PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12415, 10 November 1903, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[from OCR OWN correspondent.]

London. October 2. Mu. Geo. H. Bethune (Wellington) has decided to leave England on Tuesday next on his- return journey to New Zealand.

Mr. Charles Palliser and Mr. Jones, well known contractors in the colony, left London to-day on their return to New Zealand.

Mr. and Mrs. H. J. R. Tilley have left London for Southampton to join the Konigfa Luise, on their way back to New Zealand, via Australia.

Mr. Enabling, late of the Bank of New Zealand, is again in town this week. He purposes leaving for New Zealand by the s.s. Paparoa next month.

Mr. T. D'Arcy Hamilton is in Manchester this week. He 'does not expect to be back in London until about November 5, whea he will put in a week here on his way to the Continent.

It- is announced this week that Mr. Benjamin Leopold Far] eon, the well-known novelist, who died last July, at. the age of 69. has left estate, which has been valued by his widow. Mrs. Margaret Jane Farjeon, at £456 gross and £127"net.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Beauchamp (Wellington) and two of their children took their departure from Waterloo station for Southampton by the special express on Moudav morning, in order to join the North German Lloyd "steamer Konigin Luise, on their return to the colony.

The number of callers at the New Zealand Agency-General is now falling oil' rapidly; this week there have been only a, few, namelv: Mr. A. H. Steele, Christchurch ; Mr. J" A. Walker, Napier: Mr. Albert- A. Stichbuni. Auckland and Wellington: Dr. J. R. Thomas. Christchurch; Mr. F. H. Hobbs, Christchurch.

" Sir Henry Jackson is doing very well in Fiji," remarks a London paper, " and the discontent among the natives, and all the talk about a desire for ' annexation ' to New Zealand, appear to have died completely out. Sir Henry's selection for the Suva Governorship was adjudged at the time as a wise one by those who know what class of man is required for such a colony, and his appointment has been thoroughly justified."

I hear that Mr. C. A. Hawkins, who has been an officer in the 11th Hussars during the past three years, has severed his connection with that regiment, and is about to proceed to New Zealand I understand that .Mr. Hawkins will start some time during the course of next mouth, and that he will not return to England before next spring. During his star in New Zealand Mr. Hawkins' wedding with a daughter of Mr. N. Kettle, of Napier, will take place, probably in March.

It is announced that Mr. Emanual Hyams, who formerly resided in New Zealand, and who died in England at the end of July last, lias left an estate valued at £1243 gross and £1116 net. For many years past the deceived gentleman had resided at " Duncairn," 11, St. David's Road, Southsea, and his death took place there ; his age was 75. The executors of the estate are Mr. Hyams' two sons, Mr. James Francis Hyams, of 128, New Bond-street, and Mr. Alexander Hyams, of Savage Gardens, Tower Hill, London.

Mr. Harry P.ountree, formerly of Auckland, has just illustrated a. new book called the " Animal Game Book," which is described by one reviewer as most amusing. The idea, it- is explained, is "to illustrate children's games, such as blind mam's buff, hopscotch, tug-of-war, and the rest, by putting animals in the place of children. The fox, the goose, the rabbit, the bear, and a host of other birds and beasts take part in the games. The artist has invested them all with an oddly human air, and every one of the illustrations is full of fun and humour."

It will interest New Zealand University men to learn that- another of their number has won high examination honours in this country. Mr. W. Lawrence Scott, who was educated first at Christchurch Grammar School, and subsequently at the Canterbury College of the New Zealand University, taking his M.A. and D.Sc. degrees with high honours—attaining in fact- " a double first''— came to England in January last to study fcr the Indian Civil Sendee examinations. Since then he has been hard at work at Wren's " coaching " school. The results of the examination are just published, and in the long list Mr. Scott comes out as high as ninth, a very brilliant achievement, in view of the severe competition he had to face. Mr. Scott will now have to study for another year in England before taking up the position in the Indian Civil Service which he has won by his success in the examination. It is not yet definitely settled whether he will carry on these studies at the Cambridge or the London University.

