PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5229, 19 March 1904, Page 7

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent). LONDON, February 5.

Mr XI. B. AA’illiaimson, of Wanganui, who. after an abfOnce of twenty-five years. Is revisiting the Old Country, purposes returning to New Zealand- at an early date. He came Home last October, travelling via South ‘ Africa, where he visited all the principal towns between Capetown and Johannesburg, On reaching London, an illness in the family made it necessary for Mr Williamson- to go on to Belfast the same day, and it was not till la st‘month that ho returned to the Metropolis. He has been engaged in looking at the latest laboratory appliances, with a view'to recommencing business in New Zealand, and,is now paying a farewell visit to his brother. Dr Williamson, in Belfast, prior toHeaving for tho colony by one of the direct •-'tcamers. After a varied experience of all our colonies, Mr Williamson is firmly of opinion that New Zealand is pre-emin-ently the best. At the last quarterly <c coniitia” of the Royal College of Physicians, held this week, a license to practice was granted to M.r M. G. Louisson, of Guy’s Hospital, who hails from Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Robert Brough, so wellknown in Australasia in connection with a long list of theatrical successes', are leaving London to-morrow for a six ;mouifcbfY tour of South ’’Africa'with- a company sent out by Messrs Wheeler and George Ed-; wardes. Miss-Brenda' Gibstm and Mr J. L. Mackay, two clever young artists, will accompany the Broughs. The chief plays iu the' repertoire will be. The Light that Bailed,” " The .Marriage ' of Kitty,” "A Night Out/' and" X Village Priest,” the two latter,of which colonials will recognise as old favourites. The Hou W. P. Reeves was one of the speakers at the meeting of the . British Empire League on Monday, supporting a resolution which congratulated ' the Canadian Government on the recent inclusion of its. Defence Minister oil the Council of Imperial Defence. Sir John Cockburn was amongst those present at the meeting. v Mr Anthony F. Wilding,. of Christchurch. a well-known tennis player, who is studying for a law degree at Cambridge University, tells me that, he 1 intends going to Hombnrg and St. Mori.tz, in Switzerland, In.the summer to play tennis. On the form which Mr Wilding exhibited in various championships and other big' tournaments last season, ho ought to have a good innings on tho Continental lawns. The New Zaelander expects'to be over, here for another two years or so.. When introduced to the /Duke of-Con-naught at Portsmouth, at’ the launching of H.M.S. New Zealand, the Hon. l R. Oliver was able to remind, his ’Royal Highness that they had met before in the Rocky Mountains, some thirty years ago. *Mr Oliver had, on that occasion, been presented to the Duke by. Sir John McNeill, then military secretary to Lord Lisgar in Canada. His Royal Highness remarked yesterday that Mr Oliver’s face had seemed familiar, and when reminded of the incident,, he remembered it .‘perfectly,- despite the. long' lapse of years'; Mr and Mrs Arthur Myers returned to London a! few days back from their honeymoon tour on the Continent. I understand that they will not be leaving for Auckland, however, until six or seven weeks hence. . , Callers at the Agent-General's offices this week included Mr William Hiilse (Auckland), Mr Anthony F. Wilding (Christchurch), Miss A. F. Banks (Wellington), Miss Lita Jones (Auckland and Nelson), Mr T. •B. Gaffney (Christchurch), Mr W. E. Hutchison (late of Wellington and now of Johannesburg!!), Miss M. Ross. (Petone), and Mr Arthur Seccombe (Auckland). -s : Mr G. Barrel!, junr:, of Christchurch, is returning to that i city shortly, having booked a passage by the Sliaw-Savill liner Athenic, which is due in -Wellington on March 29th. During a two years’ residence in England, 'Mr .Barrell. lias had a good insight into trade conditions here, and he is more than ever satisfied that New Zealand offers by far the better prospects to the workiug/classes. A report was current last week end to the effect that Sir William Maogregor, K. Governor of A»agos. who is at present at* Homo on leave convalescing after a severe illness, intended to retire from the Colonial Service. Sir William, who appears to have quite recovered* i normal health, has contradicted the canard, and says bo hopes to ’'.continue his active career under . the Colonial Office iu a colony with better climatic conditions” than those prevailing at Lagos, whither be went in 1899 from New Guinea. v.

It is suggested that Sir George Clarke should be appointed- to the new-created post of permanent secretary to the De-

fence Committee. "We cannot well imagine,” eays the "Times,” 'That a better secretary could bo found than Sir George Clarke himself, providing adequate inducement can bo offered to him to abandon his present position as Governor of Victoria. No one,, has made a closer study of the' problem of Imperial defence viewed as a whole. Though by profession a soldier. Sir George, Clarke’s authority on questions of naval strategy is readily acknowledged by all sailors, and - lias recent expenenco in Australia can only help him to Keep the colonial aspects ‘of the problem more cioscly fore the eyes of the Prime Minister of the day.” \ .

"To a Kind Friend.—-Twenty-five years ago my sister, Mrs E./Harcliman. went to Sydney. New South Wales, and I have not heard from her since. If by chance this letter drops into' the hands'of anyone who’knows any Harcuraans, I sbou’d be glad- to hear from them. Iney left AVcdhesbury, South Staff's, when I was;a Uttlo boy.” This message was placed ia a coil of copiw wire going to. Australia by a Mr Jordan, employed’ by Messrs Bolton and Sens, at their-copper works, Oakaraoor, Staffordshire. A line over-' seer in South Australia found toe message in the ©oil of wiro and .sent it to the postmaster at Adelaide, who forwarded it to Sydney. The postal •’ authorities there sent lb to tho postmaster at Balmain. 'This gentleman knew a, Mrs Hardiman, interviewed her, ..and ' found she came from Staffordshire, and uiat her maiden name ■ was .Jordan. Airs Hardiman said she wrote 'Twelve, -years before to her brother, but did/not receive any reply. Biot her'and sister are now. in communication- again’, and thus once more fact outrivals, fiction.