PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XIX, 12 May 1900, Page 900

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)) LONDON, April 7. The War Office has, I hear, given Mr Walter G. Russell, son of Captain Russell, a lieutenancy in the British Army. He will probably be appointed to the Northamptonshire Regiment, to which his grandfather, Colonel Russell, of Torquay, and other members of his family belonged. Sir Walter Buller and Miss Buller are back from Dresden again, and have taken up temporary quarters at St. Ermin’s Hotel, which they expect to quit shortly for a flat of their own in Ashley Gardens. They enjoyed their German visit immensely, and in spite of the antagonism to England suffered in no way at the hands of the Germans, but were on the contrary very hospitably entertained. Sir Walter was able to do a great deal of quiet work, and Miss Buller had her time fully occupied by music, German and painting lessons, and visits to the opera. Sir Walter also made a short trip to Berlin, where he looked up several of his scientific friends. A letter from an English officer to a London paper complaining of the treatment of the English caused some excitement in Dresden during the stay of Mr Walter and his daughter there and led some of (be Dresden journals to suggest reprisals. In this letter it was stated that no English girl could walk down the streets alone without being snowballed by the German boys, and assailed by them with cries of “Buller.” Miss Buller, however, never was subjected to any such insult, and was always quite willing to answer to the name off-Buller. As showing the desire of some of the papers to stir up an anti-English demonstration may be mentioned their comments on incidents in which Sir Walter and Miss Buller played an innocent part. An English party at the Theatre Central said one of the Dresdon journals out raged the sensibilities of the German audience, and would assuredly have been, mobbed if they had not quickly hurried to their carriages. What really happened was this . On the night on which the relief of Ladysmith was announced a party from the Embassy, including Miss Buller, occupied a prominent box at the theatre. In the exuberance of their patriotism they wore some tiny Union .lacks as button holes. The German journalist saw a chance of making copy out of this innocent demonstration—and made ’it. On Another 'occasion the same journal referred to what it called a display of bad taste by another English theatre party. The head and front of the offending of this party. Sir Walter Buller’s, was that thej applauded vigorously at a view of an engagement between the British and the Boers, in which the British were getting tile upper hand. This appears to have offended German susceptibilities, which ought, however, to have been soothed by the equally vigorous applause with which the English party shortly afterwards greeted a picture of the surrender of Sedan. The best proof of the courteous treatment received by the New Zealand visitors in Dresden in spite of journalistic diatribes is the intention of Sir Walter and Miss Buller to pay a visit to Dresden again liext year.

The St. Helen's Reporter says that the telegram sent by the New Zealand Government to Mr Chamberlain, and Mr Seddon’s speeeh, will be read with peculiar interest by the people of St. Helens, on account of Mr Seddon’s old association with the town, and of the kindly concern he always exhibits in it. Hut apart from that the telegram and speeeh are of the utmost importance, for they make two additional links in the chain of Imperial Federation. The estate of the late Mr Edward Martin, of Turnbull. Martin and Co., and chairman of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Jias lieen valued at £ 194,539 gross, £ 179,05 s net personalty. By his will he leaves his widow £ lOOoj his household effects, the use of his houses, and an annuity during her widow hood of £4OOO, or if re-married £2900; his two sons four-sevenths of his residuary estate; and his three daughters three-sevenths of his residuary estate. •

The Queen's approval of the retention of the title of “Honourable” by Mr Thomas Thompson, who has served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand, has been gazetted this week.

The Waiwera will leave again for New- Zealand next week. I understand that through the Agent-Gene-ral’s office her fittings for the conveyance of the First and Second Contingents and their horses to the Cape, which were of a substantial character, and which it was thought would be suitable for some of the English transports, were offered to the Admiralty, but declined, as unsuitable. However, after some delay and considerable expense in lighterage, the fittings were disposed of by private contract, but realised a comparatively small amount.

