PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11129, 31 July 1899, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, June 23. Mils. Grace Neil is about visiting Scotland, where she intends seeing over some of the larger asylums. Mr. John L.' Ryrie contributes a chatty letter on "Christmas and New Year Holidays in New Zealand," to John o'Groat's Journal. This afternoon I had the pleasure of a chat with Miss Dora Hayward, of Wellington, who tells me she is having a very pleasant time sight-seeing, and " doing the lions" of London. She expects to remain in England about a year. Major Frederick Spencer Schomberg, late of the 57th Regiment, died this week. He was in the New Zealand war of 1864-66, his engagements including the capture of Ahu Abu and Kaitake, and he obtained the medal. Among the volumes to be issued during the present year, by the Navy Records Society, is "The History of Peter the Great, by'a Contemporary Englishman," edited by ViceAdmiral Sir C. A. G. Bridge, who was recently on the Australasian station. Mr. E. Earle Vaile, of Auckland, has arrived by way of America, and finds the trip has done him great good. He purposes staying in town for a little while, and for the present is with the Rev. W. London, at 96, Adelaide Road, Brockley, S.E. There was a great gathering at the London city schools, at the end of last week, when Sir Henry Irving distributed the prizes won by the scholars. Mr. Thos. Mackenzie s son, Kenneth, was one of tho only two students to gain awards in two subjects, not a mean achievement in a school with over 1200 attending it.

Mr. Thomas Howlev, Registrar of the Timaru District Court, arrived in London recently, and called on me to-day. He had a pleasant passage by the s.s. Ophir, from Australia. Mr. Howlev leaves shortly for Ireland, where he will visit several relatives and friends, including his brothei, Colonel Howley, who has a fine estate in the County Sligo. His visit to the Mother Country is partly on business and partly on pleasure.

Mr. E. W. Kennaway, son of Mr. Kennaway, of the New Zealand Agency-Gen-eral, who is now in the Indian Civil Service, met- recently with a slight accident to his hand, breaking a small bone. Since his arrival in London six months ago, Mr. Kennaway has been very popular, and as an evidence of the sorrow felt at the accident by the servants, the head syce, or servant, sent his wife and family to bed without any supper. He did not forego the meal himself.

A most agreeable feature of the New Zealand dinner at the Cafe Monico, on Tuesday, was the number of new-comers from the colony, who are arriving, i may say, in great:r force than ever before remembered at this time of the year. At the dinner, Mr. H. CI. Cameron, who acted as lion, sec., had added to his already onerous duties by taking a great amount of trouble to seat together friends from the same part of the colony. Thus the function was one series of agreeable reunions.

Mr. Adam Cairns, of .Auckland, is staying with relatives at " Ellerslie," Havergal Villas, Wood Green, and is finding his health improve every day. In fact, he has not felt or looked so well for many years. He tells me he had a most enjoyable trip on tho Karlsruhe, and was greatly pleased with his visit to Italy. I gather it is not his intention to seek re-election for the City Council. It would, indeed, be a pity to hurrv hack tfi fight an election when his visit here is doing him so much good.

Lord Glasgow, you will note from the special report I send of tho after-dinner proceedings at the New Zealand banquet, is a sufferer from influenza. One of the last things he was able to do was to entertain Mr. Thos. Mackenzie to dinner at the United Service Club. He caught cold soon after, and on Tuesday completely lost his voice. His medical attendant, on being called in, found influenza had also been contracted, so Lord Glasgow was at once ordered to bed. Since then the weather has been rather unsettled. and that has retarded his getting about again.

Mr. Leigh, of Palmerston Nnrlh, and Mrs. Leigh, who arrived in April, have just returned to town from a six weeks' tour of the watering-places, including the Isle of Wight. They have had a most pleasurable time, both in crossing the Continent and since their arrival in England. In a few days they leave for the North of Scotland, and return to the colony by the Omrah, on her October trip, joining her at a Mediterranean port, so as to complete the Continental tour. This being Mrs. Leigh's first visit to this country she lias been delighted with the sights. Mr. Leigh is combining with his pleasure the making of inquiries into the conditions of the frozen meat, wool, and produce trades.

Last Friday evening Mr. Thomas Mackenzie entertained a small party at dinner at the Cafe Royale, Regent-street, the special purpose being to welcome Mr. Inglis, who succeeds Mr. Mackenzie as London mannger of the various Farmers' Co-operative Associations of New Zealand, and to introduce him to some of the leading men in the colonial produce trade, several of whom, and those among the most influential, were' present. Everything passed off admirably, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Mr. Inglis received a cordial welcome, and Mr. Mackenzie's early departure was the subject of many expressions of heartfelt regret. All, however, agreed in wishing Mr. Mackenzie every success and prosperity in the future, and in predicting for him a bright political career in New Zealand.

Mr. John McKenzie, the Minister for Agriculture, has been in a private hospital for the last day or so, in order to undergo ii course of dieting and examination at the hands of specialists. His case is considered serious, but not desperate in any way • there is no doubt that ho lias done the right thing in coming Home for the best advice I'robablv in a day or two he will g 0 back to the Highlands for a quiet week, and then return for the specialists to complete what they have in hand. Mr, McKenzie has had several long interviews with Mr. Thomas Mackenzie in regard to the produce trade; that would have bad to be deferred, had it not been for the latter's speedy departure for the colony. Mr. John McKenzie, however, would not miss the opportunity of talking over trade matters with the ex-mem-ber for Clutha.

Recent callers at the Agency-General include the Rev. A. W. Averill, of St. Michael's Vicarage, Christcburch; Miss Sibella E. Ross, Christchurch, who is at 24 Holland-street, Kensington, W.; Mr. Duncan Campbell, of Wellington, who is at 200 New Kent Road, S.E.; Mr. Wm. Fredk. Richards, of Wellington, who is at 472, Old Kent Road; Mrs. Julie Wilding and Miss Gladys Wilding, of Christchurch, who are at 30, Bessborough-street, S.W.; Mr. Samuel Male, of Christchurch, who is at 56, New City Road, Plaistow, E.; Mr. Wm. Boag, of Christchurch, who during July will be in Edinburgh, and after that in Glasgow; Mr. Henry Rose, of Wellington, who is at 21, Porchester Gardens, Bayswater; and Mr. Adam Cairns, of Auckland, who is stili at Wood Green. Mr. J. G. Ward arrived on Sunday, after a pleasant passage. He is at present at the Westminster Palace Hotel, and is; I believe, engaged on private business.

_ Mr. Thomas Cotter, of Auckland, also Mrs. Cotter and family, have also arrived, and are at- 13, Gordon-street, Gordon Square. J saw Mr. Cotter on Tuesday, and found lie was thoroughly enjoying 'his well-earned rest. He came by way of America, and, like everyone else who comes Home across the States, found the Xankee appetite for the almighty dollar insatiable. Crossing the Pacific from Japan, Miss Winnie Cotter appeared to have met with a slight accident to the knee, and thus the journey across tile States was made leisurely. On arriving in London, however, she was seen by a specialist, and had to undergo an operation. A tumour was taken out from behind the knee. She is progressing favourably, and it is expected will be about again in about a fortnight. When she has completely recovered Mr. Cotter and his family intend to visit' Scotland, Ireland, and then the Continent. J According to present arrangements he returns about November next, but has made.no definite arrangement yet» •