Miss Hew-in- (Auckland) is now in London, slaying at the Kenilvrorth Hotel. Great Russell-street, near the British Museum. She baa been constantly travelling about Europe during the "past 18 months, touring successively in Italy, Switzerland, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany, as well as in England. "Scotland, and Ireland. She appears to have had an exceptionally pleasant and interesting time. In the course of her travels Miss Hewitt has done a good deal of mountaineering. She intends shortly to return to New Zealand, and has decided to go by way of New York. Buffalo. Niagara Palls, the Rockies, British Columbia. Vancouver, and San Francisco. She has timed her tour so as to be back in Auckland, by Christmas, and I hear that in the second week in January her wedding to Mr. R. C. Stapleton— an' English gentleman to whom she became engaged prior to leaving the colony early last —will take place. Mr. Fred. Hewin, of Auckland, is, I regret to hear, far from well. The English climate tries him severely, and at the least sign of fatigue he is obliged to go to the Riviera.

By the s.s. Tongariro, which sailed from London to-day, commanded by Captain Sutcliife, the following saloon passengers are travelling:—The Hon. R. Barringten, Mrs. Barrington, the Hon. R. G. L© Poer Trench, Major H. Colnaghi, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Forrester, Mrs. B. Marsham, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Thomas and. son, Mr. and Mrs. 'J'. Williams and family (2). Mr. and airs. 11. Wilson and son. Mr. T. P. Owen, Mr. A. H. Steele, Mr. F. H. Sands.?, Mr. R. Wigram, Mr. H. A. Little, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bertie and son, Mr. and Mrs. F. Bra-ilsford and Miss Brailsford, Dr. J. Brugh and Mrs. .<>rugh, Mr. a.nd Mrs. J. Fitzgerald and Miss Fitzgerald, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Hopkins, Mrs. Dagg and the Misses Dagg. Miss L. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. E. Kelland, Mr. and Mrs. IT. Newson, Mrs. Simmons, Miss Simmons (2) t Messrs. Simmons (2), Mrs. Taggart, Mr. J. H. Simpson, Mr. J. Semple, Mr. J. Ray, Mrs. Macfayden, Mr. A. Lodge, Mr. W. Lidgard, Mr. G. F. Keen, Mr. L. Bartie. Mr. H. Addison. In the third .class the Tongariro carries over 60 passengers. Dr. W. S. Page is the surgeon on board.

Quite recently a wedding of interest to New Zealand took place in Scotland. The bridegroom was Mr, M. Alexander Conway, J.P., of Wellington, who married Miss Janet Paterson, of Scotland. The wedding took place from the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Greenshields, of Windymains, Pentcaitland, Ea.st Lothian. The marriage was solemnised in Humbifi Church, which is about 16 miles from Edinburgh, and an interesting feature consisted in the fact that this was the first wedding which had taken place in that quaint little church for 63 years. The service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Maclaren, M.A., and the bride was attended by the Misses Greenshields (2) as bridesmaids, while Mr. Geo. H. Bethnne (Wellington) acted as best man. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion by the bride's friends. Subsequently a reception was held at Windy - mains, the residence of the bride's mother, and later in the afternoon the newlymarried couple left for North Berwick, where their honeymoon is being spent. I hear that Mr. and 'Mrs. Conway; hav7 arranged to.

Kail for New Zealand next week, and that '■ they have bodked their passages by the New Zealand dipping Company's steamer Riinutaka, which is to leave London on the Bth inst. Several distinct successes have been won by young New Zealanders in this year's medical examinations. In Edinburgh, Mi*. W. Bartholin Sommers (Christchurch) carried off the special prize for practical I botany, besides taking honours in all the class i work, including three first-class certificates and two second-class. Mr. A. T. Paterson I (Auckland) also distinguished himself in I the examinations, and carried off the prize { in clinical surgery. Mr. S. T. Champtaloup won the Bathgate Memorial prize, and • also the medal for practical Materia I Medica. Mr. C. F. Pat-tie (Blenheim) took the medal for practical and theoretical zoology. He is regarded as one of the most ' promising students now at Edinburgh. Messrs. Sommers and Paterson. whom I have just mentioned, have been spending their i summer vacation in a very enjoyable cruise in the Western Mediterranean, visit-in » the. : following ports on the eoasts of Spain, j : Italy, and Southern France:—Alicant, J; Barcelona, Valencia, Leghorn, Pisa, Flo- ! . rence, Genoa, and Marseilles. They ap- I • pear to have had a delightful time and an j experience in many respects unusual, as I they did not content themselves with tra- ! • veiling in one of the ordinary passenger }. steamers, but obtained accommodation in I : a cargo boat, which afforded them plenty j ' of time at the various places visited. * '

