PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12402, 26 October 1903, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[FBOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] :,/■;': ' London, September 18. Mb Arthur M. Mieb's has returned ■'from, a tour in Belgium end- Holland, and is now settled in London for. the present.

I hear that Mr. Nicoll, of the firm of Messrs. Nicoll Brothers, well-known Smith - field meat salesman, is about to undertake a trip to New Zealand. - - ,-

Mr. G. H. Bethune (Wellington) came back to London again lately alter bis round of travels in the Kingdom. I hear that he has gone to Edinburgh again to attend the wedding of a New Zealand friend.

Captain- and Mrs. Rose and Miss Rose have just removed from their residence :at Bayswater to a new flat at Kensington, where they expect to remain for seme time. . Miss Rose has been out of London a great deal lately visiting friends and relatives in different parts of England.

Mrs. A. H. Miles and Miss Miles, who have, been staying with friends in Scotland for some time past, have just returned to London, having enjoyed a very pleasant time in spite of somewhat unpropitious weather. They purpose leaving on their return to Wellington before the winter sets in.

Recent arrivals from New Zealand include Mr. and Mrs. S. Hauler; Mrs. S. G. Hervey, Mrs. C. A. Jollie, Miss Marshall, Miss If. Dean, Mr. A. Jeffries, Mr. A. Jeffries, juu., and Mr. J. T. Moate, all of whom veiled by way of Australia in the P. and O. s.s. China, which left Sydney early in August.

Mr. Gundry, jun., of [Christ-church, who lias been in Cardiff for , some months past perfecting a new automatic machine for weighing frozen meat, is intending to leave before long on his return to the colony. I hear his invention highly spoken of, and the opinion is expressed that the machine is likely to give great satisfaction.

' Mr. Victor G. Booth (Oamaru) came Home by way of Albany, Capetown, Teueriffc, and Plymouth in the White Star liner Suevic, and experienced a pleasant fine-weather passage most of the way. It is Mr. Booth's intention to pursue his musical studies at the "Royal Academy, so his absence from the colony will be a lengthy onci. He expects to remain several years in Loildon, and then spend soma time in further study on .the Continent.

Tins week's callers at the New Zealand Agency-General have included Mr. Daniel Heard' (Wellington). Mr. A. Donald (Auckland), Miss Man' Donald {Auckland), Mr. John Wilson (Ashburton), Mr. 11. Allen .(Waihi), Mr. Leonard D. ,S. Dale (Christchurch), Mi-. John Craven (Palmerston North), Mr. Knox Gilmer (Wellington), Mr. Victor G. Booth (Oamaru), Mr. W. L. D. Gundry (Christchurcb), and Mr. H. J. Pa-Hull (Christchurch). . "■

Sunday next being the birthday anniversary of,the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon, the officers of the Metropolitan Tabernacle are arranging an appropriate celebration, for the following day. It is 10 years since " Pastor Tom" came back to England from the autipodes, remarks the Christian Commonwealth, "to undertake the onerous mission of succeeding his famous father, and therefore the commemoration will naturally be of special interest."

Mr. Joshua Jones has just returned to London after a holiday spent with a relative in Cardiff. Being a Welshman by birth, Mr. Jones was made a great deal of while there, and was a guest of the Mayor at an "At Homo" at the Mansion House. Mr. Jones was also' literally besieged by Welsh newspaper reporters, who, in the local press, made a great deal of his "romantic career." It was stated that Mr. Jones purposes returning shortly to New Zealand.

Mr. D. Downes (formerly of Feilding). who spent last winter partly in the South of England and partly at the Seilly Islands, and who has. since i-bccn touring in the United Kingdom, leave*" London to-morrow for South Africa, having secured his passage by the Dunvegan Castle. Mr. Downes intends to go first to Durban and ultimately will visit ail pans of the South African continent. It is possible that lie may go on to New Zealand in the course of a year or so.

I hear that Major Nelson George has sold the pretty place in the country which he purchased some little time a.go with the view to permanent residence. I understand that both he and Mrs. George have been entirely disgusted by the inclemency of the present so-called "summer" and pine for a sunnier and more genial clime. But Ido not knew whether they have decided as yet to return to New Zealand, or whether they will seek 0110 of the popular winter resorts on the Continent. ' .',

Mr. and Mrs. N. Alfred NathnnfAuckland) have taken a house in Peinbridge Square, : .W., and have furnished it with a view to a somewhat extended occupation while the education, of their family is proceeding. They have lately been spending some little time at Westgate-on-Sea. Mr. Nathan purposes paying a visit to New Zealand in November next, travelling by the so-called " sunlight" route through America via New Orleans. He expects to reach Auckland about Christmas. The duration of his stay in the colony is at present uncertain. Mrs. and Miss Owens (Devonport, Auckland) tell, me that they Had a very pleasant trip to England in the White Star steamer Persic. Unluckily Mrs. Owens was suffering from illness on arrival here, and in order to recuperate she stayed at Oorfe Castle, near Bournemouth, far a few weeks' rest. Since then Mrs. and Miss Owens have been malting an extended tour throughout England, visiting many place of interest. The date of their return to New Zealand is not yet definitely fixed.

