LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5665, 12 August 1905, Page 9

LONDON LETTER.

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, Jnno 30. Our King was born on November 9th, but it graciously pleases his MujcNsty to make public celebration of hi> natal dav by issuing the list °* ’/“'v 1 ' day Honours" on June 30th. Ihe list this venr is bv no means remarkable. No new peers’have boon created, and the new Privy Councillorships number only six all tofd, including those of Lord Ranfurly and Sir F. B. Faulkner, who have boon "sworn of H.M.’s Most honourable Privv Council in Ireland." Of the English Privy Councillors Lord Ilavlcigh, tho eminent scientist Lord Tennyson and Sir R. B. Findlay, tho Solicitor-General, all the world knows, hut the Earl of Mansfield appeals to have done very little to merit distinction except succeeding his father to the rent-roll of some 4.6,000 acres. But for the most part the Birthdaylist is not one that appeals to the man-in-the-street. The greater number of those favoured are unknown to tho "common herd” even by name. If (hoy have done good it must have been by stealth, and it may bo that they are today blushing at having found such fame as an appearance in the Birthday Honours list can give them. Mr Reeves told the story of an omen at the New Zealand dinner the other night. A fortnight ago, ho said_, he was ascending the staircase of the Now Zealand Government Offices when ho was confronted with a staring notice. Beware of tho high stop. ’ On entering the office liis old friend, Mr Kennaway, mot him with a smiling face, and handed him a telegram notifying his appointment as High Commissioner. "Luckily,” said Mr Reeves, “we do not live in the middle ages, and do not all believe in omens. Xam not yet in prison and have not been run over by a motor-car, and inasmuch as the official telegram was antipodean. I hope it may turn the omen upside down.” Neatly put! , , Mr R. Pruitt, of Christchurch, was amongst tho passengers by the Ophir when that vessel left London on Friday for a holiday cruise amongst the Norwegian fjords. Dr A. F. Mickle, of Christchurch, and Mrs Mickle are on a pleasure trip to tho Old Country. They came to England, via Cape Horn, and for anyone who needs a long rest and plenty of sea air the doctor warmly recommends that route. He advises the traveller to be sure, however, to take plenty of warm clothing, especially underclothing, and a hot-water bottle or two, as tho weather is bitterly cold for a portion of the voyage. Dr Mickle has been busy sight-seeing and doing the theatres and concerts in London during the past week or two, attending, amongst other events, the Handel Festival at tho Crystal Palace, in order to hoar Mosdames Alkani, Clara Butt, and Ada Orossley. But sight-seeing, as the doctor says, is tiring work, and ho and'his wife arc not sorry to bo going into the country at the end of this week for a month or two. Dr Mickle camo Homo chiefly for his health, and he has greatly benefited by the change. Mr S. C. P. Free, of the legal firm of Free, Cottrell, and Park, of Reefton and Westport, is visiting England on pleasure, accompanied by his wifo. After spending a week in Sydney last April they joined tho Ophir, and proceeded in’ til at vessel as far as Naples, (hence overland to Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, tho Italian lakes, Switzerland (where they climbed the B'gi), and Paris. After a week in the French capital they came on via Calais to London. Mr Free hopes to be in New Zealand early in November, and between now and that date intends visiting tho provinces, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, and Canada, Mr William Nicholls, of the Kaputono Wool Works, Belfast (Christchurch), is revisiting tho Old Country, after an absence of forty-throe years in Now Zealand. Ho arrived by tho Turakina last week, and is at present staying in London, but intends shortly to levisit his native town, St. Austell, in Cornwall, and afterwards lo go to Durham and Bradford. His stay in England will extend over throe months. Mr Nicholls has brought tw>o of his sons with him, and will leave them in this country for about eighteen months—one to finish his time at electrical engineering, and the other to study the wool trade. Subsequently they will join him in his New Zealand business. Mr Nicholls returns to the colony by the Vancouver route.

