LONDON GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1205, 5 April 1895, Page 29

LONDON GOSSIP.

From Out Special Oofrespondenti

ABOUT* THE WEATHER, London., February 23. The frost seems at last to be giving ft bit, but we are all too Utterly sick and depressed to be able as yet to welcome the blessed change properly. I cannot recall a worse time than the last fortnight. Everybody one spoke to seemed in bitter trouble of some kind or another, and two or three persons in every household were laid aside ill. Eor example, an Australian stopping at the Grand Hotel informs me no fewer than 19 of the staff have been struck down with pneumonia, and are, many of them, in great J danger. Last Thursday this gentleman went into the city to consult an eminent company lawyer anent several matters. The pair had a long interview, and finally another interview was arranged for the following Monday. The Australian fell ill with cold, and kept his bed on Saturday and Sunday. Still feeling weak and miserable he crawled eastward in a hansom on Monday to keep his tryst. But the lawyer was not there. •• ,He had died a few hours previously, and his chief clerk was just bustling off to his house to see the widow and fix up arrangements for the funeral. A shock of this sort is demoralising at the best of times. It knocked my Antipodean friend fairly over, and leaving business to take care of itself he fled straight away to the Riviera.

SIR GEORGE GREY. From his remarks when I saw Sir George Grey yesterday, I think he is growing tired of being shut up in his chambers at Park Place, and unless the weather breaks up soon, will gather up resolution to return to New Zealand. He told me that had he understood earlier that the Gothic was going this week he should have packed up his traps and taken a passage in her. Not only does be specially fancy this liner of Messrs Shaw, Savill, but the fact that his neighbour in Parnell, Mr Walker, the well-known gum merchant of Fort street, Auckland, was a passenger, would have been an additional attraction.

Sir George had not heard of the death of Mr Dilworth, of Auckland, and when I casually mentioned the circumstance was much affected. He said he bad been on intimate terms with the deceased for many years, and greatly respected him. Speaking of the munificent bequests left by Mr Dilworth for public purposes, Sir George says Auckland has been most fortunate in this respect, having regard to the splendid gifts made by Oostley, Mackelvie, Dilworth and others, as well as his own generous donations to the public library. PERSONAL NOTES. The most important member of the Anglo-New Zealand community in London to whom the late severe weather has been fatal is Dr Maunsell, erstwhile of Dunedin, who, I regret to say, died at his residence in the Cromwell road, South Kensington, on Thursday evening. The cause of the illness was acute bronchitis supervening on a bad attack of influenza. Like all medical men just now, he had been terribly over-worked, and the influenza fiend caught him at a disadvantage. The funeral is fixed for 10 a.m. on Monday, at St. Stephen’s Church, Gloucester road. After four months’ absence from business, Captain Wm. Ashby is back in the City, and was busy seeing Miss Abbott, of Auckland, and “Kauri Gum” Walker off by the Gothic yesterday. Messrs W. Ashby and Co., I should mention, have just issued a new edition (the fifteenth) of the handy little volume of information anent passage rates, &c., to Australia and New Zealand with which their names has so long been associated. It is an exceedingly useful little publication, and deservedly much in demand. The wife and daughters of the Rev H. M. Watson, of Christchurch, who have been residing at Anerley Park for the past 18 months, return to New Zealand by the s.s. Gothic. Their house being within a short walk of Sydenham, the Miss Watsons were able soon after arrival to join the Crystal Palace choir, and have taken part v

in most of the great musical festivals there during the last year. The elder has also been acquiring informatidn and taking lessons in kindergarten work. Messrs Frank and Fred Watson, of course, remain itt England to p’rdseetii® their professional careers 1 ;

