PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 4

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

(Feoit Oub Owx Coeresposdext,) LONDON,. July 19. While he is in this country Mi- W. Wakeman (I'ahiatua) is making inquiries into various matters on behalf of the Welling--lon Acclimatisation Society, and lie fully expects that this part of iii.-i programme will meet with suewss. He is quite satisfied that the stock both of pheasants and deer in New Zealand can bo improved ;by importations from the Mother Country, lie lias seen deer hero whose antlers are characterised by many moro points than are those of the Now Zealand deer. Just now Mr Wakeman is making extensive inquiries in connection with shipping any purchases he may make, etc., awl lie'is in" touch with the authorities at the London Zoological Gardens. liator ho hopes to bo ablo to complete all tho arrangements satisfactorily. Mr Wakeman is accompanied by his wife and daughter. They have all been together in Scotland and the Midland counties, and Mrs Wakeman and her daughter have recently been over in I'aris.. Mr Wakeman is combining pleasure with business, and he expects to be here until the beginning of November. He tells mo that the New Zealand _ bowlers have nojv concluded tho tour which was mapped out. for them, ami any games that may tako placo from (he present time onward will bo purely of a private nature. As a member of the New Zealand bowling team, Mr Wakeman speaks with enthusiasm, of the excellent time and generous hospitality wliioh have fallen to the lot of tho visiting players.

Mr D. J. Fyfo (Dunedin) and Mr W. P. Lewis (Invercargili) have recently returned from a cycling tour through the Midlands and in North Wales, and now they have started on their return journey to New Zealand, via the Continent and Suez. They were in Antwerp when last I heard of them. Messrs l'yfo and Lewis spent a good deal of time visiting various warehouses, mills, and factories" of (he manufacturing districts anil distributing centres, and they found the processes of manufacture most interesting and instructive. Altogether they consider that their visit to the United Kingdom has been well and profitably spent, alike from a holiday and from a busine&j viewpoint. i

Mr W. J. Wilson, works manager and eng-ineor to Messrs J. Wilson and ■ Co., Auckland, is absent from tho colony purely on a business visit. Ho camo by way of tho United States and reached England in Jnne. He has throughout been making purchases of . ( maohinerj- for the extension of plant now in tho eoureo of erection at the Portland Coroont Works, and still has other purchases to make.. Ho selected a good deal of machinery" while in tho United States. On tho 27th inst, Mr Wilson will leavo London for Now York, where ho expects to bo joined by Mrs Wilson. After a month's slay in the United States they will start for New Zealand by way of Japan and Australia, Teaching Auckland again about tho beginning of November.

It is announced that the chief officer on tho auxiliary barqucntine Nimvod, which is cxpectod to leave the 'fhamca alxmt tho end of tho month for Antarctic regions, via New Zoaland, witl bo Mr John if. Davis, who was ono of tho 'officers on Messrs Dovitf, and Moore's four-masted barque Port Jackson during that ship's recent training voyage to Australia. Mr iWackintosh, tho second officer of tho Nimrod, has been in tho employ of tho P. and 0. Company.

I hear "that Mr and Mrs Gcorgo Hutchison and their family have recently returned to England from Auckland with a view of settling permanently, and that they have accordingly taken a house at Norwood, a delightful suburb of South-west London.

It is announced that Miss Ircno Ainsloy, tho Auckland contralto, has been engaged to support Signor Busoni (pianist), Mr William Baoldiaus (pianist), and Miss Ella Russell in different series of concerts which have been arranged for those artists in the provinces. Miss Ainsloy has been continuing her studies in Paris. Another young singer, formerly of Wellington, Miss Nora Long, is said to have appeared with considerable success at a saored concert at Manchester, last Sunday. Miss Mabel Mansoil (Duncdm) has been fulfilling an engagement at Colwyn Bay, North Wales, this week.

