ENGLISH NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1676, 13 April 1904, Page 18

ENGLISH NEWS AND NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDuN, February 20-

The social event of the Aveek has been the marriage of the Duke of Norfolk, premier peer of the realm, to Mias Gwendolen Cons tab le -MaxAve 11, elder daughter of Lord and Lady Henries. After three postponements, the ceremony took place quietly on- Monday last in the private chapel attached to the homo of the Henries family at Everingham, in Yorkshire. The bride AA’as dressed in a gown of pear 1-col cured satin made exceedingly long and perfectly plain, a small, tightly-fitting bodice showing a. Avaistcoat of folded Brussel's net,fichu of very ol,d Brussels lace arranged across the shoulders, under Avhich the train was fastened from both shoulders- The train Avas of Avhite gauze woven Avith silver flowers and lined Avith cloth of silver. A small bouquet of orange blossoms, Avith a long trail, was fastened to the left side of the corsage. She also wore a Avreath of orange blossoms and a Brussels lace- veil, the gift of Lady Bute. The bride Avas accompanied by ten bridesmaids dressed in goAvns of Avhite satin, Avith lace fichus and red chiffon scarves, and hath of Avhite felt, Avith Avhite feathers and red chiffon. The Duke received 212 presents and eighteen addresses of congratulation. The Pope sent a signed autograph of himself avj tli his blessing for the bride and bridegroom. The King’s present to the Duke was a silver-gilt inkstand with an inscription in. fac simile of his Majesty’s writing. . From the city of Sheffield lie received, or Avill receWc . a number of presents, and the Corporation presented the bride with a diamond necklace. The Duke’s gifts to the bride consisted of a necklace and a diamond tiara. To the inhabitants at Arundel, the Duke’s Sussex estate, he gaAuj 59001 b of beef and 4200 loaA’cs. The ducal marriage lias produced the usual budget of small-talk concerning the bridegroom in the London papers. It is pointed out that liis dukedom goes back more than four centuries, and is the only title in existence which Avas granted by Richard 111. He can claim an escort of cavalry whenever he likes, an d as Chief Butler of England he is entitled at a coronation to receive a. drinking cup of pure gold. Some amusing stories are told concerning the Duke of Norfolk’s disregard for dress. It is a fact that lie has been ordered off the grass on his own. lawns by a new gardener. Another story tells cf two ladies aa"lio, avljcii aA’ai! ing themselves as members' of the public cf the right to enjoy the- lovely grounds at Arundel Galstle, observed to their indignation a hoinely-Icoking individual walking across a strip of turf entirely regardless of the notice "Please keep off the grass/’ and rebuked him in good set terms for abusing the Duke’s liberality in that manlier. No doubt liis Grace was much gratified by such Avell-initentioned zeal on hijg behalf. Perhaps the best mistake of all, however, Avas when, on his Avay to Stony hurst College for Speech Day, be AA'as told by an official at the railway station to "Stand aw-ay, please —Duke of Norfolk’s carriage.” Mrs Grossmann, late- of Christchurch, having placed her little boy in school at Ealing, lias taken up her residence in that district, and is hoav engaged in Avriting a life of the late Mins Macmillan BroAvn the first woman in the British dominions to take an Honours degree at a University. Airs Brown Avas very well known in New Zealand, especially in Christchurch, where, after a distinguished career at Canterbury College, she become principal of the Girls 5 High School and afterwards the Avife of Professor Macmillan Brown, of Canterbury College. It Avill, lam sure, be a source of satisfaction to tlie many Avlra knew her to learn that a sketch of her life is in preparation, and that the task has been entrusted to so competent and sympathetic a biographer. The "Life” is to be published in NeAV Zealand.

Mr Robert Cockburn, of Linwood. Christchurch, who came to England twelve months ago tot gain experience in the leather trade, tells. me that that trade is in a had state in this country at present. He attended the Shoe and Leather Fair at the Agricultural Hall in London, hut does not appear to, have been greatly impressed with the quality of the work. Part of his time has bton spent in visiting friends in Scotland. Leeds, Manchester and elsewhere. -At present Mr Cockburn is uncertain as 1 o the date of his return to the colony. Miss Ada F. Banks, of Wellington who came Home last June, is at present attending the Stockwell Training College for Teachers, and hopes shortly to visit some of the schools, in Manchester and Birmingham. Miss Banks expects to return to New Zealand about the middle- of the present year.

