PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 53

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Oca Own Corresi>oxdent ) LONDON, October 30. The four daughters of that belo\ed and heroic daughter of Queen Yictoua., PrinC2S3 Alice, who sacrihocd her own life to save that of one of her children 30 years ago, married respectively the present Emperor of Russia. Prince Louis of Battoiii berg. Prince H«nry cf Prussia (the Kaisei's brother), and the Grand DukeSergius of Russia (uncle of the Emperor Nicholas II). It is the widowed Grand Duchces Sergius (Princess Elizabeth of H-essc-Dcinnstaut, and niece of King Edward! who is now reported to have entered the Convent of the "Bluo Nuns " at Moscow, a community which numbers among its inmates the members of not a 'fetv families sufficiently distinguished to be enrolled in the " Velvet Book" (the " Baratnaia Kniga ") the Russian '' Burke." The Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodoroyna (such is her Ru^sia-n title) is 44, and married the ill-fated Grand Duke Sergius in 1884, when she was 20. She had been trained by her devoted mother in the most rigid Protestantism ; young as she was at the date of her marriage she possessed an inflexible will, and dismay reigned at the Imperial Court and m Russian society g-e-nerally wthen she emphatically refused to abjure her Protestant principles and enter the fold of tho 'Russo- Greek, or " Orthodox "' Church. Tho persistent and continuous efforts to convert her to Orthodoxy were as frequently resisted by the courageous young Grand Duche&s, who held out for years, and only reluctantly consented in 1891 to be confirmed and baptised in accordance- with the Russo-Greek rite, which is practically analogous to the Gresk. This piece of ecclesiasticism aroused general indigation throughout Protestent Europe, and the Times in particular dealt with Ihe "scandal" in the severest manner. Being childless herself the sympathetic Grand Duchess devoted herself to the care and education of the motherless daughter of the Grand Duke Paul. It was this vouner princess who married Prince "William of Sweden at Tsarskoe-Selo last May. Dr Wolby E. Fisher, who has just returned from a five weeks' tour through France, has again taken up his duties of resident medical officer to the Chelsea Hospital for Women. Dr Fisher, who is a eon of Mr T. R. Fisher, of Dunedin, contemplates an early return to New Zealand, where he was in practice for soms joa.rs at Gisborne. Dr Fish it is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, I ar.cl has now concluded a long term of post-graduate practice and study. At Uni- \ ersity College Hospital, where he graduated in 1900, he has acted as house surgeon, gynaecological house surgeon, and obstetric house surgeon. He is a member of the M'adfical Society of K.he Hospital and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He has taken out a course of general (surgery at the London, Hospital, but his attention hae been specially directed to abdominal and gynaecological surgery, in which h-e has gained a full experience. He has been hous>e surgeon to the Gordon Hospital for Rectal Diseases, senior house surgeon to the Hospital for 'Cancer and other Tumours, junior house surgeon to St. Peter's Hosp;»*l for Genito-Urinary Dis-ea=-es, casually officer and house surgeon to tho Xorth-Eastern Hospital for Children. He proy&nt appointment of resident medical officer to the Chelsea Hospital for Women is for one year, of which he has served nine months. The staff of the hospital number? loaning gynaecological teachsis of th? London schools, and includes such names as Bland Button, Giles, Eden, Comytis, Berkeley, and Bonn\ — all write is and consultants of high repute. Mi.=d Tera French (Auckland), the really talented \oung violinist, has b r »en fulfilling concert -engagements in various jiart? of England and Wales during the last few ' monti's. La-t week =ha wa-t with Melba j down at Sunrlerhiml, where she met with a') excellent reception for her pia>ing of J Wi -maw ski's Polonaise in D Major, and j competitions by .