PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12545, 12 April 1904, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[moil our ows COmtESPOITDEST.] London, March 4. Captain Rose and Miss Rose purpose leaving London shortly on a visit- to Southampton, while Mrs. l\«se will go to Scotland to stay with relatives there. Mr. J. S. Macarlhur (Wellington)' made a very brief stay in London, and left again for America last Saturday by the s.s. Umbria, on his way back to the colony. Sir Kenneth Douglas was in London this week on private business. In all probability lie will bo returning to Now Zealand this year, arriving there early in September, if not before. Mrs. W. P. Reeves lias returned to London after spending some time on the Continent with her mother, Mrs. Robisoti, visiting France and Italy. Mr. and Mrs- .Reeves are still residing at 22, Prince of Wales Terrace, W.

I learn that the late Rev, Charles Clark, the populai lecturer, has left estate in England valued at £15,880, and Australian property to the value of £319, or £14,699 in all. it ii left entirely to his widow, by a will made nearly 13 years ago. Mr. Newport White, eldest son of the Rev. Canon il. White, formerly vicar of Ivaiapoi, near Christchurch, has won high scholastic honours at Trinity College, Dublin, obtaining what is equivalent to a "double first, class" at Oxford. Mrs. and Miss Flavell, who have both been suffering from illness, have now entirely recovered. Mrs. Flavell's brother-in-law, Mr. John MeAlpine, who camo Home from New Zealand by the last trip of the s.s. Rimutales, is at present staying with her on a visit. At last Tuesday's meeting of the council of the Royal Colonial Institute Mr. C. P. Skerrett- (Wellington) was duly elected a Fellow of the Institute, and among other new Follows elected on the same occasion was Mr. Edwin A. Pratt, well known as a writer on labour questions. Mr. Joseph E. Nathan and two of his daughters are wintering on the Riviera, their headquarters being at Monte Carlo. 1 learn with pleasure that his health, whioh a short time ago was somewhat unsatisfactory, is now fully restored. Miss Gertrude Nathan is staying for a time at Eastbourne. at the New Zealand Agency-Gene-ral this week have included: Mr. E. F. Pollock (Auckland), Mr. H. Oscar Hewitt (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Harris (Woodville), Miss Agnes Barclay (North Canterbury), Mr. H. D. 'Bedford, M.H.R, (Dunedin), Mr. and Mis. T. G. Baillie (Napier). Mr. W. 11. E. Waiiklyn (Christ church) called on me a few days ago. He was just about to join the s.s. Rimutaka at Plymouth on his return voyage to New Zealand.. Mr. Wanklyn told me that he took the trip Home and out again entirely for the sake of his health, which has already derived great, benefit.

Among the passengers by the homeward voyage of the P. and O. s.s. India who booked through from New Zealand were the following:—Mrs. and the Misses xtollcston, Mrs. H. Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, Mrs. F. A. Taylor, Mrs. 11. B. Leatham. Miss E. House. Miss trade, Mr. W. T. Charlewood, Mr. J. B. Dodson and Mr. I*. E. Holland.

Regret is expressed by some London papers that owing to the postponement of the Postal Conference, the intended visit of Sir Joseph Ward to this country is deferred. One paper says: "It. is always advantageous from an Imperial point; of view tor the leading statesmen of the colonies to make periodic visits to the Old Country, which wants constantly' keeping in line with up-to-date public opinion on 'the other side.'"