Mr Dugald Ferguson, of Ta-panui, Otago, arrived in London last week. The object of his visit, to the Old Country is to arrange for the .publication of an historical romance which he has written. Mr FerguSon is placing his work in tne hands of the Authors’ Society, andjs hopeful of getting it accepted trough the agency of that body. 1 may tion that Mr Ferguson lias already puV lished in London a hook entitled Bush Life ” of which over 7000 copies hav been Sold. His new work does not deal

with a colonial theme, the scene being laid in Scotland. Mr Ferguson will probably be absent from New Zealand for about a year.

Callers at the AgenthGeneral’s office tilts, Aveek included: —Mr R. W. Cook-

burri (Limvood, Christchurch), M'iss Rose Nicoll (Wellington), Mrs'J. J. Fletcher, Mias Ruby Fletcher, Miss Mildred Trent (Christchurch),, Mr Stanislaus John Petersen (Christchurch), Air G. Hutchison, ex-M.H.R. for Patea.

It is some years since Alias Okie Che\y left Auckland, but residents of that city Avilll remember her Avell as a youthful violinist of considerable ability and promise. I learn that Alias Chew is to make her London debut at a Richter concert on March Ist, and that a feAV days later she, will give :a violin recital at the Pechstein Hall, under the direction of Mr A. Schulz-Ourtius.

Miss E lean ore Bush, of Christchurch, sang and played AA’ith great success at the Hampstead Conservatoire concert on Tuesday evening iast, her vocal ancß instrumental numbers meeting the Avarmest approval, but owing to a cold sho was unable to grant encores. In addition to taking part in quartettes and other combined efforts. Mias Bush sang Vaughan Villiiums’s "Whither Shali I Wander/ 5 “Plelmund’s " Unrest,” and her old favourite, “ Abide With Ale.’ 5 Her piano solo AA’as Aschef’s "Danse Negro,” which found such favour Avith the audience that Alias Bush was compelled to give further proofs of her pianist io poAvors. After the concert the NeAV Zealand artiste AA r as escorted to her carriage by a number of enthusiastic admirers, much to her surprise, and, needless to say, gratification.

Gunner Sanders, of Christchurch, now in the Royal Horse Artillery, stationed at Liverpool, is in London on furlough. He lias get on Avell in the army, he tolls me, during the two years that haA r e elapsed since he took it into his head to enlist-. He will be Avell content. however, to give up soldiering Avhon his term of service expires nextyear, and to return to the freer life of NeAV Zealand. Gunner Sanders AA’as recently offered a corporal’s stripe, but as that Avould have involved his signing on for another five years’ sendee, and! as he AA r a-s already making more with, extra pay than he Avould recch’e as corpora], he declined the offer, haying no desire to remain permanently in the army.

Air Stanislaus J. Petersen, a young man AAdio left Christchurch some three or four years ago- for South America, is hoav in London gaining experience in the hotel business. He spent over eighteen months in the Argentine and Brazil, and learned to speak both Portuguese and Spanish fluently. After some varied experiences he came over to London, and getting employment at an hotel in a comparatively short time, worked his way »up to the _ position of manager. At present he is managing an hotel in Mortimer street, and he hopes to leaA’e for New ’Zealand at the end of the present year, with a vieAV to taking an hotel there, preferably on the West Coast.

Mr P. R. Sim, the New Zealander who has entered for the English Amateur Billiard Championship, which commences in London on February 29tn, hals been drawn in the first round against that clever player Mr A. W. T. Good who won the championship in 1901 and. 1902, and ran up to Mr A. R. Wisdom in the first of the 1903 matches for the title. Mr S. S. Ohrist-ey, who won the second hy nearly 700 points from Mr C V Diehl, is, I understand, uncertain whether lie will he able to defend ms title and the runner-up is not a starter At present the quid nuncs seem to think Mr E. C. Breed will prove the best of the entrants, but those who remember the New Zealander’s performance against Stevenson, when that accomplished exponent was touring in the Antipodes, expect Mr Sun to prove a “surprise packet.” Air W. Bowron, of the Christchurch firm of Bowron Bros., who has been visiting the Old Country, purposes returning to the colony about April. Me will take back with him some new and improved niaclunery for ixis factory. Mr Charles Alexander, well known throughout Australasia as the singingnairtner” of that militant evangelist. Dr T’orrqy lias become engaged to Miss Cadbury, who belongs to a wealthy IS oneenformist family not unknown m connection with cocoa, garden cities, and the “Daily News. At. present the Torrey-Alexander mission is holding record meetings in Bingley Hall, Birnnng-

h£ Tbe Rev W. H. Browne, erstwhile riS «n IVbnmry Bft to Mrs % f: coteton. Cornwall. wedding toot olace in the bridegroom’s church, Canon Thynne tying the nuptial knot.