PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 2

PERSONAL ITEMS FROM LONDON.

Wsolt OUE OWH COBHE9PONDEOT.) LONDON, March 1. It is with regret that I notice the announcement of the death of Mrs Mary Ilallcnstein, relict of the late Mr Bondix Halleiistein, formerly of Duncdin, Now Zealand. The deceased lady passed away on the 21st February at Thurlby, Clarendon Villas, Hove, Brighton. Mr James Williams (Duncdin) is staying at Hampstead„ with his sister, Madamo Lottie Williams, member, of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Prin.II.A.M. Mr Williams, it will probably be rememboved, recently gained (ho .silver medal at tho Ohristchm'ch Exhibition for his essay on "Tho Minerals of Ntjw Zealand," and ho has attended the Otago University, being tho holder of a Government mining scholarfdiip. Mr Williams will in all probability lcavo England in about a month's timo on his return to tho colony. Among latest- arrivals from New Zealand are Mr and Mrs J. Stuart White- (Duncdin) and their soil, who caino by tlie s.s. C'orinthie on .her last voyage, and• reached London on the,l9th February after a.perfect trip, so far as weather was concerned. A call at St. Vincent-for an emergency supply of coal gave the passengers a pleasant break in tho run from Monte Video to Tenoriffe, At the latter port' the annual carnival was in full swing, and. thoso who wcro on board the Corinthie were lucky in .seeing a number of interesting sights. Mr White has come to England in connection with automobile work, and accordingly lie will go on almost immediately to Birmingham and Coventry to get at the heart of Ihe lusincss, returning to London at a later period. In all probability Mr White will be absent from tho colony for a year or iwo. Miss Marie Hall, the popular and clever violinist, left Liverpool on Saturday by Iho s.s. Lueauia, en route for New Zealand, via America and Canada. She is accompanied by tho members of her. concert-touring party. Miss Hall is to return to England early in September in order to fulfil her I engagement to play at tho Gloucester Musical Festival. The death is announced this «eek of Arthur Buck Kitchener, son of the late Colonel Kitchener, 13th Dragoon Guards. Ho passed away at Lucerno last Sunday, February . Mr Edward Stanford announces for early publication a now work on Australia and New Zealand by Dr J. W. Gregory, of Glasgow University. Captain Stuart, at 0110 timo (.lie popular commander of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's s.s. Arawa, ba3 lieen in London during tho last, few days. Ho is halo and hearty, though liis many friends in New Zealand will regret, lo iea'n that lie lias completely, lost the flight of one eye, which was attacked by disease resulting from exposure oil ono of his voyages to tho colony. Captain Stuart, who inherited an estate in tho North of England 011 iho death of lis brother, is now quite tho laird of ihe countryside, where he is spending tiio leisured end of an arduous life. Mr S. S. Blackburne. has made arrangements lo return to Christchurcli next month. Jlo will sail on tho <Wi April by Iho direct steamer Kaipara. New Zealand readers will, I have no doubt, be interested to hear that Mr Blackhurne's book entitled "Terms and Themes of Chc.=s Problems" is now in the press. Tt is to be published simultaneously in England and America by Messrs George Roul ledge and Sons, London (who have bought tho copyright) and by Messrs E. P. Dufton and Co., of 'New York. The book will contain a prcface by the Into Mr A. F. Mackenzie, of Jamaica, who was Ihe most famous chess problem comy.csor tile world has known, and who wrote the preface for Mr Blackburne when the book was first contemplated several years ago when its author was in New Zealand, and it will doubtless be rccollcoted that Mr Mackenzie contributed a series of interesting letters on chess problem matters to tho column* of one of the leading New Zealand journals. Mr lihckbm-ne's book defines and explains the various forms and themes of chess problems, and illustrates tliero by means of over 300 examples, which aro mostly problems by tho great composers of tho world. An appendix contains an artielo upon the author written- by Mr Alain C. White, a noted American author and composer, and a' selection of Mr Blackburne's problems, taken from The Times, in which Mr While's artielo and the selcclcd problems were published in December last, in (lie course of tlie series by ihe latter gentlemen upon New Zealand composers. The council 9f Iho Royal Society lias selected tho fol'owing 15 candidates from among those presenting themselves for inclusion in the fellowship:—Professor Frank Adams, Dr Hugh Anderson, Professor W. B. Henham, Lord Blythwood, Professor William Bragg, Mr Frederick D. Ohattaway, Professor Arthur Crosslev, Dr Arthur Cushnv. Mr William Duddell, Dr Frederick Gamble, Mr J. E. Petavei, Dr Henry Pocklington, Mr N. IT. Ridley, Professor Elliot Smith, and Mr William H. Young. It is interesting to note in (lie foregoing list that, science in the colonies finds representation. Considerable advances in the scientific applications of wireless telegraphy aro fittingly recognised by tho election of Mr W. Duddell.

