PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 36

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

(Fbom Oub Own Coreespondent.) May 14. I hear that Dr D. Murray Ross, of Dunedin, New Zealand, has been appointed resident house physician at the St. Marylebone Hospital, London, W. Mrs Gillies (Auckland), who came to England mainly for the benefit of her health, tells me that she feels much better for her pleasant Homeward voyage, and for the rest experienced on board the S.S. A. Co.'s steamer Gothic. She found Rio very much improved as to sanitary arrangements, but quite as interesting and foreign as ever; fend she enjoyed her short stay at Tenenff&, iwhere the Gothic quite filled up with passengers. Mrs Gillies is still in London, and her time is fully occupied by social engagements, sight-seeing, etc. She has arranged to be in Cambridge for the famous "May Week." and from. Cambridge she will spend some time in the West of England, going later to Scotland on a round of .visits. Mrs Gillies hopes to return to the joolony by the s.s. Gothic, leaving London on September 26. Mr W. Willoughby (Geraldine) was one of the passengers by the last trip of the s.s. Turakina. He has come entirely on a pleasure trip, with the object of seeing his many relatives after an absence from England of 40 years. He stayed in London for a few days, visiting the Royal Academy, British Museum, and a few other places «f special interest, and then went down to (Dorsetshire, where he st>ll is, staying for the present at Bridport. After so long an •absence from the Homeland, Mr Willoughby as charmed with the beauties of the English country at this time of year, especially in the neighbourhood of Dorsetshire, the mere aight of the landscape, he remarks, being enough to gladden the heart of an old man who loved it in his youth. Mr William Stephen, 8.A., M.8., who for some years past has been practising his profession as a doctor at Riverton, Southland, and who left the colony in January of last year for the double purpose of visitang friends and relatives in Canada and the fUnited States, and also for the professional (purpose of visiting the various hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Great •Britain, has arrived in London, and is staying at Torrington square, Bloomsbury. From Ban Francisco he went through the United (States to Chicago, and theno© to Toronto. iHis winter was spent at special post-graduate /work in the John Hopkins' Hospital, at Baltimore, and now it is Mr Stephen'c intention to take a course of three or four months post-graduate work in London, NewZealand is only Mr Stephen's adopted land, Canada being tho place of his birth. "What I wish most particularly to tell you," he said to me, "was the universal interest that was displayed in New Zealand and the doings of the colony by everyone I met Erora San Francisco to New York, and all through Canada. As I had visited New Zealand, before the days of its marvellous Socialistic and political nrogress, and had also lived there for the "past seven years, I stood in the position of an unbiassed out1 aider, who saw both 'before and after,' and I could tell of this wonderful improvement •without being in the position of a person Jboasting about himself. It is really surprising to find what a great deal is known Wrout New Zealand in all Northern America, [and the people there are always eager and Ipn the lookout for more accurate knowledge 'concerning the colony. Particularly did I ffind this to be the case in Colorado and in 'CSanada. Colorado is passing progressive {social legislation, and everyone is eager to |tnow of New Zealand's experiences. In Canada," continued Mr Stephen, "public opinion is in a transition stage on the Tquestion of public ownership of public utilities, and the Canadians are anxious to •obtain light from New Zealand. Every public- man and member of Parliament whom 5 met in Canada at once, directly he learned •that I was from the colony, plied me with endless questions concerning* New Zeaiand and its legislation.'' The two sons of Sir Robert and Lady Stout, the Messrs Robert and T. D. M. Stout, who came Home for the purpose of studying medicine, are now in London. On arrival— they came Home by the last itrip of the s.s. Gothic— they stayed for a Wme with friends at Herne Hill, but they - ihave now taken up their quarters in Hampetead direction. They intend to remain here for some years, working hard at the study of their chosen profession* Mr Arthur H. Adams has. .just returned to the Isle, of Man from his long sea trip an the Mediterranean and. Black Seas, much benefited, I am glad to learn, by the change 'and rest. He tells mo that it was a most interesting voyage, the steamer calling at )>o many out-of-the-way ports and atso many interesting cities. He wont to Gibraltar, Malta, Patras, Corfu, Syra. Smyrna, Constantinople. Odessa, Mudania, Ridosto, (Panderma (the last three little norts being In the Sea of Marmora), and Algiers. At both Constantinople and Smyrna Mr Adams spent a week, and from the latter place he Went to see the great ruins at Ephesus. He had -a fortnight at Odessa, where bad Weather — sleet and snow — was experienced. Mr Adams says that little apparent interest was taken there in the Russo-Japanese war; and, while he was there, the steamer was constantly under the supervision of the authorities, the papers arriving— when they did turn up— with all the war news blacked out. For Mr Adams the trip was one of pure holiday, he not being permitted to do work of any description. Mr 'Adams expects to be in London again before long. It is announced that another change has been made in the Rugby Union football team for Australia and New Zealand, Mr 33. Jowett, the old Welsh international, having been given the place of Dr E. (Watkins Baker, who finds himself unable »t the last moment, to undertake the tour. "Although married only, 10 years," says * London paper, "Lord arid Lady Plunket ire taking six children out with them to New Zealand— two boys and four girls. JTheir predecessors afc Wellington Government House (the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly), who were married a quarter of i, century ago, were only able to show the fedmiring Maorilanders half that numberone boy and two girls, — and no doubt, in view of the discussion How going on at the 'Antipodes on the population question, the pew viceregal party will be welcomed as the exponents of a good example. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones is at present on a visit to Scotland. He left London act Saturday for Edinburgh.