Personal Gossip.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5057, 17 September 1894, Page 3

Personal Gossip.

[fkom otjb special correspondent. J London, August 11. Sir John Hall has given, up his design of returning by way of Canada, and left for New Zealand, yesterday by the lonic. During the last few weeks he has not taken part in any meetings or public business, having been engaged almost entirely in paying valedictory visit? to friends in the country. "I shall," he writes, "be very glad to be once more en route for New Zealand." Sir John's business with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company is said to have been arranged as satisfactorily as the company's affairs permitted. Those two leading lights of Antipodean Salvation ism, "Commissioner" Coombes and "Colonel" Bailey, sailed for New Zealand per Arcadia JastVlhursday. I think you will find that when interviewed this brace, of apostles will confine themselves to "hallelujahs" and generalising anent the condition of the Salvation Army. Mr Coombes is not the man I take him to be if he approves of the financial tactics of head-quarters. Latterly the squeezing of the branches has, it is taid, been modified somewhat in deference to public opinion, but considerable dissatisfaction still prevails. The rank and file and non-commieEioned officers readily admit that the General himself, being an old and infirm man, ia entitled to his creature comforts, hut they resent the Booth family preaching and exhorting a self-denial and abstinence which they do not practise themselves. It was, you will remember, the high teas and warm btths and cabs here and theie of Miss Lucy Booth which the Camberwell corps felt to be the last straw, when they were writhing beneath the exactions of headquarters. MrWentworth Dilke, only son of Sir Charle3 Dilke, starts on a tour of the Australian colonies, per Ocean a, on Sept. 28. Like most elderly folk who return to the Old Country from New Zealand after a lapse of many years, Mr and Mrs John Woodward, of Spriogaton, Canterbury, are, I fear, experiencing even more disappointment than pleasure from their 'visit. The places they once knew are changed beyond all possibility of reo3gnition, and London, with ita everlasting bußtle and noise, and general atmosphere of emoke and sweat and struggle for life, confuses and wearies them. Before leaving New Zealand, the farmer and his wife promised, whilst in London, to look in upon the friends and sisters and cousins and aunts of varions [ neighbours and acquaintances. Little did they know what this signified. However, Mr and Mrs "Woodward made a brave start, and after spending a whole day riding about in 'buses (chiefly in the wrong direction) at laßt arrived deadly tired at the suburban home of one of their friends' relation?. Judge their gratification on learning that the family had recontly removed to an opposite quarter of the metropolis. When Mr Woodward drifted into your London offices (having observed the New Zealand Press Association sign from the top of a 'bus, and .remembered he bad a letter to us) he seemed fairly bothered and flustored. Nevertheless, it was evident he meant to go doggedly through with bis bight-seeing. He was not enjoying his trip as he bad expected to enjoy it, but he mesnl to have his lull moneys worth at any rate. However, I expect the happiest day Mr and Mrs Woodward will Bee for a long time to come will be the one on which they sat foot again ia New Zealand. Mr Tennyson Cole has the promise of several portrait commissions in New Zealand— including, on dit, his Excellency's daughters— and will probably revisit the j colony next year. Hia painting of Sir j George Grey is now on view at Dr Manßell'a, in South Kensington, and gives suoh satisfaction that it will almost cer- j tainly be etched or autotyped. The dealer who purchases it for the latter purpose cugnt to make a nice thing of it financially, as autotypes of such a recent and excellent 'portrait of Sir George would anrely ." sell like hot cakes" at half-a-guinea apiece. Mr Cole's portrait of Lady Glasgow, exhibited at the Old Water-Col ours Show, | has been sent to the Earl's place in Scotland. By her arrangement with Messrs Smythe and Son, Mrs Besant will, she tells us, take half the profits of her Australian and New Zealand tour after expenses are paid. Not bad terms these for the "muchtravelled one," but I fancy be looks apon Mrs Besant as a possible, rather than a certain gold mine. Mr E. Owen Cox, or. Chriatchurch, who arrived Home by the Rimutaka in July, is making special inquiries into the subject of the frozen meat trade. He was present at the meeting of importers and others at Nelson's Wharf, on Thursday afternoon, but took no part in the discussion. Mr Cox is a great believer in the advantages to producers of "selling forward," and he thinks that in the near future most of the New Zealand trade will be done on this basis. When he haß proaecuted his inquiries a while longer, he promises to grant an interview en the subject* Mr H. Alan Scott, the Secretary of the New Zealand Midland Bailway Company, who is now Home on a holiday, appears to think that the poin'a of difference still existing between the Government and tho Company are bo small that a complete settlement cannot long be delayed, and heanticipates that, under ordinary circumstances,, three years and a half from the present time will see the completion of the railway. Mr Scott proposes to stay in England till the November fogs are with us. Mr W. Mendeleon, of Temuka, who has come Home to pursue his studies at Cambridge > finds that his local reputation as a crjeketer haß preceded hinu He has been eleoted a member of the London Australian Social and Athletic Club, and will figure in the club team iuth.eirnexbina.teb. He has also received invitations, to play for one or two suburban clubß at the instil gation of members of the L.A.S.C., connected also with the former. Jake Gaudaur, of Toronto, cables a challenge to Tom Sullivan, from New York, offering the New Zealander a match for not less than lOOOdols a side, the Boulling championship of the world to go with the Btake. Gaudaur evidently means business, since he supplements big challenge with an offer to accept 250d01s towards expens.3B, and row on the Thameß, or he will pay Sullivan 500dols expanses if the latter.will consent to the contest taking place in America. . The Agent-General is away on a Bhort holiday. I hear from an outside source that even should he be aßked to stay another term ia office he may decline. Sir Westby and Lady Perceval will, however, continue to live in England for some time to come in any case. Mrs Shepherd ha?, like Mrs Percival Johnstone, been spending the holidays at Margate sncl fraternising with Oacar Wilde and other eminent littdrateuw. It ia no secret that the superseding of Me Samuel Lowe by Mr Valentine as prg»

dnce expert at this side to the Ne* Zealand Government, has given great dissatisfaction to the importers and agents in London. They cay Mr Lowe thoronghly understood his businese, worked at it con amore, and managed, whilst doing his duty thoioughly, to keep on good terms with everyone. Ther hid got accustomed to him, and would havo resented a change in any cass. Sir George Grey has not left town yet, though he talks of starting every day. He is doing nothing of much publio interest at present, but hiß correspondence continues prodigious, and when h*> feels socially inclined there are numberless relations and friends only too anxious (even in the dead season) toentertain him. Though Sir George ib still uncertain when he meanß to return, his medical men have, I understand, advised him not to stay much beyond the equinox, and— l have siid tbis before— it will rather surprise me if, when the Gothic sails on Oct. 6, the G.O.M. of the South is not on board. That the veteran statesman's heart — or a large slice thereof — belongs to New Zealand may be gathered from the fact that he is constantly talking about Mr aud Mrs Seymour George and their family, especially the latest arrival, and looks forward eagerly to his niece's letters.