PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12432, 15 August 1902, Page 2

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

fFsoit Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, July 12.

Last Saturday a wedding of pomo interest to New Zealand readers took place at t]io Hampton Wick Parish Church, Middlesex. The bridegroom was Mr Patrick George Weddel, youngest son of the late Mr William Wotldcl, of 16 St. Helens place, London, and: partner in the well-known Lon-. don firm of Messrs W. Weddel and Co., colonial produce merchants. The bride was Miss Patlio Reeve, fifth daughter of the late Mr Thomas Lewis Reovc, of Etmdon, Warwickshire. The wedding ceremony was Tierformed by tho Rev. W. W. Archer. Mr C. R. Bcattie, secretary of the National Dauy Association of New Zealand, tells me he is Home oil private business, and also on businoss connected with the New Zealand dairy produce trade. He leaves almost immediately for Belgium and Switzerland, his object in visiting the latter country bc-ing to inspect the condensed milk factories. On his return to England he will go to the larger provincial towns, and will then proceed to Scotland. Ho expects to leave for Now Zealand some time in August, returning probably by ono of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers. Mr H. Wirraley (Oamaru) came Home by tl» 5.9. Ormuz. Ho, lias been in the colony since 1877, and naturally finds many changes everywhere. Ho hopes to be back in Now Zealand for the Oamaru show in Novembei, but lie has not yet decided upon the route by which he will travel. Mr Winsley has been staying with his sister at Lce-on-tho-Solent. Ho says he has not been up to ms rsew Zealand state of health since landing hero. After visiting Aberdeen, Mrs Winsley's native place, he will go to bis own old home in Devonshire, returning to London at the latter end of September, when he will make arrangements for his return to New Zealand.

Mr Bennett Burleigh tells in the Daily Telegraph the story of the latest incident oi the war, a remarkable encounter near Yereeniging. He says: "Two New Zealand officers—namely, Lieutenants M'Koich and Kamo, went, out hunting. Starting without leave, they rode eastward a fow miles, proceedmg along the north tank of the Vaal Kiver. Suddenly three armed Boers stopped them. Levelling their Mausers at the *7" Leaves, the Boers called out, 'Hands up. M Keich"ttnd Raine dismounted, and told their guas down. The first-named then advanced explain to the Boers that peace had been signed. But eithor tho burghers did not or would not understand English, cltdu t believe them, or ' didn't care a d for peace.' They.ordered M'Keich and Raine to strip to the buff. M'Keich made a bol l t .f° r ] an adjacent donga, but was shot ana killed, two bullets passing through his body. Lieutenant Raine then .proceeded to divest himself of his clothing; but meanwhile secreted his revolver, in which thero were four'shots, as he was stripping. Two , Bo , ors , toned to rifle Lieutenant M Keioh s body. Watching' his opportunity, Rame pistolled tho Boer nearest him, and then shot the other two. Tho three had fallen before hie revolver, two killed outright, but tho third, who shammed death, was only wounded. Then • the Boer, also waiting, got his chance, amd seizing his rifle, shot and mounded Raine in the thigh. Lieutenant Raine replied instantly, .firing his last shot at the Boer. Missino- his man, as no thought, the New Zealander dashed his .revolver in the Boer's face, and bounded, partially stripped as he was, into the donga or spruit. He ran for all lie was worth, and iti an exhausted condition got safely back into his camp at Vereeniging. Later on the wounded Boer came crawling in, and was taken to the hospital, u'hore he died tho same night. Next morning a search party went out and brought iai the three dead bodies; There are four new graves at ve-reeniging as a result of that escapade, and young Raine, who is not seriously hurt- '« " nt '«r'arrest for disobedience reorders.' 1 Mr Walter. Raymond has a pleasant and brightly-written' articlo in the July number of the New Liberal Review on "A Now Zealand Trout- Stream." The scmie is laid m the Otago province, but the precise locality is not directly indicated. Also in the July number of the "New Liberal Review," just out, there is an article by the Rev, J. Berry on "Democracy in New Zealand." The writer says: Tho object of this article is to specify and explain some of the laws of New Zealand, which are sometimes called 'Socialism or' Advanced.' Onoamong the many useful services which our colonies raider to tho Mother Country is to lead the way in reform j and ono aim of these colonies, in their own interest, i 6 to prevent- the condition from arising which in other ftnd older lands maiko wiatny reforms urgently needed." This programme he proceeds to carry out with Bai evident desire to deal with perfect fairness, by explaining the New Zealand legislation of the met decade. .

M«3 B. Riddell (Dupedin) tolls me that she came to the Mothei Country bv the last trip of the Orient-Pacific s.s. Ormuz, which whs much crowded—there being no fewer than 900 people on board,—but in which sho nevertheless had a very pleasant passage. Miss Riddell, who is an experienced traveller, thought that- in the circumstanccs the attention and ■ management were extremely good. Unfortunately a casi of soarlet fever occurred on board, which octifined the ship to quarantine at Colombo. Mies Riddell is staying with friends at .Sussex place, Regents Park, • one of the plcasantet localities near town. She goes lo Scotland next week on a visit, and leaves Britain on her return journey to New Zealand about the 11th September, in the Uniod Steam Ship Company's new steamer Aloeraki. Sho has been thoroughly delighted with England, and interested 'in all she has seen.

