PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11953, 30 April 1902, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

[FBOM OUR OWN COBBKSPONDEST.]

London, March 27. . Thk following birth announcement appeared this week!—" On the 21st inst., at Ferncroft House, Heath Drive, Hampstead, tho wife of David Ziman of a son."

Mr. J. Graham flow' and Mr. H. 0. Cameron were in Manchester during the early part of this week looking for trade openings. They are now in Sheffield ; next week they go on to Scotland.

Among the latest birth notices in the London papers appears the following: — "On the loth inst., at Triors, Kcston, the wife of Arthur P. Harper (of Christchurch, New Zealand) of a son."

Mr. and Mrs. T. Hamer reached England this week after a most pleasant voyage. Both, I hear, are well, and the probability is that they will remain in this country lor some time; in fact, until Mr. Scddon's arrival.

According to some of the leading London critics, Mr. Fergus Hume's newest story, which is entitled "Woman, tho Sphinx," is considered to be " ono of the best he has written," and to show " a new method and a difference of treatment."

So far as I can ascertain the only person connected with New Zealand who was invited to the first Court held by our new King and Queen, which took place last Friday night at Buckingham Palace, was Lord Onslow, an ex-Governor of the colony.

Pastor Thomas Spurgeon, who has been ill with influenza and pneumonia, is now convalescent, and has been able to leave- town for a change. He is now recuperating at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, whither he went on Wednesday. Mrs. Spurgeon and Miss Spurgeon are also recovering from the effects of influenza.

On hot" la,st trip from Australia the P. and O. steamer China brought a number of passengers from New Zealand, viz.: Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Culling, Mr. and Mrs. T. Hamer, Mrs. Arrowsmith, Mrs. Boyd, Miss Boyd, Miss Kardley-Wilmot, Miss Horne, the Misses Johnston, Miss M. Pole. Miss Sheriff-Young, Miss A. A. White, the Rev. W. H. Johnston, Mr. Home, and Mr. E. O. Woodman.

Mr. and Mrs. Duncan K. Clerk are at pre sent staying in the Grand Hotel do Mont Floury, Cannes. Mr. Duncan Clerk informs me that he leaves England by the San Francisco mail next week for New Zealand, on business connected with a wealthy London syndicate. His stay in New Zealand will be very short, as he returns to England by the boat leaving early in May, in which steamer he has already cabled for a berth for his return passage. He expects to bo back in London about June 16, in time for the Coronation. During his absence Mrs. Duncan Clerk will remain in London, and will reside at 51, Stanhope Gardens, S.W.

A special illustrated notice is given this week by an Anglo-colonial paper of Mr. T. J. Fitzpatrick, who seven years ago joined the agency staff of the Citizens' Life Assurance Company at Auckland, New Zealand, and has since filled the positions of district manager at Dunedin, also at Christehurch, subsequently chief inspector of tho New Zealand agencies, later principal inspector in Now "South Wales, and last year when the company extended its business to the United Kingdom was given a responsible position here. Now, after seven months of successful work in England, he leaves this week for Dublin to assist in extending the business there.

When I last heard from Mr. William Booth, of Carterton, Wellington, he bad reached Marseilles, and was on his way back to Egypt and Palestine, for a tour of about 13 weeks' duration. Mr. Booth was one of a party of 16, and they expected to have a thoroughly enjoyable time, and to be back in London towards tho end of May. Mr. Booth's friends will be pleased to hear that he is gaining strength after his recent operation, but unfortunately before leaving London he was attacked by influenza, which pulled him down somewhat. By the time he reached Marseilles, however, lie was fooling a good deal stronger and picking up well, as a result of tho beautiful weather ho was experiencing in tho south of Franco

Reviewing Mr. H. B. Vogel's new novel, "Gentlemen Garnet," the Times says: — Tasmania, with its woodlands, it- downs, and its climate, is the most English-like of our colonics in the Southern Pacific. The very names of the riversthe Dee, the Derwent, and tho Esk—with the scent of its hedgerows, and the apple orchards round tho homesteads, bring memories of the old home to the hearts of the settlers. But in its early days no colony had a more infamous reputation than Van Diemon's Laud. It was a pit of horrors, a hell upon earth, where England shot her social reftfse. We have never come across a more vivid description of those days in the worst of our penal settlements than that so luridly painted by Mr. Vogel. Tho details of official brutality ar» repulsive, but they are confirmed by historical evidence."

