HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17999, 9 November 1926, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. German Migrants The first German migrant ship that has sailed to Australia since the war arrived at Melbourne on October 19 She was the N orddeutscher Lloyd steamer C.refeld, 9573 tons, from Bremen There were 50 passengers on board, including a family of five who are going farming at IN hall - The Crete Id is to be followed to Melbourne by the Kohn and Gotha, of the same shipping line. Another vessel is to be plar- s. ed on the run to follow them, in an endeavour to establish a six weeks’ service to Australia. 0 The Sponger and Lord Btrathaona. The death of Lady Strathcona recalls the story of Lord Strathcona when he represented Canada in London as its High Commissioner. There called at the office a man m*ho claimed an interview with his lordship upon the ground that his father drove him to Aberdeen when he went to Canada. As may be anticipated, the visitor was a money seeker He left Lord Strathcona with £5 of his lordship’s cash in his pocket. The trick was repeated a second time, and for a third time it was attempted "I cannot see the man." at last said Lord Strathcona. "Give him another £5 note, and tell him that he need not call again. You can also tell him that his father did not drive me to Aberdeen when I went to Canada. The fact is, I walked! "

SC 2 X Hasnt Seen His Plf y ■' Mr Eden Phillpotts. the novelist and dramatist, does not appreciate London, which, with most folk, exercises a pot ent charm. He prefers to confine himself to the grounds of his residence. Eltham. Torquay, where he has lived for many years. He would not tear himself away to journey to London even to witness the production of his amazingly successful play. "The Farmer's Wife," which has continuously been produced at the Court Theatre for over a year. Although he can demand £IOO for a short story, Mr Phillpotts must find play-writing more remunerative than novel-writing, if we are to judge by the success of "The Farmers' Wife. ' (savs a London correspondent of the "Star”). But it is not every dramatist who can follow one success by another. and it may be that Mr Phillpotts's “Secret Woman”—based upon the novel which created a stir when it was published ten or more years ago - will not prove as magnet-like as "The Farmer's Wife. ’ I doubt, indeed, if Mr Phillpotts has seen hi* play performed. When it was produced at the Torquay Theatre —last year. I think it was Mrs Phillpotts witnessed it. but her husband wouldn't. "I am afraid I shouldn't like it," said he Mrs Phillpotts is, by the way. a sister of the Brothers R. and A. G. Topham, who distinguished themselves in the cricketing and Association football world thirty or forty years ago Mr Phillpotts was one of the band of young men who made "The Idler” the attractive magazine it was Mr Jerome K Jerome, Mr Eden Phillpotts, and Mr John Oxenham, the novelist-poet, are the only survivors of the band.

Drama in the Dark. A young Swiss woman who was staying at the house of Mr liarriss in Mai da Yale, told a dramatic story in a London court on September 21. of an encounter with an early-morning intruder. She awoke at 4 am., conscious that someone was in her room. In fear she groped with her hands outstretched towards the door and touched a human being. Crving out, she sprang to the electric light switch, and as she put on the light she saw a man disappearing A few minutes later the burglar alarm rang, and Mr liarriss rushed out and caught the intruder in the par.try Mr Harriss. a jeweller, mentioned that his house had been entered by burglars five times in 14 months. The accused man was sent for trial, x Irish Rosea Beat the English When Tom Moore wrote "The Last Rose of Summer.” was he singing the requiem of an English or an Irish bloom ? Judging by the awards at the autumn show of the Royal Horticultural Society, opened at Holland Park Hall London, on September 21. Ireland seems tp be beating the old country at growing England'.' national flower One of the chief prizes, and perhaps the most coveted trophy iy the rose world, is the Wigan Challenge Cup for the best exhibit of rose?. Ireland repeated her success of a few weeks ago, and beat the English exhibitors of roses by carrying off the cup, the winners being Messrs F. McGredy and Son, of Portadown. *.* *.j jg Peer Who M&rriedl a Shop Assistant. The death of Viscount Melville, at North Berwick, recalls a romantic marriage which the aged peer contracted less than six years ago He was then in his 79th year, and had recently become a widower for the second time The bride. Miss Margaret Todd, had recently been an assistant in a hairdresser's shop in Princes Street, North Berwick. The announcement caused a good deal of stir, which was rather mitigated when it became known that Miss Todd w2s of middle age, with a mass of white hair, and that she had been a friend of the second wife of the viscount As the bridegromm was in poor health at the time the wedding ceremony took place at Melville < astle. the ancient seat of the family, and there were very few guests.