OUR LONDON LETTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE,

LAST PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME. FEOM OXIE SPECIAL COEEPBPONDENT. LONDON, December XO. Mr Leslie Tribe, of Rangiora. has come to London to enter the central office of the Alliance Assurance. Mr Harry Sims, of Messrs AV. H. Sims and Co., has opened a'- London office for his firm in Broad Street House. Mr P. Douglas, of Auckland, has just returned to London from the Gold Coast, and will leave for Senegal at the end of January under engagement to the Associated Mines of Guinea. Among tho members of the Roj’al College of Surgeone admitted to fellowship at tho last council meeting was Mr Francis Rudolph Ho top, M. 8., 8.C1i., ol Otago University, who completed < hie studies at King’s College Hospital, London. Mr Ales. Stevenson, of Dunedin, who arrived here in April last, intends re turning to New Zealand nest October, either by Suez or by Canada.

Mr H. Brett, of Auckland, who has been in England since the Imperial Press Conference held last summer, leaves London about December 30th, on lus return to New Zealand, accompanied by Mrs Brett and Mr and. Mrs Peter Wood and family. They will join the Orient liner Osterley on December 31st, at Marseilles.

Sir Charles Wyndham informed me this week that he is too busy to contemplate going out to the colonies, just mow, and may possibly postpone his visit. Next week Sir Charles and Miss Mary Moore leave for a four months tour of the States with “The Mollusc”; then in the spring they return to London with a new play.

Mr and Miss Hilda Beetham, of Masterton. have settled in Cornwall for the winter months, after somo delightful touring in the former’s new car in London and Devon. In the spring they propose to motor to Scotland, then cross to the Continent, where they will spend some time before returning to New Zealand ' Both ' 'are charmed with the beauties of old England, and are much enjoying their stay.

Two Ngapuhi Maoris gave a concert this week in South Kensington. Pe-ara Neue, who calls herself “Princess,” and claims direct, descent from the famous Tamati Waka None, has a robust voice of almost tenor quality. The “Daily Mail” describes her voice as remarkable; and her renderings as "a trifle automatic.” She appeared in a Japanese costume w-hich the same critic characterises as “one of the most. gorgeous things ever seen on a concert platform." Peara Nene was assisted by T. Ngawaka, who jj’as. encored eight times after his haka and Maori song. There was a crowded house, and the recital was a great success.

Lord Onslow. ex-Governor of New Zealand, has accepted the presidency of the Imperial Co-operation League. One of the-features of the league will he luncheons. for-business men, on the lines of the Canadian Men’s Club luncheons in Canada, at which topics of Imperial interest will be discussed.

Mr T. Chamberlain Chamberlain, late of New Zealand, and Mr G. C. M. D. Mallous, another New Zealander, have been made Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute. Mr-Frederick W. ‘ Christian, of New icoalUnd. is to lecture before the Institute next week on “R’arotomga,” and Lord Eanfurly will take the chair.

Major-General E. T. Brooke, wao died at his residence, 65, Wynnstay • Gardens, W., this week, saw active service for the first time iu the Maori war of 1863-64. He was trace mentioned in despatches, •and*received his brevet of major for his services at the battle of Rangiriri, whore he was wounded.: He was then the youngest major in the service. He was m, the Transvaal at the time of the annexation of that country by Sir T Shepstoue, and hoisted the British Dag at Pretoria on that occasion.

Mr J. Liddell Kelly, formerly of T’ellington, left London this week for Torquay, where he intends to spend the winter.