HOUSEHOLD STAFF ARRIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1924, Page 8

HOUSEHOLD STAFF ARRIVES.

MANY FAMILY SERVANTS. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. ‘ Fifteen members of the household staff of the new "Governor-General, Sirj Charles Fe/gusson, arrived at Auckland Iby the Ruapehu on Sunday. Although a stranger to New Zealand, Sir Charles’ house steward, Mr. David I Adams, has opent several years' in Australia. Twenty-five year® ago he held a similar position in the hcuseho-ld ‘of Lord Beauchamp-; tlten Governor of New South Wales. From BMW to 1910 Mr. Adam® was in the- service of th®. Earl of Dudley, at that time Governor-Gen-eral of Australia. He returned to the Commonwealth four years ago as house steward in the establishment of Sir Archibald Weigall, Governor of South Australia. His present appointment is therefore his fourth in that capacity. With Mr. Adame -are several male members of the household staff, including three chauffeurs. The domestic staff, edmprising eight maids, travelled under the supervision of Lady Alice Fergusson’s ' housekeeper, Mrs. Janet McGraw. As hex* name indicates, Mrs. McGraw is a Scotswoman, and so are seven of the eight maids. Mrs. McGraw was housekeeper in Sir Charles’ country seat, Kilkerran House, Ayrshire. She speaks in high terms of Lady Alice's housewifely qualities' Lady Alice was a capable manager of domestic affairs and, moreover, took a keen interest in her staff. Some of the maids, on the Ruapehu were daughters of maids in the household of Lady ’Glasgow, Lady Fergusson’s mother. Others have been drawn from the households of Lady Fergusson’s sisters, the Countess of Cran’brook and Lady Augusta Inskip. •

Lady Fergusson also took a great interest in girl welfare work and especially in the Girl Guide movement. Miss Ellen Fergusson was an officer in the Girl Guides. Mrs. McGraw, .believed that the family would be popular in New All were keen motorists and tennis players. They were also music lovers, and Miss Fergusson was “as good a singer as many a professional.” Lady Fergusson also possessed a well-trained voice. The lack >f affectation in family life was a theme to which Mrs. McGraw returned several times. She said that ivhejn the old family nurse visited kilkerran House she was made more of than m ny a more distinguished guest. Sir Charles took a dose personal interest in his retainers and. tenants on the estate, and was greatly beloved. None of the three sons would accompany their parents, but it was expected they would visit New Zealand in about a year’s time, the youngest son, Bernard, intending to attend Christ’s College, Chrisitchurcli. The other two sons, Mr. James and Mr. Simon Fergusson, would remain in Netv Zealand for about six months 'before resuming their studies at Oxford and Sandhurst respectively. ... . . A favourite of the family was,to arrive in Wellington with Sjr- Charifs, sa’id.'Mrs. MqGraw. This was th.e black;. and white collie dog, Dehr, who was already familiar to New Zealanders in photographs. Mrs. McGraw said there was a good deal of difficulty in'obtaining the dog’s “passport,” but it wae finally arranged. Sir Charles Fergusson wajs stated to X>e an exceptionally good public speaker, and Lady Fergusson had also some experience in this direction. McGraw spoke highly of the charm and tact of Lady Fergusson, who had the facuity .qf saying “the right thing at the iJsrHt time.”