^ara^ate and Yeaye ; i Baekhaus was ths pianist of tho paity. ! Next woek Miss French will be heard at Bristol, again as a member of Melha's party. I The Now Zea'and young lady has a num- { her of engagements in prospect, one to ; which she is keenly looking forward being i Hie Ktoek Exchan-g-e concert at th-e Queen's I Hall in February. With Baekhaus and Plunket Greene feh-e will bo hoard at a concert at R-edhill early in No\ ember. Mins French ha-, for fonic time past, had many pnudo en^itifPineiVs. Capable critics agree that h^r future musical career .should be a briliant one. I Mr Perc v C. Brid^vman (Dunedin) ha« joined the Lcndon Branch of the Hank of 1 New Ztaluid in order to cam o\pci lonc-o -, h? expect- to remain here for «e\eral jtal^. ' A'~ o;,pomtnit\ offer? he looks foi\\<»rd to ion ■> go* 1 golf, whdo in vacation timrs t^'ir- will picbabh bo iiwde to Scotland. litliintl. and the Oo'itnie'nt Mr Bridge- , -.■,d". cmi" to Lor. lon by the s.« Aiawa, e\iviMi:m» a -iMij-Ltful pa^atje-. I F.thel (i. Rojrois (I' I'.Tcargill),1 '. Tcargill), who !r* h->eii in K"iop" for ir.oie than tv.o \ears , i?-r, i= ]-:st row m lIo!!;<nJ, fia>i);p at The Ilaeae v, i< ! i hoi si=t:i-, Mada»n-e Vcr- ! iM-:i. J^fore lons 'he v. ill co to Fiance vi ei"'?r to *tud\ Fiei'O-h on :h" spot Mi-s ; R :•■:--"? wi'l rctu) -i to N -w Zealand i iti--1 i.t^l\. Co tV- 15th Jciu'.civ Me and sfrj H-nr. Wood iChri't'hurcli) ' will tn'A for , Ne\< Z:?:..-,d, vja jL' -ti^ha. lv the P. aud \ O. s'ci.i. .• 3lo'cla^la. I i'oHr,.'. ij,',- '„r,ij tie i^t^ot \ -iiors ro the, Xc-v Zpr-lii'l ('• . i si' \' -■ rMiibitioi. :— , Mi- G. 13. L'~" >> J LV"rV t :. Dd ! (Weii.r.g ii"), N. Bo'--. :1;. - -lira). C'aptcin M \ ' li\ i.o ard U. • J' * i>n (C».r:'U ''Uic.lo- -' (,?!!->'. .' " il: c i > i i-ii.). R'""- -Jr.n.e- I • T r _•- a.v' M,, Ji.r- I '-i P, reh" V. alker t 1 da-- of C'w >. T: 'z\- IV.. - ,)rfl V H i: r .i.c (Div ■-.'. in;. A. E. b. DolLio (D.m---j

Ea.oh week now the number of New Zealanders who leave their names at the London office of the New Zealand Government will grow fewer; visitors are either on their way hack to the Dominion or else they are making arrangements to spend the winter months away from London, a good many going abroad. This -week the callers have included Mis s Agnes M. Herb-art (Kelso), Miss Jessie Bannatyne (Dunedin), Mr A. S. Miller (Oamaru). Mr Llewellyn R. Evans, son of Mr R. Evans, of Kaiapoj, has been settled in North Wales for the last six years. There he has taken tip hockey, playing for the Rhyl 01 üb. He has been chosen to represent Wales in the International Stadium contests, which open to-day Mr Kennei-ley Rumford is singing Alfred Hill's " Waiata Poi " m the provinces. ijjtill in command of that commodore of tho Now Zealand Shipping Company's fleet Captain H. E. Groenstreet, the 6.6. Rirnufcaka sailed from London yesterday with a good number of passengers. Dr W. A. Wheeler is the medical officer on board. According to th-3 official list, which has reached me just prior to the closing of the mail, the saloon passengers ara : The Rev. Dr Erwin, Mrs Erwin, and the Misses Erwin (2), Mr and Mis L. E. Clark and son. Mr and Mrs, F. 0. Fi,ho r and Mr F. R. Fisher, Mr and Mrs J. Harrison Jones, Mr and Mrs J. Hazlett and Mies Ha-zlett, Mr and Mrs P. Barry. Mr and Mrs J. H. Hoyle, Mr and Mrs W. Mills, Miss Mills, and Mr W. Mills, "the Messrs G., C, and A. Mills, "MF and Mrs S. Parker, Mr and Mrs R. SrepTienson, Mrs C. B. Griorson and the Misses Griei\-on (2), Mrs White, Mrs 'M. H. Lance and' the Misses Lance (2), Mrs'C. Moore, "Mrs M. A. Chalker, Mrs Dunn and family. (4), Mrs J. Goldstein, Mrs P. J. Macdonald, Mrs Marshall, Mrs D. Wilson, Mrs A. Read, Mrs M. J. Roberts. 'Mrs S. E. Robinson and Mr H. Robinson, Miss 0- Bartle.man. Miss E. Brown, Mrs E- . Collie, the Misses Mowbray (2), Miss R. M. Aldorson, E. Beveridge, A. Hamilton M. Morrison, A. Orchard, J. Reid, Swinburne (2), Messrs D. L. Grant, J. Hoiliday. E. C. Holmes, H. H. Lusk, P. C. Rowe, C. White,- E. E. Brook, H. D. C. Galloway, E. F. S. George, H. M. George, E. A. Glading, B. Goodman, F. Hoult, B. A. C. Hutcninson., J. B. Jackson, J. Keball, A. J. Macdougall, L. H. Owen, A. M. Wadmore In the third class the Rimutaka carried rather more than 190 passengers. November 6. The death at Penlee House, Stoke Damerel, on Thursday, of Miss May Esther Hobson recalls the first and far-sighted Governor of New Zealand, Captain W. Hob=on, R.N., of whom she was the daughter. After the death of Captain Hobson in New Zealand the family settled down in England, the deceased having lived the greater part of her life* at Stoke. In her 3'ounger days she was a fine horsewoman, and she always had a great Jove for animals. Sho was one of the old generous school of • presidents who fully felt the responsibility