PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13368, 24 December 1906, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

[r»01l OCR OWN* CORRESPONDENT.]

Lokdon", November 16,

AMOSO the saloon passengers in the Gothic the- name of Miss A. Whitelaw, M.A.. will be noticed. She is on her way to Auckland to enter upon her new scholastic duties.

Mr. W. J. Napier informs me that bo has recently been a guest of I.atly Henry Somerset, at Duxburst, and that ho takes great interest in Lady Henry's social and philanthropic work.

The death is announced this week of Mr. Mark Eanchome, the comedian, who made a tour m New Zealand about twenty years ago with Miss Marie de Grey. His Tony liumpkin in " Site Stoops to Conquer" is referred to as a memorable performance.

Mr. Frederick Moore, the Dunedin pianist, gave a very enjoyable recital at the jfiolian Hall, Bond-street" cm Monday evening, when he had a largo and most appreciative audience. Mr. Moore is a pian st of the school, which numbers too few nowadays, that of Charles Halle and Leonard JWwick, and he does not consider that a pianoforte-player must needs be a " bangster." /

Rangiuia. tho Maori tenor, continues to make a remarkable success in this country. It is not merely in London—where he has as many engagements as he can possibly fulfil—but" also in the provincial cities he is winning triumphs. He has lately been fulfilling engagements in Ireland and in Scotland (Aberdeen. Glasgow, and Edinburgh), to say nothing of important centre such as Liverpool.

Among the passengers by the s. ■■. Gothic, which again is taking up her running on the completion of extensive repaiis and alterations necessitated by the serious tires, will be ono of the survivors of the ill-fated ship I'itcairn Island, namely, Mr. C- Lam bert. His comrade, W. W. Waddilove, has been sent back to the colony by the s.s. Oswestry Grange, which sailed from Liverpool this week.

Mr. F. Stuekey (Auckland) is leaving on his return voyage to New Zealand by the P. and (J. steamer Mongolia, which sails from London on December 7, but which ho will not join for a week later, as he lias mapped out a short trip to the chief towns of Italy between now and December 14, when he will pick up the Mongolia at Marseilles. Mr. Stuckey has been away from the colony for nearly two years.

A wedding of interest to readers in the colony was solemnised in London on the lUih dnst. The bridegroom was Captain William Forstcr Parsons, K.F.A., son of the late Mr. Frederick .lames Parsons, of Am rley. New Zealand, and the bride was Miss Phyllis Pratt, daughter of SurgeonGeneral W. S. Pratt, C.15., oi Easlmount, Salisbury, and grandaughtot of tho late General Sir' Thomas Pratt, K.C.B.

The death is announced from Ireland of another veteran of tho New- Zealand wars, in tho person of Major-General H. 0. Magenis, who has passed away at the. age of 58 years. He served with the artillery in New Zealand in 1361-2, and afterward he went through the Afghan war, 1878-10, obtaining mention in despatches. For his services ho received the brevet, of lieutenantcolonel and the medal. Ho retired from tho army rather more than twenty years ago.

A London paper contains the announcement that. Mr. James Dawes, of Ledbury Park Gardens, Herefordshire, head gardener for Lord Biddulph for upwards of 20 years, has been appointed fruit expert and instructor under the New Zealand Government. On my making special inquiries this afternoon at the London office of tho Now Zealand Government, I was informed that no knowledge of the appointment existed there, and that if it had been made it must have been made direct from the colony with Mr. Dawes.

Most prominent, among r.ho events of the current, week must be reckoned the visit of the King and Queen of Norway, i Both, of course, arc familiar figures in London, tho former, however, as Prince Charles of Denmark; the latter as Princess Maud, daughter of our own King and Queen. The interval between their last stay in England and their present advent has seen a wondrous change in their fortunes. It has witnessed their accession to a venerable and historic throne, but whether they had come as Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark or as King Haakon and Queen Maud.of Norway, they would in either case have been sure of a welcome that was more than merely cordial or friendly, but was positively affectionate. And this they have now received.

A suburban inspector of the South-eastern and Chatham Railway, Mr. George Woollard, on reading the farewell message of the late Mr. Seddon—"l am leaving for God's own country to-night"— so much struck with their solemn and appropriate and prophetic character that ho lias written a short poem on the theme, and has set it to music as a " sacred song." The language is simple and touching, and is allied to a suave and pleasing melody, which is sure to become popular. I hear that the first edition has gone off " like wildfire," and that a second and much larger edition is in hand, while I understand that a special edition for New Zealand is in course of preparation. Inspector Woollard has presented to a the King a copy of his song, and has received, through Lord Knollys, a gracious acceptance.

Miss Emily Soldcno's benefit took place last Tuesday, when the Palace Theatre was crowded in every part. As her "swansong" she selected the well-remombered duet from "Genevieve de Brabant," " Look Down Below," and she sang with a freshness and verve that absolutely surprised all who heard her. The moment was a trying one, yet the actress, although at first visibly unnerved, rose to the occasion, and the irresistible demand for an encore, which fob lowed the conclusion of the number, was not merely a conventional compliment, but the outcome of a very genuine desire to listen to it again. Mr. Tree presented Miss Soldeno with a cheque for £653, adding that the total would eventually be increased by another £150 through the sale of programmes, etc. So completely overcome was .Miss Soldene that it was with tho greatest difficulty she succeeded in giving utterance to her response, but. somehow, between tears and laughter, she contrived at length to tell the audience bow deeply sensible she was of all the kindness lavished upon her, assuring them that she would carry away in her heart, an indelible mernorv of the day's occurrences.

.Saloon passengers by the s.s. Gothic which left London yesterday on what may perhaps be called her maiden vovage, after having been laid up for some months, include : —The Rev. C. A. Mount, Dr T. O Guthrie, Mrs. Guthrie, and Miss Guthrie. Sergeant-Major Jones and Mrs. Jones, and Mr. and Mrs. H. Edwards (Gore), who have been spending several months past on a visit to the Mother Country. Other passengers by the Gothie, which, bv the way is commanded by Captain Finch, and has Dr. W. G. Robinson as the medical officer on board, are the following:—Mr. and Mrs. J. Grosham and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. .1 W. Lambert and son, Mr. and Mrs. W r' ham,, Mr ad Mrs. W. H. Pratt, Mr. and Mrs. AN. T. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. F. J Wrigley Mrs. C. E. Anderson and the Misses Anderson (2), Mrs. Andrews and Miss i Andrews. Mrs. Luxford and son. Mrs K Peers. Mrs. AS. Wood, Mrs. L. E. Strong;' Misses ]~ Barker, Buck, Gerse, K. Hollins, A. Kerr. M M Mason, M. Metcalfe. J. laylor, A. Wmtelaw. Messrs. W. Anderson E. Andrews, W. Andrews, T. W. Buck," Hi H. Ohentou II M. DaJstou, H. Davies; A. G. RpWe», G. L A. Field. F. P. Garnett, M. Hollins, A. Kuch, C. Lindsay, R. Lind- ? y ' & L. Pc * rce > A. M. Ramsay, J. 8 Sim, Tolley. In the third-class the Gothic carries about 250 passengers. She will leave Plymouth to-morrow.