PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 70

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 14.

i The most important event in connection with the Royal Family that has occurred for some time was the birth last Wednesday of another son to the Prince and Princess of Wales. The latest arrival at York Cottage, Sandringham, made , his appearance shortly after three o'clock in the morning, and London read news of the event in the first place from a notice posted outside the. Mansion House, where we always look for early intimation of any important happenings in connection with the Royal Family. , -

> A project has been set on foot by the Hon W. P. Reeves and other “old boys” of Christ College (Christchurch) now in London to hold a dinner . in •, the metropolis next year, at which . old boys from all the secondary schools of New Zealand . might foregather. The proposal was mooted by Mr Reeves the other evening at the Christ College Old Boys’ dinner, and was agreed to unanimously. It was decided to communicate with the headmasters of the various public schools of' the colony in order to ascertain the addresses of old . boys resident in this country, and asking that each school shall appoint an honorary secretary, all of whom would work under the direction of Mr Hal Williams, the hon. secretary in London. The second week in May was suggested as a suitable time for the dinner, and the hope was expressed that arrangements would be made to hold the. function annually. The idea is a capital one, and should be feasible enough. There are plenty of New Zealand old boys in. and about London, to say nothing of those who find their way to England on holiday, and by arranging for the schools to work together in the matter, a large and representative attendance should be assured.

Among recent callers at the High Commissioner's office, in Victoria street, was Mr John Lambie, of Kyle, Canterbury,- who arrived on June 24th. Mr Lambie had a very enjoyable trip to London, via Fiji, Vancouver, Canada, and New York. On the journey across America he made numerous “side” trips, with the view of acquiring information on matters agricultural and pastoral, and' also calling on numerous friends and relations. In the course of his travels, he visited the Canadian experimental farms' at Gueph and Indian Head. He was much impressed with

the magiitude and great resources of the wheat-growing country in the North-west Territory of Canada, but has seen no place to equal Canterbury for the production of mutton and lamb. In 'Canada he found the farmers lamenting the introduction of the English house-sparrow, which. was becoming a great pest, and destroying the beautiful and useful swallow. The sparrows pull down the swallows* nests, and so prevent their increase, and inconsequence the farmers’ crops are consumed by insect pests. „ A few years ago the pea bug made its appearance, and destroyed all their crops,- and peagrowing had to be discontinued for a time. After visiting the Royal Society’s Show at Park Royal, and the Highland Show, in Glasgow, Mr Gambia is of opinion that the Old Country: farmers are sadly behind in the adoption of labour-saving machinery and implements. Single-furrow ploughs are still common, and the motor-plough is not making much progress. New Zealand’s progressive legislation in connection with labour laws, Mr Lambic found, has been the means of advertising the colony in every part he has visited. After a visit to Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Continent, he proposes to return to New Zealand, via Suez and Australia, about the end of October.

v/ Mrs L. D. Dalton., of Christchurch, tdio arrived by the P. and O. liner Himalaya on June 26th, has since been staying ip. Surrey. Mrs Dalton is Home on a pleasure tour, and intends visiting various parts of England before leaving again for the Antipodes by the Britannia on August 18th, A.. Whitelaw, of Auckland, who is a house-mistress at Wycombe Abbey, a large girls’ school in Buckinghamshire, received the degree of M.A. at Dublin University this week. Miss Whitelaw qualified for a degree several years ago at Girton College, Cambridge. W. N. Sta-ce and Mr R. Abbott, of Wellington, are in London on a pleasure tour. They have been travelling since the end of February, visiting Manila, Hongkong, Canton, Japan, Canada (Vancouver route), and New York on their way to England. They were favoured with lovely weather almost the whole journey. A tour round the United Kingdom is contemplated, but beyond that they have not yet any plains. The Christ College (Christchurch) “ old boys’ ” annual dinner in London was held last Monday evening at the Cafe Royal. The Hon W. P, Reeves, High Commissioner for New Zealand, presided, and amongst those present were Mr W. Cowper Robinson, Mr Tristram Harper, Mr Owen Merton, Mr Roderick Lindsey, Mr Hal Williams (hon secretary), Mr Frank Nathan, Rev Herbert Williams, and Mr A. E. Williams. It was hoped that Mr Flanstead Walters and Mr Charlewood would be present to represent the former masters of the school, but at the last moment both were unavoidably detained. The chairman proposed the toast “Christ College,” and all present samg the old school song, “ The College.” The toast of “ The Old Boys’ Club ” was given by the Rev Mr Williams, and replied to by Mr Robison.

Little Fierizel von Reuter, one of the violin prodigies who took London by storm this season, will visit Australia towards the end of the year, prior to withdrawing for five years into private life. At present von Reuter is on his way to South America, and in October he is duo to undertake a concert tour in South Africa, whence he will proceed to Australia. Though not so great a player as that marvellous boy, Mischa Elman, he is nevertheless a highly gifted violinist, and one with a notable career before him if health and strength hold out. "

Mr A. F. Carey, of Christchurch, spoke for New Zealand at the first “world congress'’ of Baptists, which took place this week at Exeter Hall. The. accredited delegates to the congress numbered about 4000, and of these at least 1000 carte from abroad. regret. t\J note among the obituaries 6f the week the announcement of the death of Mr Henry Peregrine, erstwhile of Christchurch, New Zealand, who died at Beech Lawn, St. Johns, near Woking, on July 7th, in his sixty-second year, and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery last Monday. J Mr L. C. Vaughan, of Wellington. /was in town this* week. He came IJome by the Orontes last May accompanied by his little son and by Miss Brandon, his sister-in-law, and proceeded at once to his father’s place, Barton Grange, Taunton. Mr Vaughan hopes to spend some months on the Continent next' 1 year, but does not intend returning to New Zealaud, at any rate for some year®.