of having means. She was a supporter of the parish church, and always •■ responded most liberally, although • unobtrusively, to all deserving charities. The St. Bartholomew Men's Club was practically founded by her. She will be greatly missed by the poor of the parish. Miss Hobson'6 brother, the late Captain W. Hobson. R.N., is distinguished for his work in tliD West Indies. Her sinter married Sir Alexander Rendel, consulting engineer £o the India Office. Readers throughout New Zealand will be interested to read particulars of a wadding which took place at Holy Trinity Church, Eastbourne, on October 31, for the bride was Miss Ethel Hinemoa Godbv, second daushter "of Mr Michael John Godby, of Timaru, New Zealand. The bridegroom was Mr William Gordon rock, youngest son of the late Mr Cnristopher Shorrock, J.P., of Darwen, and nephew of Mrs Elworthy. of Christchurch, New Zealand. Ths bride, who was given away by her father, wore an Empire gown of soft cream satin, e-mbroi- i d-sred by an aunt of the bridegroom. She ako wore the customary wreath of orange blossom and tulle veil. There were four bridesmaids and one page. The ceremony ! was performed by the Rev. G. P. Bassett Kerry, vicar of " the parish. The bestman was Mr Joseph ■Shorvock, brother of , the brid^frroom. At tho conclusion of the , service Mr and Mrs G^dbv entertained about 50 guests at a reception at the Grand Hotel, those nresent including the following—Mr and Mrs George Rhode*. Mrs Willes, Mrs Wslter Perry. Mr Charles Delamain, Mr Timaru Rhodes. Mr and Mrs Edward Moorhou^e and Miss Moorhouse, Dr Harper, and Mrs Hall. . A large number of pfc.ents wore > received, including several < I erjuos. The bride nnd groom hava gone to D<Mon*hire for their hoiT?\moon. Their future home is to be in Darwen, Lancashire. ' At a mass meeting of the Church of England Men's Society, the Bishop of Stepney leferred to his acceptance of tho ! Australasian invitation. He then said that during the Lambeth Conferenrs many ; bishops in tnanv parts of the world asked i h'"m to go out and explain what the move- ! ment mpant. Had he accepted all the invitations he would have been hard at work as a globe-trotter for two or three years, but he felt ho could not refuse the invitation of Australia and Now Zealand. He mr.de it quite clear thai h-e was not groin? out me-relv or iJiimarilv in connection with any suggested mission of help, , lor even as a delegate" of th" Men's Society. The bishops, he said, had asked him to go out from the nwn of th ; * country, e-pc-ciallv th-e Chim limon, and make an ftpp^al simply and -.olelv to the men of those new nations of t lie AngloSaxon iare. Sir James Mills and Mr J. M Ritchie wei."> guest* at the annual dinner of the Timiture of Marine- F'lgiueoi 5, held at the , Hoi born Rc.^tiurant la~t woek. Tho pr*->i-donr of tho year (Mr James Denn\) wos in tho chair, and there was an unusually large and repre-scntative gathering. Those present numiiered alx>ut 400. and included Lord In\erelyde, Sir Thomas Sutherland (P. and O. Company). Sir James Macka-y (Bnti-h India Comnain ). and other prominent members <>f tho <- I .rppin,g world. The Poard of Tr.idf wo« r-ppvp>-"nted by Sir Walter Ho well, X.C.8., and Captain" Chal- ! iii"r, and tii" Admiralty by Admiial Frelrantle- sird Admiral Engineer Gram. Sir Wilhnin Win:?, ih-" Hon. C. A. Pardons, and' Sir Forte^u" Fl-^-i-orv wore a!s) ;irecent. M r o:sethei \i \\o. cro of tho ir.osc i-uccc;s---ful functions of its kind veld for a long v. hi I<^. What i« rp2ard<-d by artist- is " ths " ljort>-3it exhib tion of Lorvic.i — that under rh^ aii'pi'fi 5 of iho Soci^rv cf Voifraif Pa'ntor 'it- iiv«- b^'-'i op^nr-) The n'linI ber of {Jicuu-es is linut-cd to 150, and as

T some of its 50 members may exhibit tt canvases, or three if they choose, ami eu some other artists are invited to eeixf canvases, it is plain that ordinary outside exhibitors have little chance of showing any of their work at this particular exhibition. This year there is or.s New Zealand artist , — Mies Grace Joel (Dunedin) — v. ho has had i a large port-rait accepted ; the subject is i a young girl, ir harmonies* of pink ; this ! picture has a place of honour on the line. Miss Joel has many friends in New Zealand who will learn with interes-t of her recent success. The Society of Portrait Painters, of which Sir William Orchardson, R.A., is president, is ho Win? its show at j the New Gallery, in Regent street. ! Mr