OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2275, 3 August 1894, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

From Our Own Correspondent. London, Jane 22. PERSONAL. The article which I told you Mr Percy Adams, of Nelson, had contributed to the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News on deer-stalking in that province appeared in last Saturday’s (Juno 16) issue. It is illustrated with a photo of one of tho many heads which have fallen to this colonial Nimrod’s gun. Sport in Nelson, according to Mr Adams, needs no “bush,” but nevertheless he seizes every opportunity to bring its excellences before the “ young folks at home." There is still plenty of room in the Colony, ho opinea,_ for well-to-do settlers with sporting instincts. Mr and Mrs Adams left town at the end of last week to stay with friends in Worcestershire.

Major and Mrs George left London for Scotland on Monday. Mrs George had a sharp attack of neuralgia at the end of last week, but this arose from a general chill, and was not brought about by tho old cause.

The Hon W. C. Walker is, I hear at Westminster Chambers, expected in town from Edinburgh this week. Mr Gisborne is representing the Colony at the University Extension Congress, which is being held this week in the big building at the top of Gower street. I shall have more to say about it next week. Mr Harold Johnston, who distinguished himself immediately on arrival in this country by matriculating at Oxford without any preparation whatever, has now, in the first few weeks of his residence, passed “ smalls ” equally easily and creditably. This is a great feather in the cap of Wanganui College, and puts in on an equality with our best “ ramming ” public schools.

Dr W. L. Christie, M.D., who has been studying in the Loudon Hospital for some time past, has been admitted a Fellow of the Boyal College of Surgeons of England. Dr Griffin, I understand, has recently qualified for tho post-nomonal distinction of M.K.C.S. Two more feathers in the Otago University cap. New Zealand was much to the fore at the annual athletic carnival of the Guy’s Hospital students, held at Stamford Bridgo on Thursday afternoon. Mr P. S. Batchelor represented the Colony, and succeeded in winning both the events he started for from scratch. In the half-mile the New Zealanderconcededß.Balderson 35yds start and 40 to C. W. Dowsott, but to result indicated that both his opponents were hardly treated. Batchelor won in a walk by half-a-dozen yards from Balderson in 2min 4 2-sseo. In tho quarter the colonial was called upon to concede Longhurst 10 yards and Bignold 20, which he did successfully without distressing himself, in 51 2-ssec. Longhurst was two good yards behind at the finish, and Bignold a full half dozen in his rear.

An unexpected visitor during the afternoon was a miniature whirlwind, which came on the ground abouts p.m. It fooled about for a good two minutes, and in that time robbed dozens of spectators of hats and ginghams, whilst as a final show of its powers it swept away the band parts of the T Division of Police in all directions.

New Zealand papers are requested to give publicity to the fact that Mr Eobert Ker Laurie, late of Brighton House, Warwickshire, has taken to wife Miss Dorothea Butler, youngest daughter of the late Ambrose Butler, of Kepsfcorn, Kirkatall, York. Tho ceremony took place at St. Stephen’s, Kirkstall, on the 19th of Juno.

Mr David Christie Murray, novelist, actor and playwright, made yet another io-nominious appearance at Bow street on Monday. He was hauled thither hy his longsuffering spouse to answer the charge of failing to comply with tho magisterial order condemning him to pay her 30s a week maintenance money. Murray xileaded lack of moans and inability to earn money by bis pen by reason of a fractured right hand. The injury occurred in March last, and according to one of his witnesses, an old Savage Club iudentity, by name Dr Maitland Coffin, tho fractured member was still unfit to perform its legitimate function. A man named Jacobs, who said he had been private secretary to Murray for seven weeks, was called to prove that the defendant’s physical anguish from tho wounded hand rendered work by dictation an impossibility. Mr Murray admitted having acted in a comedy since the accident, hut explained that ho took the part to save his brother’s piece. The part was a small one, requiring no physical cr mental energy. The defence sot up was good enough to secure a four months’ adjournment, but the Magistrate strongly advised Murray to pay his wife something in the interim if ho could possibly do so.

MBS W. P. REEVES. Mrs W. P. Beeves, who is stopping with friends at Guildford and looking extremely well, told one of my representatives that the rumours attributing her visit Home to a design to “ spy out the land ” with regard to the Agent-General’s office are erroneous, and have caused her some annoyance. She came purely for her health, for tho sake of the change, and to see relatives. Mr Beeves never mentioned tho possibility of his becoming Agent-General to her, and personally she does not seem to think such an eventuality at all probable. Notwithstanding this disclaimer I should venture still to hope that if wo are to lose Sir Westby Perceval ho may bo succeeded by Mr Beeves. From all accounts ho is much the most suitable of the members of the Government who are eligible.

LORD ROSEBERY AND SIR GEORGE OBEY. - Perhaps tho most interesting feature of tho National Liberal Club luncheon to Sir George’ Grey next to tho G.O.M. of the South’s speech was tho Premier’s graceful compliment to tho distinguished guest. Though unable, through press of business, to sit throngh the somewhat lengthy function Lord Bosebery made a point of coming across from Downing r street for a few minutes and, as he said, “ looking in ” upon the gathering. He stayed long enough to shake hands and drink a glass of wine with Sir George, but was not to be drawn into a speech, and after a few minutes’ conversation slipped away again. It is by tactful courtesies of this sort, and by somehow always saying and doing the right thing in tho wisest possible way, that the noble Earl has made himself so much liked by the rank and file of the Liberal Party. Despite his efforts on Tuesday afternoon Sir George Grey was at the meeting of the Colonial Institute in tho evening to hear his friend Bishop Selwyn on “ Melanesia.” The paper will be found referred to later on in my letter. What I wish to say hero is that Sir George opened the discussion on the paper, warmly commending the lecturer’s suggestions in a few brief words, and then indulging in an interesting ethnological dissertation on the origin of the Melanesians and Polynesians.

sir George’s health. Anxious to learn how the Grand Old Man of the Sonth was after these exertions, I called at Park Place yesterday morning. The bright warm sunshiny June weather had, I found, re-acted on him in the happiest manner. One could hardly believe that the alert and cheery old gent leman of to-day was tho frail invalid of a week back. Sir George was full of business, just, in fact, starting off on a round of calls. He expressed himself greatly pleased with his reception at the National Liberal Club, and seems sanguine of impressing his Provincial Government scheme for Ireland on our practical politicians. Sir George still talks of going into the country to rest, but he somehow doesn’t go. When the veteran statesman is well I really thinks he likes to he the centre of so much interest. His correspondence is tremendous Governor,” I heal’d him remark—and he sees an infinity of visitors. On Thursday evening I met the right hon gentleman trotting down the Embankment with some presumably rare’plant in a pot in his arms. The rather unusual combination of a natty frock coat, a white “bowler” hat and a cherry tie at first attracted my shortsighted gaze and then I saw the enterprising botanist was Sir George. Nothing further has transpired, if indeed anything has happened, regarding Lady Grey. It is said Sir George has made advances towards a reconciliation, bnt that is mere gossip. We have no information on, ‘ tho point. The Agent-General and Lady Perceval will give an “ At Home ” at the Imperial Institute on the 9th prox. to “meet the Eight Honourable Sir George Grey.” It is also hoped the G.O.M. of the South will look in at the Colonial Institute annual conversazione next Thursday for half-an-honr or so.