A London writer of art notes mentions that 'Mr Herbert .T. Babbage, of Now Zealand. ha.s recently roceivn<l an invitation from tho Cheltenham Municipal Gallory to send a picture to their exhibition. Tour pictures by this successful artist arc hung in the Bristol Academy, two arc to be seen at Falmouth, and there are several in tho St. Ives Gallery, while another was on view in London at the Guildhall. It is added that Mr Babbage may return to New Hoalarfd next year. For two years past he has had a studio at St. Ives, in Cornwall.

Mr E. Bulcombc Bvowno (Wellington) -was among the dolegates at the meeting of the National Committees of the Y.M.C.A.. which was hold in London; lie and his wife were present: also at tlio confereneo of the Y.M.C.A: recently hold in Belfast.

Mr Hiirdlcy, ot New Zealand, presided over a social meeting whioli was held in Edinburgh in connection with the Australasian Club on the occasion of the recent Royal Show of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. A number of Now Zealand visitors who happenod to bo in Edinburgh nt. tho time were present, as ako were many of tho mcdical. students from the colony.

Captain G. 11. Walker, D.5.0., late Captain N.Z.R.R.. arrived in London recently from South Africa (Capetown and Angola) hy the s.s._ Gascon. He is hero on business, slid his visit will not l-c of long duration, for lie intends to return to Angola at an early dato.

Mr Alan Turnbull (lale of Nelson) has coino to England on a business visit from South Africa—namely, ior the purposo of floating a. copper mine, of finding money for tho development of dredging for gold up the Parana, and to start a company for a rubber factory in North Brazil. Tho first, scheme has taken splendidly. Mr TurnbuH tells me, "Tho brokers simplv rushed it." At present the prospects for "the rubber factory look very encouraging. When business will permit his leaving Loudon, Mr Turnbull is going to havo a week's golf and then go to Scotland for the shooting season,

According to a number of London papers, J*ew Zealand has put up another "record" for that colony is credited with possessing the "biggest children in tho world." These two children are now in England on a visit: they aro accompanied by their parents, and tho'whole family are now at Weuncsbnry, tho native town of Mr WcfitMHXI. Portraits of those children-Ruby Westwood. aged 13. and Wilfrid Westwood, aged 11—are given in nearly all the London newspapers, some of the pictures showing these two playing with children of their own age, but ot normal proportions. The girl is credited with a weight of 17st 71b, and tho boy with 20st 41|); the former is sft 2£m in height, ami the latter Sft 3in.

Mrs V. P. Beeves lias been appointed one of the executive 'committee of tlie National Anti-Sweating League. The first annual meeting of the league took place yesterday, when the chairman >(Mr A. G. Gardiner) called attention to the manner in which the problem had. been dealt -with in Now Zealand and Australia, and it was thought the example of there colonies might bo followed in this country. In tho short period of its existence the league had promoted a bill in Parliament, convened important conferences, and opened branches in the most important cities. The record so far was a very satisfactory one, and there was every reason to think "that the usefulness of the league would ho still further demonstrated in tlie future. Mr Walter Runaway, C.M.G., and his family arc spending their annual vacation on the Continent. Mr M'Grath (Dimcdin) has been spending a very enjoyable time at Henley and other boating resorts, and he has looked up Tom Sullivan, tho ex-sculline champion. Mr M'Grath is going to Scotland and Ireland, but lie intends to come back to London before returning to New Zealand. callers at the London office of the New Zealand Government have included the following residents of Otajro:—Mr J. Taifc (Oamaru). .Mr E. Salmond (Duncdin), Mr E. A. Guthrie (Duncdin), Messrs E. ard W. J. Jones (Oamaru). Mr and Mrs J. Brown and Miss Brown (Duncdin), Mr A. .T. B. Campbell (Halclutba). Mr D. Gibson (Civde) Mr G. D. Xelson (Balchitha). * ' Mr D. Gibson (Clyde) has just arrived in London. Ho left the colony 18 months ago,