E. Harrison Jones, son of Mr J. Har- '• rison Jones (of Messrs Kirk and Co., Dunedin), is at present making his headquarters at Bradford, attached to the wellknown firm of Messrs J. Reddihough. one of the biggest wool-houses in the locality. Mr Jones hopes to put in 12 months in this country with the object of gaining experience in the wool trade. At present he does not enthuse about the smoky and foßg-v atmosphere of the big English cities, and he say 3 he will be very glid to get back to the bracing cold of Dunedin. Mr Jone. came up to London for a few days' sightseeing. I Sir Richard Douglas Pow-all occupied the j chair at the ordinary quarterly meeting of the Royal College of Physicians of London last Thursday, when a number of candidates for the College Licence, haying conformed to the by-laws and regulations, and ■ passed the required examinations, had! licenses to practise physic granted to them. , In the list I noticed 1 the following names: — - iH. C. R. Darling, University College (Oamaru, N.Z.} ; C. O. Lillie (New Zealand ! and Middlesex), E. L. W. Mandel (Guy's Hospital), and J. W. Adams (Cambridge and St. Bartholomew's Hospital). After 30 years' of song on the public platform, Madame Albani, favourite vocalist of the late Queen Victoria, is preparing to appear at the leading variety theatres in England and -Scotland. The famouj 6inger will receive what is believed to ba the highest salary ever paid in vaudeville. She will probably start at Glasgow, where she will fulfil a fortnight's engagement at a salary of £1000. Madame Albani is th« greatest oratorio singer and prima donna to go upon the English vaudeville stage. Thirty years ago such a step as thi6 lady is now taking would have coma as a thunderbolt to the musical world, but things hava ' changed since then, and it is not improbable • that other famous singers will follow her I example. Captain and Mrs Rupert England are passengers to New Zealand by the Mora-yehire, which left Liverpool the week before last. Mr and Mrs P. Pattullo, of Otago, travel by the same steamer. The Guardian this week announces ths appointment of the Rev. E. H. Strong, M.A., Universitj of New Zealand, to be Theological tutor in St. John's College, Auckland, New Zealand. At preaent Mr | Strong ig curate of St. Barnabas Church, | Balsall Heath ; aUo, the appointment i-a ' announced of the Rev. Edgar Ward to bo vicar of Waerenga-a-hika, Hawke's Bay, j New Zealand. The talented Dunedin violinist, Mis* Audrey Richardson, contributed a violin i solo at the presentation of prizes at the Guildhall the other day, in the presence of the Lord Mayor and a large audience. She was enthusiastically applauded for her performance of Wieniawski's Fantasie. It i« announced that Miss Richardson* who has taken many prizes for her work, has been awarded the Tubbs Prize for 1903. Since the spring Mrs F. Every (Otago) has been moving about the Mother Counj try. The principal object of her visit was to see her son, who left New Zealand six I years ago with the intention of gaining . experience in motor-car engineering. I hear that he has been so far successful thai. he Jias for some time been in charge of the testing department of the Swift Motor | Works at Coventry, and has won for the cars of that firm several gold medals in various competitions. At times his work has necessitated long motor tours through 1 the United Kingdom^ and on «orae of theea Mr E\ary was accompanied by his mother. who thus has been enabled to see much ol the Englis'i and Scottish country. The Rev. W. E. Paige, formerly Anglican clergyman at Mastcrron, has died a* Paignton at the age of 72. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated. He wa3 ordained in 1859, and acted as curate of St. James's, Ply-> mouth, from 1859 to 1861. He was sub^eqnently chaplain of the gaol and head* master of the Grammar School in Antigua, West Indies, until 1853, when ho became incumbent of All Souls'. Antigua. Fioni 18S0 to 1894 he was incumbent of St. Matthew's, Masterton, and from 1E94 to 1899 he took an active share in the work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. New Zealand visitors to Devonshire used to make a point of seeing Mr Paige at his Paigntcn residence, where all old friends were accorded a hearty welcome. Mr Gilbert Anderson, who represented. New Zealand at the Congress of Refrigerated Industries in Paris, has returned to London after enjoying a short holiday in Italy.

