COLONIALS IN LONDON

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 13

COLONIALS IN LONDON

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. July 8. Once every year the great central hall; of the South Kensington Museum becomes the scene of a spectacle both brilliant and unique. It is the rally ingground of Greater Britain. Nowhere else in the world will you meet the representatives of so many portions’ of a worldwide Empire. The occasion of the gathering :e> the annual conversazione of Royal Colonial Institute, which’ always' takes place in midsummer, when colonr ials are most plentiful in London. Last year, Mr Chamberlain was the “star” attraction, and the attendance was almost uncomfortably large in consequence. This year’s gathering, held on Friday evening of last week, was not so crowded, perhaps because so many other functions were taking place the same night. One could move about with greater ease, and with a better chance of meeting fellowcolonists in the moving throng f while the scene lacked nothing in brilliancy and animation. Up and down the great staircase from 9 o’clock tilf midnight, surged the slow-moving stream —ladies beautifully gowned, men. in the sober black and white of evening dress, against which the gay colours of the fair sole stood out m picturesque relief. The Council of the Institute received their guests in the Central Hall, where amidst palm trees and flowers, the string band of the Royal ■ Artillery was stationed to play selections during the evening. Thence the visitors streamed np the staircase-to the galleries above, or promenaded the corridors and halls. The Meister Glee Singers performed in one of the galleries at intervals. strong attraction wal3 the gigantic specimen of Diplodocus Camegii, the largest animal that ever lived, on view in the reptile gallery. Many, figures well known in the Anglo-Colonial world were to be seen that evening. Admiral BowdenSmith, Lord Ranfurly, Sir Montague Nelson Dr G. R. Park.n, Sir John. Cockburn, Sir Walter Buller, and Sir T, Fowell Buxton, amongst others. The following New Zealanders, amongst others, were present at the conversazione: Mr William Acton-Adams, Mr John Arthur. • „ _ ~ Sir Walter Buller, Mr H H. Bridge, Miss E. B. Baird, Miss C. Beard, Miss Constance Barniooat, Mr S. 8.. Browning* Mr Ralph. Beauchamp, Mr and Mrs M« E Bannister,. Mr A. W. Budge, Miss D. S.' M. Butt, Mr John H. Butt, MajorGeneral E. T. Brooke, Miss Verona Brooke* Mr George Beetham. . Mr Geo. Cowie and Mrs Cowie, Mr and Mrs W. B. Craig, Mrs Treacher Collins, Commander W. G. Crutchley, R.N.R., Colonel Henry Cautley, Mrs Cantley, Mr and Mrs W. St Carew, Mr and Mrs J. Mitchell Craig, Mr George J. Oowie. Mr, Mrs and Miss Dymock, Mr W. R. Doughty, Mrs W. A. Donald, Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas, Mr and Mrs Moss Davis, the Misses Davis; Mr N. W. Edwards, Mr IS. Edwards, Mr J. A. M. Elder, Mr and Mrs S. L. P. Free. Commander J. Fergusson, Mrs Fergusson. Mr and Mrs Goodsir, Mr G. D. Greenwood, Mr J. P. Giblin, Mrs E. Gorton, Major and Mrs Nelson George. Mrs Herrick, Mr R. C. Horton, Mr and Mrs R. H. Hooper, Mr J. C. Hanna, Miss Gladys Honeyman, Mrs A. R. Hare, Miss Eva Hare; Miss Hawdon, Mr Wolf Harris, Mr R. Tristram Harper. Mr and Mi’s W. G. Izard, Misses L. M. and L. A. Izard. Mr J. Harrison Jones, Miss K. Hill Jack, Mr A. Hill Jack. Mr and Mrs H. A. L© Cren, Mr Cecil Leys, Miss W. Leya, Dr P. A. and Mrs Lindsay. Mrs M. J. S. Mackenzie, Miss Mackenzie, Miss M. Mackenzie, Mr J. A. Mason, Mr N. F. Moore, Mr and Mrs F. Moore, Mr A. H. Miles, Misses B. and W. Miles, Mias McClelland, Mr C. Maguire. Mra Maguire, Mr L. J. Matson, Miss Matson, ~ Mr G. J. Nathan, Mr J. E. Nathan, Mr R. H. Nolan, Mr L. A. Nathan, Sir Montague and Lady Nelson, Mr H. M. Nelson, Mr and Mrs Harold Nelson, Mr L.-Nelson. Mr L. C. Pharazyn, Mr Hector Pierce, Sir Westby Perceval, Miss Pimm, Mrs Pimm, Mr C. B. Pharazyn. Mr John Ross, Miss Mary C. Ross, Misa Z. Ross, Mr and Mrs R. H. Rhodes, Mr G. H. Rhodes, Mrs Charles Reeve,' Mr A. E. Russell, Misses -Beatrice and Ida Russell, Mr T. C. Ross, Mr Charles Gordon Ross, Mr and Mrs Gladstone Robinson. Mrs Gibson Smith, Miss Dorothy Sutton. Mr and Mrs C. G. Tegetmeier, Miss Tegetmeier. Mr H. B, Vogel. Mr and" Mrs W. C. Watson, Miss Watson, Mrs Weston, Miss Jessie Weston, Mr William Weddel, Mr G. S. Williams, Miss vVilliams, Mr and Mrs James Wallace, Mr J. Cathcart Wason, M.P.