the violin, which he plays with more than average amateur skill, and he is the possessor of a very valuable Stradivari us."

Nob much has been heard of Sir Julius Vogol for some years past, remarks the Star, and his name in the list of contributor to the current number of the Nineteenth Century is a reminder of the vicissitudes of public lifo and the backwash of extravagant popularity. Time was when us Prime Minister of New Zealand he waß almost idolised, and the cardinal feature of his polioy—the development of the resources of the colony by enormous and continual loan* on the London market-wae hailed as a heaven-born inspiration. All went merry as a marriage bell whilst) the big loans lneted, but) there were wry faces when the interest bill was handed in. New Zealand was almost crushed under the huge weight of the financial responsibilities contracted under the Vogel regime, and although her treasury has been carefully nursed during the last decade her recovery is nob yet complete. From being the mosb popular of Prime Ministers Sir Julius Vogel became (he most detested of public men. Ho quitted the colony in 18S7, and has lived quietly in London evor since.