Mr. William H. Clark, of Waipapa, Bay of Islands, called to see me on Wednesday. He travelled in the White Star liner Runic, and speaks very well of the comfort of the" ship and of the accommodation. There was, ho says, scarcely a ripple, comparatively speaking, all the way. Though Mr. Clark had a permit to land in South Africa ho was unable to do so, seeing that, the naval officials said it was questionable how long be would have to wait for a permit to return to the ship. Mr. Clark, who is at present staying at the Waverley Hotel, Cheapside, leaves shortly to visit his brother at Whitchurch, North Wales, and then he will go on to his old home in County Derry. There were several New Zealanders on tho s.s. Runic during her Homeward run, and there appears to have been plenty of amusement to relieve the monotony of the trip.

A London Anglo colonial journal, referring to the appearance of "Princess Le Ranji Pai" (sic), otherwise Madame Fanny Howie, at the Irish festival concert given last Monday in honour of St. Patrick's Day, says she "is a daughter of Colonel Porter, commandant of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, in which her three brothers arc also serving. Her mother is chioftainess of tho Ngatiporou tribe of Maoris, win) fought on the English side in the Maori war. Her voice is a deep contralto, and hor selections wore "The Minstrel Boy' and ' Savourneen Deelish,' for which she was warmly applauded." And tho Financial News says: "The Irish concert at the Royal Albert Hall last Monday was a great success. Tho event of the evening was the appearance of Princess To Rangi Pai, the Now Zealand contralto, who is possessed of a splendid voice. Princess To Rangi Pai should have a good future before her on the concert platform."

Mr. Arthur Appleby has received so exceptionally favourable a. criticism oil the part of the Times itself that iFought to be of enormous help to him in his musical career. The Times says: "Yet another baritone ! An week after week passes away the questions take further hold of one what is to become of all the excellent baritone singers now seeking; the suffrages of the musical public, and where are the tonors '! It is safe to say that for one tenor the regular concert-goer hears ten baritones. And curiously enough the majority of these baritones come forward as highly finished singers, all, or nearly all, of them from the beginning of their careers. Mr. Arthur Appleby, a New Zealandor, formerly soloist in the cathedral choir at Cliristchurcb, gave his first recital at JJeohstein Hall on Thursday afternoon, and proved himself at the outset a singer- of much accomplishment and even more promise. His voice is of the most pleasant; quality, and very sympathetic, while he sings with real depth of feeling and possesses distinctly tho dramatic sense."

There are many New Zcalanders still living who will receive with deep regret, the news of the death of Mi. N. Chevalier, the admirable water-oobur artist who spent a considerable time in New Zealand some 40 years ago and depicted much of it.* finest scenery. He passed away on Saturday last at his residence, Ashmore Sydenham Hill. Noting his decease, the Times says:—"He was a Swiss by birth, but became a naturalised British subject. Mr. Chevalier was educated in Munich and Rome,'and went to Australia m 1854, and busied himself with starting the first colonial __ illustrated paper. He also introduced various art industries into the colony. He went to New Zealand and travelled all over the country, and produceu several hundred water-colour sketches, which were exhibited in Paris and London. Mr. Chevalier accompanied the late Duke of Edinburgh in his tour round tlio world, and produced 130 water-colours. He settled in London in 1870, at Porehester Terrace, Hyde Park, and during the next 20 years produced a largo amount of work, both in oil and wutcr-colour, exhibiting yearly at the Royal Academy. -Her Jate Majesty sent him to St. Petersburg to paint the marriage ceremony of the Duke of Edinburgh. Mr. Chevalier was one of the promoters of the first art gallery in Australia, n»* Melbourne, and for 25 years he was honorary purchaser for the Sydney Gallery, which is acknowledged to bo the finest collection in Australasia."