It is announced that the personalty of the , late Mr. Charles Lindsay Orr-Ewing. Tory ; M.P. for the Ayr Burghs, of the Red House, i Ayr, and of 38, Bryanston Square, London, j who died on December 24 last, is sworn at £218,868 by his widow, Lady Augusta OrrEwing, Colonel Charles Fergusson (of the Grenadier Guards), and Commander Edward Huuter-Blair. Lady Augusta Orr-Ewing is etill on .the European continent in company with her youngest sister, Lady Dorothy Gathorne-Hardy. Since the departure -of lest week's mail the following hevo been among those who have left thoir names in the "\isitorial Ledger at the New Zealand Agency-General: Sir Kenneth Douglas, Wellington; Mr. F. Zattner, Wellington; Miss Clarice vi. Bain, Christchurch; Mr. C. Wilson, Wellington; Mr. J. S. McArthur, Wellington; Miss Belle Cable, Wellington; Mr. H. J. Ainger, Christchurch: the Rev. Sydney Hawthorne, Auckland; Mr. W. H. Cutten, Dunedm; Miss E. C. Gunn, Timaru. M.A.P. this week-devotes a whole column to the career of Mr. Bi. B. Marriott-Watson, the New Zealand novelist. An account is given of Mr. Marriott-Watson's early struggles and ultimate success. The articje concludes by saying: "Mr. Watson is a big man, tall and strong, with curl}* light brown hair, a high forehead, gray eyes, and strong features. His wife is well known as a poetess of distinction, whoso latest work is After Sunset,' just published by Mr. John Lane. It is receiving very favourable reviews. Another among the numerous New Zealand musicians who have achieved a greater or less degree of success in England is Miss O. Chew, who has distinctly " made lior mark" as a solo violinist. She made her London debut under no less distinguished auspices than that of a liiehter concert. To have been accepted by Herr llichter as a soloist at one of his famous concerts is in itself quite a cachet for a young aspirant to musical celebrity. Miss Chow, 1 understand, studied at the Royal College of Music. Mrs. Howie (Princess To Rangi Pai) continues to got a number of good musical engagements in London, and J hear that she achieved one ot her greatest successes last Saturday' evening, when she sang before the members of 'he Irish Literary Society at their rooms, in Hanover Square. The occasion was the centenary of the Irish poet, James Clarence Mangan, and Mrs. Howie s principal success consisted in her interpretation of a set of new songs, the lyrics being by James Clarence Mangan, and the music by Mrs. Alicia Necdham. It may perhaps be remembered that Mr. J. I '. Guthrie, who officiates as New Zealand and Australian wool expert for Messrs. Dalgety and Co., was unlucky enough last year to "lose his leg while staying in Dunedin, ambulation being rendered necessary by blood-poisoning. Ever since that date Mr. Guthrie has been travelling for the benefit of his health, chiefly in the United States and Canada, with Mrs. Guthrie. As Ins leave of absence has been extended for three months, he will not take his departure for the colonie." until May. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie are at present residing in Torquay. Yesterday the New Zealand Shipping j Company's steamer Kumars, commended by Captain Scotland, took her departure from London, outward bound for tho colony. Dr. W. H. Unwin is the surgeon on board, Her passengers aro: Mrs. Borthwick, Mrs. and Miss Gornall, Mrs. C. Reyes, Mrs. Loggo and family (5). Mrs. Mooner, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Skews and family (2), Misses C. Clifton, M. Cliiton, W. Crowe, C. Fordo, M. Lunn, M. Power, E. Ross. Messrs. A. Arthur, J. Brook, W. Brook, T. Corlot, J. Farquhar, D. Findlay, J. Handford, J. Hawken, W. Irvine, A. Irvine, B. H. Linton, 1. Lloyd, 11. Lock, W. Pratt, A. Price, G. Scott, A. Smith. T. Sutherland, J. Thomson, W. Washington, G. Way, A. Wilson, and Sapper A. Udall, R.E. It is formally notified that H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Hon. Colonel of the King's Colonials Imperial Yeomanry, dined on Wednesday evening with the officers of that body at the Cecil Hotel, when lie presided. The Duke of Fife. General Lord Grenfell, General Lord Chesham, Sir Arthur Bigge, and Lord Crichton were among those present. No speeches were made, but the toast of "The King" was proposed by the Prince of Wales, after which the company adjourned to a neighbouring room, where the Prince took the opportunity of becoming personally acquainted with the officers. The Australian and New Zealand squadron of this , corps is declared to be by far the strongest. Its New Zealand officers arc Captain Vaile and Second-Lieutenant J. Armstrong. Details of Sir Edv;yn Dawes* will are now published. Ar annuity of £2000 per annum is bequeathed to his in addition to the income secured to her by previous settlements. His eldest son, M.\ W. C. Dawes, i? to have all the real estate in addiI tion to th' estate in Kent, which was con- | veved to him by deed of gift during the testai tor's lifetime. Sums of £13,CSC and £5900

respectively are bequeathed to Sir Edwyn's vounger sons, Lieutenant B. Dawes and Mr. H. Dawes, in addition to the provision made during the testator's lifetime. . The residuary estate is divided among the sons and daughters in tho proportion of two-thirds to sons and one-third to daughters. The estate has been provisionally proved under £241,000. The will is dated two years ago.

