PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(Feou Oub Own Cobbssfohdest.l LONDON, July 23. Mr Mackenzio has returned tram an. extended tour of the nortn and of Scotland, wiudrng up with, a visit to Birmicgoam, where ho attended the centenary oelebrations of the Chamber o£ Commerce. Whilo in Scotland Mr Mackenzie was the guest at Sauchic Castle, in Stirlingshire, of Mr A, D, Sieel-Madtland, the well-known Unionist M.P. But the bond of mutual interest, needless to say, was not a polit:cal one. It was from Sauchie that the first trout ova were 6cnt out to New Zealand by Mr SteelMaitland, who is a great enthusiast. Mr Mackenz.e finds that in Scotland no great opinion'is held of .the rainbow trout, which is considered to bo of little use after its third year.

Captain Halsey has written to the High Commissioner 1 from New Zealand expressing h.6 warm appreciation of the hospitality extended to tno crew of the New Zealand in dominion waters. Lovers of Stevenson will be interested, to learn of the death, which took place a lew days ago, of R. L.'s old nurse "Cumrny," at the age of 92 years. Miss Alison Cunningham, who :s so often referred to ia Stevenson's letters, and to whom be affectionately dedicated "The Child's Garden of Verses,' 1 retained all her faculties to the end, except that her hearing was somewhat impaired. Stevenson was ooily 18 months old when Mies Cunningham waa engaged as nurse, and he ascribed his survival to manhood chiefly to the (iffectionate care with which she always nursed him. Lady Ward and Miss Ward are staying at the Portland Hotel, where another visitor to London, Mrs S. H. Woods (formerly Mits R. Seduon) is staying. Sir Frederick Young, the nonagenarian vice-president of the ltoyal Colonial Institute, writes to the Morning Post warmly endorsing the suggestion o£ a rccent writer in The Times that Maoris should be permitted to serve in the Royal Navy.

Brigadier-general R H Davies, C.8., commanding the Sixth Infantry Brigade, lias been distinguishing himself in the manoeuvres which are taking place on the Hants and Surrey borders, 'the Morning Post says: The New Zealand officer ha 6 done exceedingly "'ell since he has been in command of a brigade in this country."

Captain Bernard Trench, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, oris of the British officers imprisoned by the Germans for espionage, has just been appointed to oommand the division of his regiment Gtatioacd at Plymouth, and with them he forthwith embarked in transports to take part in the great naval manoeuvres in the North Sea.

Lieutenant 0. Siggers, R.N.R., a brother of the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers, of Dunedin, writes to the Journal of Education warning teachers against the representations of a person who call? himself "The Rev. W. F. Curzon-Siggers, M.A., Canon of Christchurch, New Zealand," and who, profecfiing to be interested in the education question, is said to have visited two schoo.e at least in Southampton, and to have held out to schoolmasters here good prospects of employment in New Zealand. Lieutenant Siggers says this man must be an imposter, a 6 his brother, Canon Curzon-Siggere, is at present in New Zealand.

Mies Mini Caldow (Wellington), the, favourite contralto singer, who has been studying in London for several years and fulfilling many engagements, has decided to go out to Now Zealand for » visit. She lias had a busy season ttrs year, aiid has been singinc in most of the large provincial centres. She has a fortnight's engagment at llfracombe; a kvourrte holiday centro on the North Dbvoii coast, and at its conclusion she will return to London and make final arrangements for sailing. She hopes to leave at the end of August by the s.s. Otway. In New Zealand doubtless. Miss Caldow will have a good reception pi'.b'liclv, and already £ie knows that she i 6 to sing for the Musical Union in Christchurch, and for the Choral Society in Wellington. Mies Caldow contemplates staying in New Zealand and Australia for about six months, returning to London again in time for tho musical season. Up to the lost Mies Caldow is taking a special oourso of lessona from one of the instructors for Covent Garden.