I hear that Mr' Sto’ckweify the' tenor, erstwhile of Dunedin, is now attached in a comparatively subordinate capacity to‘ the .Carl Rosa Company. Meeting a New Zealand friend the other day, he bitterly deplored the error he had made in leaving the colonies for Europe, where only vocalists of either phenomenal powers or influence can hope to do well. The cold weather seems to agree with Mrs Charles Jacob, of Dunedin, whom I saw for a few minutes last Thursday. She looked extremely well in Very becoming mourning. Her chief resource, I gathered, is high-class music. Mrs Jacob continues to reside with her relatives iil Tftvistock square,- and has not made' any plans' ds yet re returning to' New Zealand. She mentioned she had met Mr Sim, of Dunedin, who has been in England for the last seven months superintending the education of his boys at London University. Mr George Beetham informs us, in answer to questions, that there is no truth in the rumour crediting him with an early return to New Zealand. As, however, his father-in-law and mother-in-law (Mr and Mrs Levin) are e better, Mrs Beetham and lie will go to the Continent shortly for a time. Mr Beetham also denies that he contemplates assisting in any of the New Zealand mine promotions. He thinks the impression may have got about through his showing people some samples of alluvial gold sent him from the Colony. The death is announced on the 12th inst. at 11,St. Augustine road, N.W., of Mr William James Bassett, erstwhile of your Colony. He was 80 years of age and fell a victim, like so many old folks, to the severe weather.

Mr Henry Fear Reece, of Christchurch,

New Zealand, was married on the I2th inst. at Edgbaston, Birmingham, to Miss Honor Hussey, eldest daughter of Mr Jno. Hussey, Bolton Lodge, Edgbaston. The ceremony took place at the parish church, the Rev Canon Strange officiating. I regret to say I cannot give further particulars as the bride’s friends decline to supply any information on the subject. The wedding, it seems, “was strictly private, and none of the parties concerned have any desire for a public account thereof!”

Mr F. de Carteret Malet, of Christchurch, who seems in somewhat better health than when first he came Home, left for New Zealand by last Friday’s steamer, and should be with you almost as soon as this letter. Whilst in town for a few days before starting Mr Malet paid visits to Sir West by Perceval, and to his old friend Mr Kennaway. The Rev E. R. Ott-ley has also left via Naples on his return to the Colony.

Mr Thomas O’Rourke, of Coliercullinogh, Bally-Mac-Elligatt, Kerry, Ireland, is anxious to hear of the whereabouts of Maurice O’Rourke, who left Bally-Mac-Elligatt 60 years ago, and is now supposed to be resident at Auckland. Mr Mandono Jackson has received an offer of a “star” engagement in South Africa from the Cape syndicate who are going to run Madame Belle Colo and a concert party through the colonies and the Transvaal next June.

Sir James Fergusson returned from his tour in your part of the world per Himalaya, and the Rev R. B de Wolf was a passenger by the same steamer. Mr and Mrs W. H. Hitchcock have booked passages for the Colony 2 3er Victoria, sailing March 15th. The current British Australasian contains an article on the colonial timber trade, the material for which was supplied by Mr Jas. Freyberg. . Mr Edward Martin, the Chairman of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, has been elected to a seat on tlie board of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation. Miss Henrietta Watson, the charming young actress ■who has just returned Home after a lengthy professional visit to your part of the world, made her rentree at Toole’s Theatre in “ Thoroughbred ” on Wednesday evening. She has an. interesting part, and makes the most of it. Mr Henry Irving* will take the chair at the anniversary dinner of the Savage Club next June. Members of the Yorick and other affiliated clubs likely to be in England should note this, as the occasion is sure to be any interesting one.

The Australian Montrose whom unsympathetic Continental myrmidons of the law sentenced to 15 months’ for pocket picking at Monte Carlo last week must not be confused with Mr C. O. of that ilk now pi England, The latter, I regret to

Sdft lies’ iTi With ft had ©oM at his rooms in Calthorpe sirAAt,- (/ray’s Inn road. I have received from ( Messrs Harrison, of Pall Mall, a copy ot second? volume of the genealogical and heraldic 1 “ History of the Colonial Gentry,” which Wft# commenced by Sir Bernard Burke, and partially issued and is now completed by liift SOIL Mr Ashworth P. Burke. I cannot sttf 1 admire the arrangement of this, important ffbrh, for it does not seem to halffA affy. The’ names- neither follow each other alphabetically, not (as would be reasonable) 1 tinder their respective colonies, but appear just “ bodge-podged ’’’ anyhow. True, there ift' to' volume ii a complete index, and this gives one the best idea of the character of the work. I don’t think I had better venture on any criticism. To point out that the inclusion of Mr X, in a list of “ Colonial Gentry ” is absurd would give offence, whilst Mr Y. might not approve my noting that he and his hftve been omitted. Bo you must search this novelty in peerages for yourselves. Needless to say the omissions are the most serious drawbacks to its utility. Mr Ashworth Burke does Dot explain on what principle he selected persons for insertion. They are not by any means all landed gentry nor even political notables. Three new Australian novels are due forthwith, viz., “ Evancondit.” by Henry Goldsmith; “ With Feet of Clay,” by Alice Mary Dale j and Mortgaged Years,” by B. K. Dee.