Miss 'Maude Lloyd, of Wellington, who came to England six years ago to train for the nursing profession, hopes to return to Wellington in October oi November next, to take up her work in that city. For the past five years Miss Lloyd has been at the London Hospital, and has there completed her training. - -yCMr Geow £ Simmers, of the Boys’ High School, Timaru, has booked his return passage to New Zealand by the P. and O. steamer Himalaya, leaving here July 21st. Mr Simmers will join, the boat at Marseilles, after spending

ten days on the Continent. His health is now completely re-established. >q\lr and Mrs J. A. D. Adams and their daughter, of Dunedin, and Miss McDiarmid, of West Taieri, have arrived in London on pleasure bent. They travelled by the C. and' A. route to Vancouver, and thence by way of San Francisco and Salt Lake City, Colorado, Chicago, Zion City, Toronto, and Niagara to New York. Taking steamer as far as Ireland, they visited Killarney, Dublin, etc., and crossed from Belfast to Scotland, going north as far as Inverness. Mr Adams proposes to visit Switzerland this month, and to sail for New Zealand from Liverpool on August 3rd •JjMr aind Mrs R. Murphy, of Tangihau, pis borne, arrived, from America in the Lucania a week or two ago, after having spent several weeks very pleasantly in . the United States. They intend to remain in England till the beginning of September, afterwards crossing the Channel to visit Brussels, Paris, and Switzerland, and joining the Mongolia at Marseilles. Mr and Mrs Murphy are o.a their honeymoon trip. Rangiuia, “ the Maori chieftain,” as lie is styled, sang and danced in native costume at an u at home ” given by the United Empire Club last Saturday to a frty of Canadian manufacturers. Miss Amy Garforth, of Christchurch, on a visit to this country, and purposes remaining until the end of the year. At present she is visiting Glasgow. The statue of the late Mr William Rolleston, which is being executed for the city of Christchurch by Mr Hampton, is expected to be ready for shipment about.the end of the month.

According to the “Chronicle,” Mr C. M. Paddy’s picture. “Alone,” exhibited at the Royal Academy exhibition this year, has been purchased for New Zealand. Mr Paddy* by the way, is a left-handed artist, like the great Leonardo da Vinci. Messrs Galbraith, Steuart, and Robins, of Auckland, the attorneys or the Galbraith Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., have arranged for a demonstration of their process for the production of steel from New Zealand ironsand by the Galbraith electric furnace. lne trial is to take place next week at the Brush Electrical Engineering Company s wor las at Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Mr P. A. Vaile’s newspaper controversy with Mr B. J. T. Bosanquet on the subject of swerve and spin in bowling has apparently reached its climax, the English crack bowler having declined to deal further with Mr aile s theories until the. latter demonstrates his ability to practice what he preaches. “Mr Vaile’s statement that I do not understand mv own bawling,” says the Englishman, “I can only stigmatise as a piece of gratuitous impertinence. ’ “Verba non facta,’ ’adds Bosanquet, “seems to be Mr Vaile’s motto, and it is just as well for cricketers and cricket that the practice of these things is not so far ‘above their heads’ as Mr Vaile assumes his theories to be. For the rest, I shall make no further attempt to disturb him in his self-complacency, and can fully understand the motives which prompted Mr Jessop to refrain from, further participation in this conflict of words.” It is now the. Aucklander’s move. It will be interesting to see if he accepts the challenge, takes up the ball and calls “Play!” to Mr Bosanquet. Ob-

viously that is the most convincing way of settling the argument. Callers at the High Commissioner’* Office this week:—Miss F. Brandon, Wellington; Mr Vaughan, Wellington} Mr Fred J. Kersley, Wanganui; Mr W. R. G. Thomas, Wanganui; Mr T. Jack, Christchurch; Mr C. Craw, Chorlton } Mr and Mrs John A. D. Adams, Dunedin ; Mr T. Hamilton Murray, Dunedin; Mr Alfred W. Lewis, Invercargill; Mr William Lilley, Whangarei; Mr and Mrs Larson, Auckland; Mr W. S. McDonald, Dunedin; Rev Thomas Price t Hawarden; Mr J. O. Hanna, Wellington; Mr Percy E. Webb, Wellington; Mr H. A. Parker, Wellington; Mr L. E. Gifford, Wellington; Mr and Mr* Teschemaker, Marlborough ; Mr J. Russell, Wellington; Miss King, Nelson; Mr C. Brewer, Stratford; Mr John A. Hughes, Westport; Mr and Mrs E. Hiorns/ the Misses Hiorns, Christchurch ; Mr Arthur Dendy, Miss M. E. Lloyd, Wellington; Miss Florence Armstrong, Christchurch. Died in London this week, Sir Peter Nicol Russell, the eminent colonial engineer, who, amongst other works* made mortars and gunboats for the New Zealand Government in the war against Hone Heke, and who also retorted the first gold in Australia in 1847, and made the first experiments in boiling and steaming-down cattle and sheep. Sir Peter was bom in 1816, and was thus eighty-nine years of age. He emigrated to Tasmania in 1832, and to Sydney six years later, starting an engineering business there with hi* brothers, Robert and John. Afterwards he went into business on his own account, and prospered exceedingly. Taking his brothers back into partnership in 1855, he retired five years later, and became the firm’s agent in London. Since then he had made his residence in England, only visiting the colonies at intervals. Sir Robert founded the Russell School of Engineering at Sydney in 1899, and made a second donation to the school in 1903. He received his knighthood last year.