AUCKLANDERS IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12000, 24 June 1902, Page 5

AUCKLANDERS IN LONDON.

AN ANNUAL DINNER ESTABLISHED. [from our own correspondent.] London", May 16. I hear that a movement is on foot, which has originated among certain Aucklanders now resident in London, for the establishment of an annual dinner, to be held here early in each season, with the idea that former residents of Auckland may meet at least once a year, and may also have the opportunity of seeing visitors from the same city who come to London for a holiday. It is hoped that the latter will attend in greater force each year as the establishment of this annual reunion becomes more widely known. The inaugural dinner of the series was held recently, and passed off most pleasantly, while, everything considered, it was well attended. On this occasion a committee was formed to look after this yearly function, to work it up and to make it known as widely as possible, so that nextyear's dinner may be a greater success even than the first of the series. ' Mr. A. J. Allen, late of Auckland, and now of Guy's Hospital, has undertaken to act as secretary in this connection, and at the first of these dinners the chair was taken by Mr. L. A. Armitage, of Auckland. Ladies from Auckland will be welcomed as well as men, though none were present the other evening, and it is possible that in future the introduction of good music may be made a feature of the evening. Each year a committee meeting will be held in May to make arrangements for the dinner to take place during the following month, in the height of the London season, by which time most visitors to England are pretty sure to have arrived. The charge made will be merely sufficient to defray the expenses incurred each time, and this new function will be known simply as the annual Auckland dinner. Mr. H. Rountree was one of the prime movers in the matter.