The latest " commercial conversation " in ' Commerce " is with "Mr John Holmes, of Now Zealand." Of courso, he and his interviewor chatted about .flax and frozen meat and federation, and Mr Holmes was asked how New Zealand was affectcd by the long- Australian drought. Apparently Mr Holmes jumped out of his chair in indignant amazement at the idea that there could possibly be such a thing as a drought in New Zealand. "Drought!" he shouted indignantly; "we don't know what drought IS in New Zealand. Our situation is sudl 18 to make a drought almost impossible!" The interviewer collapsed at once, panic-: stricken at the feeliure he had unwittingly evoked. And then Mr Holmes, calming down, proceeded to show that the only effeot of the Australian drought on New Zealand would be to, send the Commonwealth to that colony for produce. So he .scored once more, which will not surprise anybody who knows John Holmes!

That beautiful £500 gold oup designed and constructed by Mr Frank Hyams-for tlio Hurst Park Club was duly competed for ait Hurst Park, and fell to Mr H. I. ixigham's four-yoar-oM Koyal George, carrying 7.9, and ridden ivy Hardy. The race was wen by a head, Mr Horatio Bottomloy's Wargrave being second and Laid Derby's GLlsalt third. The race proved a great attraction. The gold cup was on view during the meeting. It is a curious coincidence that, Mr Hyams having made the cup, it should have been won by a racehorse-owner of .the same name, but spelled a little differently—viz., "Higlinm." The Four-in-hand Challenge Cup, whioh Mr Frank Hyam; made for the Royal Richmond hoise pliow, was carried off by Mr E. 'D. Stern's team of blue roans, on .Tune W; and the special prize for the reserve hunters, presented by Mr C. Romer Williams, also made by Mr Hyams, was won by Mr W. E. Selhvood's six-year-old bay gelding. Mr Hyams is also designing and constructing the piece of plate which is to bo presented to Mr Seddon on the 15th mst.

_ Mr Robert Hay, C.E. (Dunedin), travelled from New Zealand by way of Japan and Amsriea. He spent three weeks in Japan and several days in the United States, coming on by the s.s. Ktruria from New York to Liverpool. Mr Hay does not purpose pairing a lengthened stay. Ho is looking into questions of town drainage and water supply. He intend? to return to Now Zealand by way of Suez and Australia. Mr IT. A. Mackay (Ashburton), a former pioprietor of the Ashburton Mail, came Home by the Messagerios Maritiincs lioat "Ville dc. la Ciotat as far as Marseilles. He savs:—"l wai much struck with the primitive methody of the French farmer;. In all the long journey across France from Marfeilles to Paris I did not see half a dozen reaping machines. I am amused to find what different opinions still exist as to the merits of English and New Zealand meat; Where I am staying there was much discussion on this point, and the proprietor remained discreetly silent. But when the other gue3ts left ho said to me, 'The fact is we have just been eating Now Zealand lamb.'"

Mr E. J. P. Denny (Dunedin) arrived lately, having voyaged in tho s.s. Suevio by way of tho Capo of Good Hope. Mr Denny is at present staying at- Kensington. He has already visited Glasgow, Galashiels, Selkirk, and other Scottish towns. He purposes staying for about 18 months in the J [other Country. New Zealanders quartered at Alexandra 1 ark, and many other follow-eoloniste in town, had an" enjoyable time of it at the Alexandra Park races last Saturday. Tho encampment and the club authorities gavo a general invitation to the men to attend,

awl noodlefa to say the invitation ma generally accepted. They witnessed a noteworthy victory of Mr Spencer Gollnn's horse Australian Star, tho favourite winning the London Coronation Cup (handicap), value £300, with £1000, the distance being one mUe and a-quartor, and thero being a field ®'. ™ Australian Slar carriotl top weight— o 13. Referring to the race, ono sporting writer ays:—" About half a mile from home Austiajian Star •assumed command, and rame. into the straight, and having tlie race in safe keeping he won in a cantor by four lengths: a length and a-half botween second and third."

, tJio A.A.A Championships on Saturday ast t, W. Smith won the 120 yds Hurdles. - Showing improved form, lie won by a oouplo of yards In f j le Four-mile Race Simpson was third. The winner is reported to have won easily by 50 yards there being 250 yards between the second and third.

Callers at the New Zealand Agencygeneral during the past week lave in-eluded:-Mr hrnrat Armstrong, Oamaru; ?{• fk ßatll Brandon, Wellington; the Misses M Lean, Timaru; Mrs M'Ewen limaru; Mr Alfred Beadle, Dunedin; Mr Marie* Banks, Oamaru; Mr Oharles E. Oross, Timaru.

News has just come to me o' a sad death o[ a New Zoalandor which lias occurred in Londcm-that of Mr William Turner, of the Lust, North Canterbury. Mr Turner { °?, th ,° benefit of •»" health. Amm ® i , 10 W "5 r ' ancl wJli] B in America ho consulted several doctors. They tout him there was nothing much the matter with him, as did also the doctor on board tho steamer by which he travelled. On reaclung London some friends, who had travelled with Mr Turner, urged him to go and see another doctor. He did so, and this doctor, who informed him that he was. seriously ill sent him immediately to a hospital. There lie died, of Bright's disease, and would have been buried by the hospital authorities even though he had credits at tho Bank of Now Zealand and the . Canterbury Farmers 1 Association had not colonial friends looked after tho remains. Tho hospital authorities could not find any trace of friends in England. ifc hastes, of Dunedin, who had travelled with tho deceased, saw that eveiything proper was arranged, and tho funeral took placa yesterday. 1