PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11873, 27 January 1902, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[from OUR OWN correspondent.]

London, December 20.

Mr. Mitfobd Hankinson, of Otago, who has been in' Europe for some years, intends returning to New Zealand shortly.

Mrs. W. H. Simms left London to-day by the Orient steamer Austral on her return to New Zealand. Mrs. Simms has been resident in England t for more than a year.

Mr. A. W. Soames, a member of the House of Commons, is about to visit New Zealand for the benefit of his health, his doctors having so advised him. He hopes to be back in England by Easter.

Lord Kelbume, the eldest son of Lord and Lady Glasgow, has just left England to join his ship H.M.s. Alacrity in the China station. Lord Kelburne is 'flag lieutenant on board the Alacrity, and is expected to be away for three years.

Mr. Herbert Edwards, jun., of Oamaru, who has been in Europe for two years studying as an electrical engineer, is returning to New Zealand in about 10 days' time; he purposes travelling by the s.s. Morayshire, one of the Shire liners.

Mrs. T. C. Williams, of Wellington, who arrived by the s.s. Gothic last week, is at present staying at Southsea with her newlymarried daughter, Mrs. Fergusson. Later Mrs. Williams and Miss Una Williams will stay for some little time with Lord and Lady Glasgow.

The death is recorded of Mrs. Mary Anne Bennett, second daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Kidd, of Kelvedon, Essex. The deceased lady, who was in her" 78th year, passed away at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Thomas Baker, of 8, Albert Terrace, Edinburgh.

The Hon. A. J. Cadman and Mr. E. M. Smith left London for New Zealand in the s.s. Karamea on Thursday. Prior to their departure they received further specimens of cutlery, including some fine razors, made from Taranaki ironsand; they were manufactured in Sheffield.

Recent callers at the New Zealand Agency - General include: Mr. Harry. A. Parker, of Auckland ,* Mr. C. S. Dunningham, of Wellington ; ' Messrs. William Booth and H. Booth, of Wairarapa, and Miss Booth ; Mr. F. Ronalds ; Mr. T. Brown, of Christchurch; and Mr. J. C. Morrison, of Taranaki.

Mrs. Edward Raphael left Liverpool yesterday by the White Star s.s. Medic for New Zealand. Mrs. Raphael was accompanied by her two nieces, Miss Spence and Miss McDowell. The three ladies came to England last year, and I learn that they have had a very pleasant tour in the Mother Country.

At the Waitekauri Gold Mining Company's meeting this afternoon I met Mr. Bassett, late of the Supreme Court, Auckland, who, with his family, arrived here in June last. Mr. Bassett is looking remarkably well, but he tells me he cannot stand the English climate, and longs for Auckland sunshine. Om of his sons is at Woolwich, where lie is studying for the army, and so soon as lie gets his commission Mr. Bassett thinks of returning to New Zealand.

At the Cecil Hotel last night Sir Edward Clarke delivered an address- to the London Chamber of Commerce in support of the principle of carrying over all uncompleted Parliamentary Bills "that may have reached a given stage from one session to the next. Mr. George Beetham was among the speakers at the discussion which followed. As a member for many years of the New Zealand Legislature, Mr. Beetham cordially supported the proposed course outlined by Sir Edward Clarke.

" Whether Mr. Seddon, in telegraphing the offer of 1000 additional men, was justified ill adding what he did is open to question," remarks Sunrise. "It is certainly the first time such a message was ever sent by , a colonial Minister to the British Government. It seems to us equally impertinent and redundant. Patriotism and love of country are the same thing; and Mr. Seddon has no more right to lecture 'parties' in England than Lord Salisbury has to make sarcastic remarks about the feebleness of the Oppositionif there is one —in New Zealand."