Mr and Mrs ‘William Sibbald, of Auckland, had a pleasant voyage to England in the Kiimara. Mr Sibbald is travelling chiefly for the benefit of his health, which has suffered after thirty-five years of office work in the Civil Service. His wife and he intend to visit Edinburgh to see their son receive the diplomas of M.B. and Cli.M., and they will also visit various places of interest in England and on the Continent. They expect to bo about three months in this country. At present they are sightseeing. Mrs Marsdon, of Nelson, who arrived by tbo Oonntiiio on the Bth inst., is H< mo on private business, and intends, if possible, to return by P. and O. steamer not later than November next. With her brother she is visiting the English lakes this woclt, and hopes later to pay visits to Wales and Scotland. Mr P. A. Yaile, of Auckland, is writing special notes for the Morning Loader” on tbo international tennis championships at Wimbledon. Mr G. M. Kobbell, who arrived by tbo Tongariro a few weeks back on a pleasure trip, intends remaining in this country until the end of October.

Apropos of Harry Parker’s match against W. A. Lamed, the American, at tlie tennis internationals on Wednesday, the “ Daily Telegraph” remarks :—“ The Australasian has a very tricky back-break service, and a wristdrive on his forehand which, must delight the heart of Jtr P. A. Vailo. for no Englishman has yet attempted it. Against anyone hut a first-rate player of Larned’s great abilities Parker would prove a most effective adversary.” Parker was put out by Lamed in the fourth round of the singles championship. Miss Tui Reay, of Christchurch, is on a pleasure trip to this country, and expects to remain about six months, visiting the. South Coast wateringplaces Scotland and Paris. She came Home via Suez by the Himalaya, arriving at Tilbury last Sunday.

Mr Henry C. Wilkie, of Dunedin, who came Home primarily to find out what is now in his particular professional circle —which is that of the veterinary surgeons—and to take a special course of bacteriological study at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, brought to England by the good ship Kumara quite a Largo consignment of kiwis as well as a couple of kerns. He feels quite proud at .having landed all his protegees alive and well, for though kiwis have frequently been despatched from the colony to the Mother Country, it is many years since one was landed alive. Air Wilkie had what Pri-

vato Mnh-aney once described at " plmshns heaps of thrubble ” with his charges. For tho cold weather round tiie Horn (hoy ca-ia-d not a jot, but iho Ironical part of the passage threatened to make an end of them. By keeping iee in their cages, and giving them a liberal supnly of nice fat ivornia (flesh supplies had to In l got at Rio and ler.eriffel, and paving them close perserial attention, however. Mr Wilkia contrived to keep the b ids alive and well. They are now all safely housed at tho " Zoo,” hut four of them belong to Lord Ranfurly. The Now Zealander is naturally pleased at his success in landing a live the largest consignment of kiwis ever sent in one bottom to tho Northern Hemisphere, particularly as there are at pre-ont no other living specimens to hi l found in England. Among the recent arrivals in the Old Country are Mr and Mrs J. Joshua and family, who came Home by tho Moldavia a few weeks ago on holidaymaking intent. They will be remain.ng on this side of the water for some time, for after visiting relations and friends in England and seeing something of tho country generally, Mr Joshua proposes to take his party for a tour in France, Germany, and Italy, and also to the Highlands. A New Zealander who has beer, travelling on the Continent tells me his most trying ox|ierionco was to make himself understood at his hotel in Rome. " I asked,” he says, " for boiled eggs, but the waiter failed to uuder--stand mo; so I drew an egg ou lihe back of the menu, and put two strokes, meaning two oggs. Tho next thing I saw before me was eleven eggs!” Air T. E, Donne. Superintendent of the Now Zealand Tourist Department loaves London to-morrow for the Continent, with the intention of jo ning the P. and 0. liner Victoria at Marseilles on July 17th. He will visit Wiesbaden and other of the Continental spas to pick up hints in regard to their management. Air Donne has now been ah sent fourteen months from the colony, during which time be has gamed a good insight into American and English life and methods. He has succeeded in arousing a good deal of interest amongst) mamifacturere in regard to the New Zealand Exhibition to bo held at Christchurch next year. His efforts here, h« tolls mo. have met with a very gratifying response, and every day brngs fresh inquiries from manufacturers desirous of being represented at the Exhibition. After his departure, the work which Mr Donne has begun will bo carried on by the High Commissioner's Department, and there seems every prospect of a strong representation of British indusr trios at Christ church next year. Air Frederick A. Anson, M.A., eV New Zealand, was elected a Follow of tho Royal Colonial Institute at a moot ing of the Council this week.