It seems a shocking thing io say, but J fear that the telegram from New Zealand on Monday announcing the location of the magnetic (South) pole by M. Borchgrevink fell as flat as a pancake and interested no one except a few scientists. Twelve months ago things would, of course, have been very different, but the war news on Monday was dismally acute and—for the time being—our ’bus conductor probably expressed the popular sentiment when he observed: “Blow Borehy vinky, wot I want to know is why we’re in another o’ them slimev hambushes. ’’

On April 3rd Mr Edward John Eyre, whose name will live in connection with Australian exploration so long as histories exist, celebrated his golden wedding at Walreddon Manor, Tavistock, Devonshire. The explorer was married by Bishop Selwyn at St. John’s College Church, Auckland, on April 3rd, 1850, his bride being Miss Adelaide Ormond, daughter of Captain Ormond, R.N. Mr Eyre was at the time Lieut.-Governor of New Ulster and New -Munster, New- Zealand. Though in his 85th year, the veteran explorer is hale and hearty and still keen on sport, especially fishing and shooting.

The following- contributions have been received this week for the Hushmen's Fund: —

The fund has now readied the respectable sum of £2042 10/6. I lie “Bradford Observer - ’ gives an excellent summary of Mr Reeves’s address last week and a short biography of the Agent-General, in which it says: “Though Mr Reeves has lived in England only some four years, he and also Sirs Reeves are already wellknown up and down the country. Both of them ardent politicians, they have thrown themselves heart anil soul into forward movements in this country, and have shown an especial interest in such questions as that of land tenure, and the public ownership of railways, gas works, waterworks, and the like.

Among the military notices in the “Gazette” of Tuesday was one to the effect that Lieut. M. E. Lindsay, of the N.Z. local military forces/ had been made a second lieutenant of the 7th Dragoon Guards.

Lord Onslow, who has been very ill, is-. I’m glad to see, about again, and has lieen permitted to take carriage exercise in the Park this week on fine afternoons.

Mr J. F. Buchanan, of Christchurch, who. with his sister, came Home by the I’nparoa in March for health sake and seems to have benefited considerably by the voyage, was amongst the enthusiastic crowd which, at Aintree, last Friday cheered the victory of the -Prince of Wales’ chaser Ambush 11. in the Grand National. He saw- a sight that man may only see once in a lifetime, and will carry the memory of the scene to the day of dissolution. Mr Buchanan and his sister are at present in London, but shortly retire to Southsen for a month’s “ozonization.” Afterwards they will make a tour of their friends in England prior to a two

months’ visit to the Lanfl ’o Cakes, where they have many relatives and friends. A trip to Ireland for the Dublin Horse Show, and a visit to the Royal Agricultural Show, figure in Mr Buchanan’s itinerary, and he intends to leave for New Zealand some time in August. Miss Buchanan proposes to stay in the Old Country some months longer.

Mr Archie McMaster and Miss McMaster, of Auckland, were among the passengers landed at Southampton by the North German liner Koningen Louise a fortnight ago. Mr McMaster has gone to Edinburgh to pursue his medical studies, and will probably be in residence in that city for the next five years, at the end of which period he hopes to be qualified to practice the gentle arts of medicine and surgery. Miss McMaster, I understand, will spend twelve months on this side of the waters in pursuit of pleasure, having, I hear, abandoned her intention of devoting a part of her holiday to musical study under English masters.

Mr R. W. Allen, of Auckland, who is pursuing his medical studies at Guy’s Hospital, had, I hear, a rather unpleasant. experience a few days ago. The pension in which he has resided since coming to London changed hands a week or so ago, but a relative of the former landlady, by agreement with the incoming tenant, maintained his position as general factotum of the establishment till the end of the month. A few- days before his term was up this party disappeared, and concurrently the lodgers discovered that some of their goods and chattels had taken unto themselves ' wings. Most of them bemoaned the loss of clothes and minor articles <Sf Wearing apparel, but Mr Allen was by far the greatest sufferer. The rogue had pretty well cleared his wardrobe, besides helping himself to a “fiver” and sundry articles of jewellery. So far the police have been unable to trace the missing man, and the landlord and landlady also appear to have departed for regions unknown. The Aucklander and his fellow sufferers have presumably a claim upon their present hostess, but it appears that she has been rather badly "had” in her bargain for the furniture, “goodwill,” etc.; most of the former being “hire-purchase” material. and. therefore, the suppliers’ property till the last instalment is paid up. The "goodwill,” in view of the circumstances, is, of course, in rather bad repair, so to speak, and wouldn’t realise, much, so the lodgers are not likely to lie able to recoup themselves bv taking action against their luckless hindlady.