Mrs. Henry Blundell and her daughters are spending a few days in London before leaving for the Isle of Wight. On their return from Ireland they travelled to the metropolis by way of Chester, Wolverhampton, and Warwick, staying for a time at each place. They have taken their return passages by 'way of America, and will leave England finally on November 4, sailing from Liverpool for New York. They have decided to spend about a month in the United States, abandoning Canada on account, of the lateness of the season, and to join the mail steamer at San- Francisco, which is due in Auckland about the end of the year.

I have been asked this week to chronicle a somewhat unusual event, a double wedding, which, I understand, will be of interest to New Zealand readers. The two brides were the. two daughters of Mr. A. F. Soward, of Wairuna, Sutton, Surrey. The elder daughter, Mis Annie Mercy Soward, was married to Mr. John Somerville, of Sheffield. The second daughter, Miss Katie Elizabeth Soward, was married to Mr. Augustus William Burnett,_ eldest son of Mr. A. T. Burnett, of Woningwortb, Sutton. The weddings took place last Tuesday at Christ Church, Sutton, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. J. R. Courienay Gale, M.A.

Mr. N. Haszard (Auckland), one of the New Zealand surveyors who went to the Gold Coast, and- who arrived in England some little time back on leave of absence, has just been for a trip to Canada, where he spent six weeks, and reached England again this week. Mr. Haszard was accompanied in his Canadian tour by Mrs. Haszard, and they tell me they had a very pleasant time there, staying principally at Quebec unci Halifax. On the 26th inst. Mr. Haszard leaves England on his return to West Africa, and during his absence his wife will spend the greater part of the next eight 'months with relatives in Ireland and Scotland, leaving for the Emerald Isle immediately after the departure from England of Mr. Haszard, who, at the end of eight months, expects to be back in England ones more.

The Rev. J. S. Smallcy (Auckland) lias arrived in England. He travelled from Sydney by the White Star steamer Suevic, and tolls me that he had a fine and quick passage, reaching London on Monday. After staying here for a few days with friends, Mi. Smalley went North to Edinburgh to join his wife, who preceded him in February last, and who has since been staying with her aged ■ mothei at her old home in Edinburgh, and has greatly benefited by her stay in the North. Mr. Smalley has obtained a year's furlough under medical advies, but hopes that the New Zealand Conference will grant him permanent, release from regular circuit work, with permission to reside in the Old Land. , He expects to remain for the winter at 3, Lander Road, Edinburgh, with Mrs. Smalley and her mother. The latter is how in very frail health.

Last week I mentioned the names of a number of New Zeulandcrs who intend returning to the colony, via Australia, by the Orient-Pacific steamer Orontes, which sails from London at the end 'of-next week. The passenger list continues to swell, and', this week; I notice among others: the following additional names of returning colonists: — Mr." and Mrs. F. A. Anson ' (Christchurch) and tho Misses J. and A. Anson, Mr. and

Mrs. R. H. Allen, Mr. W. Dawson, the Rev. C. H. Heather, Mrs. and Miss Heather, Mrs. ; Edwards : and Miss Edwards, ! Mr. and Mrs. C. H. ; Armitage, ' Mr. A. Caselberg, Mr. J. W. Drysdale, Miss V. Doxat, ; the Rev. J. Earnshaw, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gillispie and familv, Dr. A. T. Hoskins. Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Hunt, Miss Hall, Mrs. W. F. Lawrio, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Port and Miss Port, and Mr. G. Shrimpton. , In the passenger list of the P. and ,0. steamer Australia, which -leaves London to-day, I notice the name of the 'Misses Henry *(2).

Mr. F. C.Blyth (Paeroa) leaves England to-day for America _by the White Star steamer • Arabic on his way back to New Zealand. He will stay at New York for a short time, and then in th© State of Ohio for about two weeks, after that joining the mail steamer at San Francisco, and so arrive in Auckland about the middle of November. ■;■■: Mr. Blyth has spent a considerable portion of Ids time at Cambridge, and while there ho gave an exhibition of New Zealand ferns, kauri gum.?, minerals, woods, etc., and he gained a certificate of merit in the Cambridge University Horticultural Society. Visitors to Cambridge from all parts were greatly interested in Mr. Blyth's collection of exhibits. He also gave an exhibition at the Perse Grammar School and Town and Country School at Cambridge, which were highly appreciated. Mr.'. Blyth also travelled practically all over England, one of his conclusions being Devonshire is the most' beautiful county, and the one which most closely resembles New Zealand. During last month Mr. Blyth spent most of his time in the North of England, Scotland, and Ireland, _ and his stay in Loudon wag somewhat brief.