Tho Rev. Thomas Flavell returned two days ago from his tour in the East, which he appears to have enjoyed most thoroughly, all the conditions, even including that of weather, having been exceptionally favourable. Mr. Flavell was Specially delighted with his visit to Athens, where he had a. glorious day, so that tho superb beauty of the view from the Acropolis was realised to the fullest extent. He mentioned with regret, however, the manifest indications of decay visible in the Parthenon and other ancient monuments of tho past. Upon his experiences in tho Holy Land Mr. Flavell also dilated with much enthusiasm; no feature of interest seems to have escaped his attention. He was tho guest of tho Bishop of Jerusalem, and preached by special request in the Cathedral of the, City of David. Mr. Fiavell returned to his homo at Plymouth yesterday.

Lady Broome furnishes to the Cornhill Magazine another instalment of her Colonial Memories," her special subject still being Modern New Zealand." To Now Zealand readers probably Lady Broome's concluding remarks will be read with the most interest. Sho says:—"lt will not be our fault if our kinsmen beyond the sea, especially in the islands of New Zealand, do not understand how we valued the splendid help they gave the Empire in its hour of need, and how grateful we are for it. I was reading a little while ago some of the evidence taken before the War Commission last year, and saw that one of the generals was asked if he had at any time any of the New Zealand contingents under his command. ' I iim sorry to say 1 had not,' was the reply,, and I felt just as personally proud of the nn.swot- as if I were a New Zealander myself, and oil for the sake of those dear distant day and the good friends who helped to make them so happy."

Mr. Charles Wilson, Parliamentary librarian. has returned to London from a long provincial trip. After staying with relatives at Harrogate Mr. Wilson went to York, Scarborough, Whitby, after which ho inspected the principal libraries in Leads, Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool. Ho was a guest at the animal dinner of the Yorkshire Society of London, held recently at tho Hotel Cecil, and he speaks in nigh terms of the kindly attention he received. Mr. Wilson has also dined at the House of Commons, has attended a meeting of the Dickens Fellowship, of which, as an ardent lover of that author, he intends, if possible, to form a branch in New Zealand. lam sorry to hear, though, that Mr. Wilson is still suffering from a severe bronchial trouble which, following upon a dangerous attack of penumonia contracted in Now York, has greatly lessened the pleasure of being m { England. His illness, however, does not appear to have sensibly decreased his natural j energy, and ho is, he says, as "busy as a. I bee." According to present plans Mr. WilI son will sail from this country 011 the 28th j inst. on his return to Wellington, via Aus- ; tralia.

The Rev. L. M. Isitt, on behalf of the Children's Protection League (for keeping children out of public-houses, enforcing the Child Messenger Act, etc.), has been holding a series of well-attended meetings in Chelsea Town Hall, and one evening he gave a most interesting lecture on New Zealand, illustrated with some 200 limelight views. If one may criticise so good « lecture, i. might be said that it is a pity there were not more photographs of the Hot Spriugs district and of the cold lakes., and at least 0110 slide of the Vvaiinangu geyser. The lecture did not deal with any but the scenic side, and to some extent the social aspects of New Zealand, though there were of necessity occasional references to prohibition. On the customary vote of thanks being moved, a gentleman rose from the body of the hall and begged leave to second it; My name is Wakefield," he said—" Edward Wakefield." No further comment is needed for New Zealandersand he was delimited to renew acquaintance with Mr. Isitt after sonic 16 years. The lecture, he said, lie considered, the best and fairest of the many he luid listened to on the subject. The meeting ,of tho two old friends, after so many years, was a pleasant close to a MOit pleasant evening.