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. The annual meeting of the Governors of the Imperial Institute was held last Wednesday, the Prince of Wales presiding. The proceedings were, as on previous occasions, of a purely formal and perfunctory character, neither a balance-sheet nor any sort of financial statement being presented, nor discussion permitted. The meeting had to be satisfied with Lord Herschell’s bland assurance that he was “ entirely satisfied with the Institute,” and certain they were doing “ good public service.” At a subsequent supplementary meeting, Lord Herschell justified the conversion of the Institute into a superior sort of music-hall on the ground that the concerts provide the “ sinews of wai*,” and have been the means of attracting many new Fellows. I daresay this last statement is true, but —in the absence of a balance-sheet—one would like to be positively assured that the Institute concerts pay. I know the South Australian Agent-General, who has partially looked into things, holds the opinion that they are (like the journal of the Institute) losing speculations kept up merely in the interest of certain officials.

Though he only arrived last summer the Hon. Thomas Playford has proved a terrible thorn in the side of Lord Herschell and his colleagues. lam told that at a recent meeting 1 of the Agents-General summoned by the Chancellor to secure their recommendation of annual subsidies towards cleaning and lighting, Mr Playford “ upset the entire apple cart.” After showing that the proposed subsidies (to which four of the Agents had agreed) were calculated on an unfair principle, and, therefore (if for no other reason), impossible, he set to work and criticised the mismanagement and inutility of the Institute with a trenchant vigour that made the Lord Chancellor open his mouth. “No S.A. Premier,” wound, up Mr Playford, “ would dare to put a sum on the estimates for the Imperial Institute. It was so unpopular and discredited that if he were to attempt it, his Government would be almost certainly promptly shunted.” Sir Westby Perceval somewhat more mildly backed up his South Australian colleague’s statements re the unpopularity of the Institute at the Antipodes, and Sir Kobert Herbert and Sir Malcolm Fraser were so impressed by Mr Playford’s remarks that they withdraw their assent to the resolution re the subsidies.

Lord Herschell, in despair, had to dismiss the meeting with nothing decided.

WOOD. The indefatigable Mr Freyberg has been dinning into my ears the virtues of New Zealand timber so long that I am almost persuaded to believe that the indigenous timbers of the Colony are absolutely necessary to the salvation of England. A week ago I imagined that Mr Freyberg had introduced to my notice every specimen of wood the Colony produces from North Cape to the Blulf, but I had still to make the acquaintance of horoeka red and white. I am impressed with horoeka. It is not a “ beautiful ” wood and cannot enter the wood-paving field, but it is an ideal timber for policemen’s truncheons. Also, I am told, horoeka (the white species) is a very good substitute for boxwood on the engraver’s bench. Box is getting scarcer year by year and good sizeable logs fetch very high prices. For prepared box-

■wood, such as is used for high-class -wood engravings, as much as a penny per inch is being paid, the blocks being less than on© inch thick. For turnery also horoeka, seems eminently adapted to supersede boxwood if it can be landed in England at a reasonable price. Very little of the boxwood now imported exceeds six inches sm diarOefelv and the turnery trade would! doubtless' find: large size horoeka. very useful for many purposes. It is worth some while to send a smalt trial shipment of good sized horoeka to England “on spec ” I think. The samples' supplied to Mr Freyberg by the GfovcrnrOenfe are not of sufficient size for the expert to'Work upon properly, but he is going: to submit them to a practical engraver: during the present week. I have little* ddtibfe as to the opinion he will receive upon; the whit® 5 horoeka as a wood for engravingpurposes. In black maire Mr Freyberg believes that New Zealand possesses a wood which will prove useful in the production of large posters. A gentleman who takes a kindly interest in all things connected with the Colony, and with whom I have* been in conversation this afternoon, has offered to personally introduce me to thej leading wood engraving block-maker in London if I can get hold of the necessary samples to submit for trial purposes. This of course would be equivalent to an appeal to Caesar, but I should not like to make it; with samples such as those supplied to Mr Freyberg, but I shall accept the invitation of my friend in order to get independents testimony as to the probable value of a* possible efficient substitute for boxwood, anil some tips as to the best sizes for engraving purposes.