Mr J. B. M'Kinney (General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Invercargill) leaves to-day for New York to put in six months' work. He will devote a month to the summer training school at Lake George, and the remaining five months -will bo spent in New York. On the way to England, Mr M'Kinney visited the Y.M.C.A. institutions in Chicago, San Francisco, and other important centres, and of course he saw much to interest him, while the up-to-dateness of the methods impressed him very much. Tho work of the Chicago branch is eo extensive that there are employed something like 150 secretaries. At Culver, Indiana, Mr M'Kinjiey attended a general assembly meeting. During his travels in England he has been specially impressed by the strength of the Y.M.C.A. work in the inland centres. Ho was present at tho World's, Conference, held in Edinburgh, attended by 500 delegates representing 36 nationalities, German delegates being more numerous than representatives of other countries. The Y.W.C. Associations in America, too, have well equipped buildings, with very large memberships. On his way back to Vancouver Mr M'Kiwiey will sec all thai he can that will bo of interest to the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand.

Mr and Mrs J: C. Begg (Wyndh&m Station, Southland) spent an interesting fortnight in Ceylon. From Naples the journey to Eng.and wag made overland. Their stay in London will not be a long one, for, after a trip to Wales and Scotland, Mr and Mrs Begg will sail oarly jj September for the United States and Canada.

Mr and l Mrs C. R. Chapman (Dunedin) are back in this country at tho conclusion of a nine months' stay on tho Continont, divided mainly between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Recently Mrs Chapman has been staying at Stelling, in Kent, with Mrs Hockdn and her daughter, Mrs lo Francois. Mr and Mrs Chapman are going through to Scotland; now, aad they contemplate a lengthy stay in the north.

Miss E. L. Kirkcaldy (Dunedin) has recently seen a good deal of England by motor, travelling with relatives. August is to be spent' in Scotland; the winter will be passed partly in Switzerland, partly in the South of France.

Tho Rev, W. R. Campbell, late Presbyterian minister at Hanmer Springß, went tT Edinburgh very (soon after landing last March, and remained there till tiho beginning of June, and while there he attended tho May meetings of the Assembly of tho United Froe Presbyterian Churoh. Then throo weeks .were spent with friends in tho Highlands, whore Miss Campbell still is, Mis Campbell being in London with her husband. They will 'all remain in this country till tho New Year, and then will loavo for Now Zoaland by tho Athenic, with thft intention, as Mr Campbell says, of ''settlingdown for the rest'of our lives."' In tho middle of August Mr and Mrs Campbell will return to Scotland, and will remain there for some while. During his travels about bte United Kingdom Mr Campbell has como across many relatives and friends. One of the latter, now in London, is tho Rov. J. F. Snee, who was for aotne years vicar of Cheviot and Amuri, and who left Vv'hen work in that district had established lm health. Then ho went as missionary to North-West India, whore he has laboured with much success for soven ' years. Mr Snee is now enjoying furlough in England, accompanied by lira Snee, who herself wa6 a mission worker,

Only three days hive passed so far this vtelc, and during that period the following Now Zealand visitors iiavo entered tJioir names in the callers' book at tho High Com Office:—Mr J. B. M'Kinney (lnvoroafgill), the Rov. \Y. R, Campbell (Cbristehurch). Mrs and Miss Campbell, Mrs W. F. Hamilton, Mr and Mrs Percy T. (,'lc;rhorn (Auckland), Mr G. E. Grantham (Wellington), Mr and Mrs H. » Dadley (Auckland), Miss A. V. Hay (Auckland), Mr F. KcaghtJoy (Taranaki), Mr Owen E. Macfio (Dunodbi), Mr and Mrs H. Wigram (C'li.r.istchurcli), Mr Leslie G, Lilly (Christcliuroli), Mr and Mm F. Dayy and Master Davy (Christchureh), Mr 11. Wise (Wellington)! Mr H. J. Faxrer (Auckland), Mr and Mis Oombs (Palmorston North), Mr and Mib J. Mowlom (Palmerston North), Mr D. C. Kenm (Wellington), Mr Maokenzio I'orbos (Wa.nga.iiui). Colonel Hamlev, Mr R. B. Hamilton (Wellington), Mr Sinclair A. Rodger (Timaru), Mr G. Ooiip (Kaiapoi), Mies L. A. Brandon (Wollins*ton), Mr and' Mis Merlo King (Hawke's Bay) and Miss Merlo King, Mm and Miss Erson (Aucltln url), Mr H. D. Thompson and Mrs Thompson (Napier). Mr H. Gray (Auckland), Mr 'T. W, H. Scotland (Wellington), tha Rav. J. Mulloy (Now Plymouth).