People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20260, 21 March 1934, Page 6

People and Their Doings .

Mr H. R. Young Tells a New Story About Shaw’s Visit to' Russia Mr A. F. Nicoil’s Portraits of Victona College Professors Will Be Unveiled Early in May.

M R H. R. YOUNG, who returned from

England on the same vessel, the Rangitane, as Mr G. B. Shaw-, said that during the trip of five weeks Mr Shaw was exceptionally amiable to everyone on board. He subjected himself to rigid physical training and every morning was to be seen in the baths on board the Rangitane. After the morning swum Mr Shaw indulged in exercises. Mr Young, it will be remembered, contested the Avon seat as Coalition candidate, opposing Mr D. G. Sullivan at the last election. He is the brother of Mr H. A. Young, S.M. He served in the South African War, and for some time after was engaged as irrigation engineer to the Transvaal Government. On his return to New Zealand he served in the Public Works Department, which he left to enter private practice in Westport. ep NEW STORY of Mr Shaw’s visit to Russia, which incidentally illustrates the informality which attends contacts with statesmen and leaders of nations to-day, was told to Mr Young when he was chatting to the author one afternoon. The Shaw party to Russia, which included Lady Astor, were discussing during the interview.’ with Stalin, how Liberalism might get a new lease of life from a graft of Socialism, and it was suggested that Mr Lloyd George should be asked to visit Stalin. Stalin replied that he would be delighted to meet so eminent a statesman, but he recollected that Mr Lloyd George had voted a sum of money for the assistance of the White Russians during the Revolution, and he was afraid he would not be sympathetic with the point of view of the present regime. “If not Lloyd George,” said one of the party, “ what about Winston Churchill?” And to that Stalin gave a grim and laughing assent, for Winston Churchill is hated in Russia as the devil hates holy water.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, Wellington, will pay tribute to its four original professors on May 5. On that day, past and present students of the college will assemble for the unveiling of the portraits of Professors J. Rankine Brown, Hugh Mackenzie, T. 11. Easterfield and R. C. Maclaurin, who were the pioneers of learning in the Wellington province. Professor Brown occupied the Chair of Classics, Professor Mackenzie the Chair of English, Professor Easterfield the Chair of Chemistry, and Professor Maclaurin the Chairs of Law and Mathematics. Some time ago when the question of erecting a permanent testimonial to the work of the original professorial stall was under consideration it was decided that this could not be done in any better fashion than by the hanging of their portraits in the college hall. The Christchurch artist, Mr A. F. Nicoll, was commissioned to paint the portraits of Professors Brown, Mackenzie and Easterfield, and a portrait of Professor Maclaurin was presented to the University by the Boston Polytechnic Institute, of which he was principal at the time of his death. The other three professors are still living. The unveiling ceremony will be officially carried out by Mr A. H. Johnstone, K.C., of Auckland. After the ceremony there will be a luncheon at the St George Hotel. UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT of Charles Dickens, a “ Life of Christ,” has come to light among the effects of his late son Henry, and there is some controversy in England and elsewhere about the wisdom and propriety of putting it into print. On the one hand, it is argued that anything from the novelist’s pen would be of incalculable interest; on the other, that Dickens wrote it merely for his children, and never intended it to be published. Dickens-worshippers, however, dispose of this by pointing out that the great Victorian writer was pre-eminently a

lover of children and that the Christ portrayed by r him will be approached in an entirely new spirit, which should make the work of unique value. It is assuming a good deal. The only other child’s book, as far as I know, of Dickens that has seen print is “ A Child’s History of England.” That production was stigmatised by Saintsbury as “ probably the worst book ever written by a man of genius, with the exception of Shelley’s novels.” 38? <§? 38? H. G. ELL is writing a history of his association with the Summit Road reserves and roadside houses, from December, 1899, when his activities started. He asks the public to withhold any criticism or judgment meanwhile. The book should prove interesting—if his story takes the form of a book—for it will go much further back than most people connected with the Summit Road Association can remember. That association was formed about 1906, and issued a crude illustrated card of membership signed, by the way’, by Mr E. J. Righton, then secretary, among other things, of the Canterbury Hall Company, with offices in the northern end of what is now the Municipal Council Chambers. 38? © 32? QIXTY \'EARS AGO (from the “Star” of March 21, 1874) : Arrival of ship City of Glasgow from Glasgow.—The ship City of Glasgow arrived and anchored at the heads on Friday night, having made the passage in 73 days from pilot to pilot. The Health and Commission officers proceeded down to the ship this morning at 11.30. We learn that there has been sickness on board, but the patients are now convalescent. Message from Hokitika.—ln the Supreme Court the case of Regina v. Levy’, for at tempting to murder overseer Furgusson. broke down through a flaw in the indictment.