At Friday's meeting- of the Southland County Council it was resolved : " Thaf: gorse be brought under the provisions of th Noxious Weds Act in the Southland County." Mr Green was the mover and Mr J. R. Hamilton the f-eronder of the motion. There was (says th<> Southland Times) a full meeting of thp council, and the motion met with only three opponents — Messrs Middleton, Gilchrist, and Robertson. The secretary of the Anti-Asiatic League reports that there are over 100 Chinese in ihe Otaki district engaged in market gardening and fruit and vegetable selling. He urges, with a view to combating the Chinese monopoly of this trade, that the State farms should be utilised for supply-' ing- people with vegetables, thus benefiting the consumer and at the same time helping to defray the^ost of the farms. An oddity in clocks is the invention of d. Frenchman. M. Paul Cornu. It consists of a dial mounted above a reservoir, and having a sort of see-?aw mounted upon its support. The reservoir holds alcohol enough to last for a month, which serves aa fuel for a small flame which burns at one end. The heat from this flame causes tho end to expand in the bulb of the see-saw •directly above it As a result, the seesaw moves 0 1 cry five seconds. This singular mo\.°!:i?nr i=> the sole motive power which act.titus ilie hand.

a WINGATTTI HANDICAP, of 120sovs; second horse to receive lOsovg and thethird osova from the stakes. Seven furlongs. Nomination, lsov; acceptance, 2sovs. DEFINITION OP A HACK.— A Hack Is a horse which has not won a race of the value of lOOsovs, or raoea of the collective value of 250sovs at time of nomination. PENALTY CONDITIONS.— The winner of any flu.t race of th© value of 40sovs after the declaration of "weights to carry 101 b extra, and of every additional raca of the value of 40sovs a, fuither penalty of 7lb. Bates of Entries, Acceptance.*, Etc., WITH AMOUNTS TO BE PAID. All Entries and Acceptances CLOSE at 9 p.m. on their respective dates, unless notified to the contrary. FRIDAY, 4th SEPTEMBER, 1908. Champagne Stakes, 1909 .. .. Forfeit lsov FRIDAY, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1908. ENTRANCE. Champagne Stakes, 1910 Free FRIDAY, 4th DECEMBER, 1908 Champagne Stakes, 1909 .. .. Forfeit 3sovs* FRIDAY, 29th JANUARY, 1909.' ENTEANCE. Dunedin Cup .. .. leov. Publicans' Handicap lsov , Jockey Club Handicap lsov | Anniversary Handicap lsov Autumn Hurdles lsov Gladbrook Hack-" lsov Stewards' Welter lsov Berwick Hack .. lsov j Hisdon Hurdles .. lsov Henley Hack leov City Stakes lsov Domain Handicap .. lsov Outram Hack lsov Railway Plate .- 2sovs Suburban Welter lsov Owhiro Hurdles lsov Flying Handicap lsov Warrington Hack lso <r Hopeful Stakes lsov Abbotsford Welter iscv Waiho'.a Hack lecv Wmgatui Handicap lsov MONDAY, Bth FEBRUARY, ICO9 (on or about;. Weights Declared for First Day. FRIDAY, 32th FEBRUARY, 1909 Acceptances and Further Payments. ' Autumn Hurdles lsov I Gladbrook Hack lsov i 1 Champagne Stakes (sub) osovs' Dunedin Cup 4=ovs ! Stewards' Welter lsov | Berwick H"ck lsov J Publicans' Handicap 3sovs I ENTRANCE. j I Trial 2*ovs WEDNESDAY, 24th FEBRUARY, 1909. Weights Declared for Second Day about 9 p.m. Acceptances at 10 pm. ' Domain Handicap 2sova I Hir.don Hurdles lsov Henley Hack lsov City Stake 3 lsov ', Jockey Club Handicap 4scvs j Outram Hack lsov Suburban Welter lsov ; FRIDAY, 26th FEBRUARY, 1909. Weight* Declared for Third Day (to appear • in Daily Times. I Acceptances at Noon. Owhiro Hurdles ..' l=ov Flying Handicap 2sovs Warrington Hack lsov i Anniversary Handicap 3aovs j Hopeful Stakes leov Abbotsford Welter i £O v Waiho'.a Hac'- ] S oy Wingalui Handicap 2sovs H L. JAMES, 22d Secretary. '