Among' Aucklanders in London at the present time is Air Herbert Gentles, who came Home by way of America last month on a business mission, and intends to return to New Zealand by way of New York and Canada at the end of April. Miss Winifred Hunter Brown, of Nelson, who came to England last summer, and spent the first few months of hei - holiday travelling in the provinces, Ireland and Isle of Wight, wintered in London, her headquarters being at Streatham. Miss Brown will commence touring again shortly, her itinerary including Cornwall, Jersey and the Midland Counties. The friends in Australia and New Zealand of Admiral Lord Charles Scott will be pleased to learn of his appointment to be Commander-In-Chief at Devon port. This is one of the best berths in the service, and has often fallen to an ex-Commodore of the Australian station. K.L.H. AND N.Z. An interesting meeting between South African and New Zealander is described by the Kimberley correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” in his account of the relief of Kimberley. “We were "(he says) “out eattle guarding one day, when we were ordered to rush a kopje where a party of Boers had been seen. On reaching the top, some 20ft high, we found that the Boers were in flight. As we were giving chase we were much surprised to see another body of men, strangers to us, also firing at them. We watched for a few minutes. and then we got nearer to them. One fellow rushed up to me, and catching me by the shoulder, said, ‘What the dickens does K.L.H. mean on your shoulder strap?* I replied, ‘lt means Kimberley Light Horse. Who are you?’ . His answer was, •!’«

one of the New Zealanders.* We shook hands, and he and his comrades then’ joined us Iff chairing the ‘flyers’ for a time. We learned from him the joyful news that French was in Kimberley, that we had been relieved.”

KILLED BY EXCITEMENT. The correspondent soon after had another strange meeting, but with a tragic ending. “On my way down country homewards,” he says, “I met at Belmont a train with 800 wounded. They seemed greatly pleased to see the Kimberley boys. About five minutes before we left I shouted out, ‘Are there any Essex fellows here?’ One yelled out, ‘Yes.’ I asked him if he wanted any message taken home, and then we started walking along the permanent way, because I concluded from his answer his communication was of a private character. The fellow was exceedingly excited and delighted at the possibility, of a fellow-countryman delivering a verbal message. The excitement, . however, was too much for him, and . before I had had an opportunity of finding his name or anything about l'elativVts he fell dead on the ground. He had been severely wounded just prior to the capture of Cronje by an explosive bullet.”

The “Pall Mall Magazine” for April Contains no specially salient features In its literary matter, but it faithfully upholds its usual standard of general excellence. The dominant note of the number does not permit us to forget that a war of unparallelled interest to the Empire is going On now. Mr Charles E. Fripp’s vivid and minute “Reminiscences of the Zulu War” furnishes reading very congenial to the present state of the public mind, and Lord Ernest Hamilton’s verses on the Anglo-Saxon Breed and Blood are such as the national vanity inherent in that Breed and Blood delights to come across. A brightly written and amusingly illustrated paper, offering various plausible and probable explanations of the reasons that lead Americans to live in Europe, is contributed by the American Consul at Geneva. A copiously illustrated article, on the Paris Exhibition of this year will be sure, to be read with /interest by everybody—that is by all who are going to visit it and by all who want to visit it but can’t. The Duke of Frias caters for sport lovers in an article entitled “After Tangier Pig,” and another more limited class of readers will find something to suit their taste in Mr Baillie-Grohman’s carefully-written description of the condition of industrial art in the sixteenth century. The monthly supply of fiction headed by another instalment of Mrs Steele’s fine serial story is all up to a very fair mark. The frontispiece of this number is evidently a new departure from the magazine’s usual kind of illustration. It is a coloured drawing in the preIlaphaelite style, possessing the doubtful merit of not being readily appreciated by the multitude.

The Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand £ s. d. 105 0 0 Mr Edward Moorhouse 100 0 0 Robert Campbell ami Sons, Ltd. (in addition to £25 value contritouted by the Co. and OtaRo)... 0 0 Miss Stanley, Renton. N.R 0 5 0 Mrs Menzies, per Mrs Helen Stanley o 7 fl Robert M. Turnbull 15 15 0 Mr and Mrs M. J. Godby 50 0 0