PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 41

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

NEW YEAR HONOURS. (Feom Oca Own- Corkesfottdxnt ) LONDON, January 8. In tho first Kat of New Year honours issued since the signing of peace there are a few names of New Zealand interest. One of the new barons—of whom there are three—is Sir George A. Riddell, Bt., who is one of the outstanding figures in the newspaper world, being vice-chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, a director of the News of the World and other journalistic enterprises, and a watchful guardian of the interests of the press generally. He was in charge of the Briton and colonial press arrangements during the Peace Conference at Paris. His new honour is for "public services." One of the new baronets is Sir Henry Bichenough, K.C.M.G., whose name is well known in Now Zealand business circles, and who has rendered valuable services to the Ministry of Reconstruction and the Board of Trade. . , The naval honours list includes the j K.O.M.G. for Rear-admiral Richard Webb, ' who in 1817 was appointed to H.M.S. New : fWar-d and who previously was director ! oi fcfctf TVaae Division of tho Admiralty j War' S-kiif. Ha was also associated with i cniijosw-wiuryr control. ■ : C*nunaßd» Dudley B. N North, C.M.G., IM v 0 to in H.M.S. New Zealand on i b a v fivst world tour, and who has lately ! been on the staff of the Prince of Wales, i in promoted to be captain. _- _ I Commander A. E. Dunn, C.BE, RN.K has been promoted captain. Formerly as- ! sistant marine superintendent pi the i\ew I Zealand Shipping Company in London, Captain Dunn served continuously througnout tho war. n t, p In the Colonial Office list Dr G. R. Parkin, C.M.G. organising secretary ot tno Rhodes Scholarship. Trust, is included among the new K.C M.G. s. \ . at^Aa-rA In >he opinion of the Evening Standard the honour bestowed upon Dr fekßUj somewhat belated recognition by the'Foreign Office of services to the Empire rendered by one of the most remarkable of Britisn dtfcehs. The writer adds: Parkin at Oxford 12 years ago He had hem selected by Mr Cecil Rhodes as the man most qualified to accomplish his ideals for knitting the Empire together. By perpetual travelling from dominion to dominion bv unprecedented tact and appreciation oi colonial idiosyncrasies, and by a knowledge, of the needs of the colonies, and also the needs of Oxford University Dr Parkin succeeded in fulfilling Rhodes' ideals. Ihe Rhodes scholars in the early days regarded him as a second father. The Prime Minister of New Zealand told me that would go down to history as one of Britain s foremost Empire-makers." • The estate of the late Mr John Cary>. Lovell, chairman of Messrs Lovell and Christmas, the well-known dairy business firm, who died on the 21st October, at the age of 79, is valued at £11'5..34d gross with net personalty £76,285. The High Commissioner for New Zealand spent Christmas week at Bristol, and he was one of the quests present at a dinner given to Mr Kidman, the Australian "meat king " by the Bristol and Dominions Produce Association. Captain Ernest Wiseman (Ashburton), Mr G. A. U. Tapper (Christchurch), and Mr J. J. Virgo, 0.8. E., have been elected Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute. Major V. J. Heather. D. 5.0., R.F.A. (Auckland) has lately relinquished the actinn- rank of lieutenant-colonel. Mr a,nd Mrs F. R. Jones (Christchurch) arrived in London from Ameria just before Christmas. Business is the' main purport of the trip, and after visiting all «£he principal centres of the,'United States Mr U well satisfied with the result. Although like most New Zealanders who have been going through America, he finds that the demand in Home markets is so great that there is very little at present ready for export. Mr" Jones is now making, a round of the manufacturing centres of the Midlands. Their return passages to New Zealand have been booked by the March sailing of the Niagara.

A New Zealander in the Machine Gun Corps, Private P. Smith. 19.2209. has received a Bar to his Military Medal for bravery in the field with the British Forces in the Archangel Command. Lieutenant H. S. Barker. R.N. (Christchurch) has been apnointed to the Vivid, additional for the Godetia-, and to the Godetia as first on commissioning;. Bieutenant Barker is a son of Mr J. M. Barker. "Woodbury. North Cn.ntevburv, and he served in various ships during the war, seeing some duty on a submarine.