One of the most- important weddings of the autumn-will take place in London next Thursday, at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, for the bridegroom will be the Hon. Rupert Guinness, eldest, son of Lord and Lady Iveagh, and the bride will be,. Lady Gwendolen OnsloWj elder daughter of Lord a.nd Lady Onslow. Lady Onslow and her daughters came up to town a day or, two ago } from Clandon, their seat near Guildford, in Surrey, and will remain at their residence at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, until after the wedding. The bride is to be attended by eight bridesmaids and two small pages, the latter wearing blue-and-white suits with tricorne hats. The chief bridesmaid will of course be Lady Dorothy Onslow, the other seven being: Miss Marjorie Guinness, Miss Fuller Maitland, Miss Hill-Trevor, Miss ZeiJa Gardner, and the three children of Lady Burghclere. Lady Gwendolen, it is remarked, " will make a lovely bride, being fair and very graceful, with delicate features and a sweet smile." It is added that she " has gathered together a wonderful trousseau, and has already received a, magnificentamount of jewellery, including three diamond tiaras and quite half-a-dozen necklaces. Mr. Guinness has given some superb jewels to his ' fiancee, while Lord and Lady Iveagh have presented their future daughter-in-law with ; some exceptionally fine diamonds." It- is ' mentioned that the bridegroom-to-be has in- ! herited his fathers love of yachting, and Ls j the owner of a. smart racing craft, which has I won manv prizes. Lord and Lady Iveagh ! have a beautiful country seat in Suffolk, J known as Elveden, which at one time was j possessed by the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh | and has always had a great reputation on account of the sport obtainable. '

One day this week I had a specially JL-ter-esting caller. He was a gentleman who had held some of the highest public positions that the former province of Auckland could give him. But lie has not been seen in that part of the world for more than 17 years. It will probably be guessed that I refer to Mr. Hugh H. Lusk, formerly M.H.R. for the Fianklin district, and the last Provincial Secretary who ever held office in the Auckland province. A new generation has arisen that knows not the public men of the past, so I may mention that Mr. Lnsk held that Provincial Premiership at the lime when Die late Sir. Justice Gillies was Superintendent of the Province. Moreover. Mr. Lusk would undoubtedly have been the last Superintendent of the Auckland Province had not Sir George Grey been induced to leave his retirement at Kawau to lead the fight in defence of the doomed provincial system. Mr. Lusk contested the last-but-one election for the Auckland Superintendency against Mr. Williamson, and would probably have been j the winner had not the late Mr. Darga- ! viile suddenly come forward, with the result J that while he did not win, ho so seriously split Mr. Lusk's party thai; Mr. Williamson ! camo in an easy victor. Pub Mr. Lusk's \ return in the following Superinteadental election was deemed a certainty had not I Sir Julius Vogel's determination to destroy j the provinces had the effect of bringing forth Sir George Grey into public life as their defender. On leaving Auckland, Mr. Lusk spent several years in Australia, ultimately migrating to the United States, where he has been living for more than a decade. He has profited by his American experience to bring out a very able and interesting work upon the drawbacks to the entire success of the United States methods. The book is entitled " Our Foes at Home." Mr. Lusk had originally intended that it should be called " The Enemies of America," but as it went into the hands of his publishers shortly after the close of the Spanish-American War. it was j deemed advisable to make the alteration in the title lest it should be supposed to refer to the Spaniards instead of being directed against '"foes at home," as was in reality the case. Mr. Lusk is looking remarkably well and hale, and appears to feel as keen a zest as ever in all political and public questions.