It is announced that Mr Reynolds Denniston, nephew of Mr Justice Dcnniston, of New Zealand, is a member of the theatrical .company which Mr .Tulius Knight has engaged to support him in his tour of Australia and New Zealand, and which is

to lie managed by Mr J. C. Williamson. Tho leading lady is Miss Marion Grey, ■who has an extensive repertoire, including Mercia, in "Tho Sign of tho Cross"'; Princess Flavia, in "The Prisoner of Zenda": Lady Huntworth, in "Lady Huntworth's Experiment." The season is to open in Molbounio with " Robin Hcod." Owing to tho cancellation of the Sati Francisco mail steamer, Mr H. P, Pickerill, of Birmingham, tho newly-appointed director of the new School of Dentistry in connection with Otago University, has been compelled to postjionc his departure. It is announced that the Rev. Charles 11. Sheldon will visit Australia and New Zealand this year, leaving during the early part of July. Meanwhile he' hns teen engaged by the United Kingdom Alliance for a two months' temperance crusade in this country. Mr Sheldon is perhaps best known bv his book "In Ilis Stops." I hear that last week Ilia Affents-general for "Victoria and South AustVaJiu inspcoted a now patent automatic railway coupling which has been designed by a young New Zealandcr, Mr P. 11. Shailer. If it proves to work as satisfactorily on full-sized trucks and cars as it docs on tho model, it. is remarked that the invention will bring about a great 6aving in labour, and also will obviate the risks to lifo and limb to which railway mon engaged in shunting and other, operations are exposed when dealing with rolling stock not equipned with automatic arrangements for coupling and uncoupling. It is added that Mr Shailer intends to go to Australia in order to bring his invention under the notice of tho various State railway authorities. The committco of tho New Zealand Association announces that, in order to meet the case of temporary visitors from New Zealand, it has decided that on contributing t.h'o sum of half a guinea to the funds of the association such visitors may bo admitted to the use of the olubrooms and other facilities during their residence in this country. The Rev. Richard Samuel Hassanl, M.A., Sub-dean of Truro Cathedral and rector of Truro, has just received tho. appointment to tho newly-formed residentiary canonry in tho cathcdral. The Roy. Canon Hassard was at ono time vicar of St. Matthew's, Auckland—namely, from 1874-79, when ho returned to England, and was appointed vicar of Holy Trinity, Dalston, which living ho held for a number of years before, in tho year 1893 becoming vicar of St. James's, Norlands, Kensington, London. At St. Paul's Church, Edinburgh, the marriage took place last Saturday, February 23, of Mr Henry Searlo Gilbcrd, F. 1.0. and F.S.M.C., second son of Mr James G. Gilbcrd, of Napier, Now Zealand, to Miss Clara Olga Zcnnor Dunn, only daughter of the late Mr Josoph Dunn, of Newcastle-on-Tync, and niccc of Mr James 'Russell, secretary to tho Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Tho wedding ceremony was'performed by tho Rev. Mr Blackic. There have not been many callers this week at tho London office of the New Zealand Government'—only Mr T. A. .Hnntoi' (Wellington), Mrs N.' M. Watson (Wellington), Miss Rubv Flotchor (Christr.hurch) and Mr H. B. Fletchor, and Mr W. 11. Bird (Mastorton). Mr Gilruth returned this week from' Paris, whero ho has been studying at tho Pasteur Institute. He is at present in London, and his movements _aro at present uncertain, but he is.putting in a good deal of timo at tho markets.