PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IX, 1 September 1900, Page 409

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 28. The Agent-General has received a letter from Major Robin, written from bivouac six miles north of Pretoria, on 26th June. In it the Major conveys the thanks of the New Zealanders to the various donors of the comforts. He continues: "I have much to regret having to inform you t'hat very few of the various parcels sent from London or New Zealand have as yet reached us, the route has been a long one, and our duties have always placed us on the long turning movements and away mostly from bases. We hope the war will soon be over, and then we will get a chance to procure some of the necessary articles so kindly sent. Please remember the immense difficulties the railway and transport people have to contend with. It i.; wonderful that they have been able to do so much as they have already done.”

The Agent-General and Mrs Reeves nre spending a few days at Hall’s End, Keswick, close to Lake Derwent Water.

Lady von Haast is on a short visit to Mr and Mrs Nicholas Chevalier, whose pretty house on Sydenham Hill, just above Dulwich woods, commands the finest view' of London from the great wheel at Earl’s Court to the Docks far down the river. Mr Chevalier is in a very delicate state of health, and suffers very much from his old enemy, gout, which has rendered it quite impossible for him to do any more painting. When New Zealanders are looking out for new pictures they should bear in mind Mr Chevalier's fine seascape of Kapiti Island and Cook's Straits, one of the best examples of his work.

Mr Murray Menzies Gardner, of the Permanent Militia, arrived on Wednesday, somewhat sooner than was expected. He came overland from Marseilles, and will, I understand, begin without delay the long course of gunnery at Shoeburyness, finishing off with a term at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. The congregation of All Souls’, Ilarlesden, to perpetuate the memory of their late vicar, the Rev. Hubert Edward Carlyon, who formerly worked in New' Zealand, Sou,th Africa, and Cornwall. and who died suddenly on the Ist ulto., at Moretorurn-March, Gloucestershire, whilst away on his ■holidays, have decided to fill the east window in the church with stained glass. Teddy Reynolds, I understand, has definitely decided not to race at Paris. Professor and Mrs Macmillan Brown arrived on Tuesday from the Continent, looking wonderfully well and brown after their extended tour. They lost no time in escaping from the London heat and on Thursday were off again to the seaside tn Scotland. Of the Passion Play at Ober-Am-mergau, Professor Brown speaks in the most enthusiastic terms. He went there sceptical, but came away w’ith the impression that if the performance could only be given all over the globe, it would make more converts to Christianity than all the missionaries or Salvation Armies that ever set out for the uttermost ends of tlie earth. While at Ober-Ammergau he stayed in the "house of the Judas Iscariot of the play, whom he describes as a magnificent actor. In fact, the play seemed to the Professor the tragedy of Judas Iscariot. With the Bavarian castles Professor and Mrs Brown were somewhat disappointed. Returning, they crossed Lake Constance, and visited the falls of the Rhine. Cassel, Stuttgart, Heidelberg, and Hamburg. Fr- n the great German port they embarked via Kiel for Norway and Sweden, through which countries they made a most extensive tour, visiting the chief fiords and ■places of interest and l>eing much struck by the beauty of the scenery, the excellent roads, the conveniences of travelling, and the extremely modest charges. While admitting that the finest parts of the New’ Zealand sounds are equal to if not finer than the finest parts of the fiords. Professor Brown was of opinion that, taken as a whole, the Norwegian fiords must be pronounced superior to the Antipodean

for grandeur of general effect. lie hopes to pay Norway another visit next summer.

Mr B. Hallenstein and his party, consisting of his wife, l(js daughter (Mrs Fels) . and her two eldest girls and his attendant, arrived in London a week ago after a live months’ journey round the world. Leaving Wellington in February, they embarked nt Sydney in the Japanese liner Tawate Morn for Chinn and Japan. Mr Hallenstein speaks in high praise of the comfort of the boat and the courtesy of her officers, crew, all “jolly

Japs” except the captain, first mate and chief engineer. A whole day was spent at Brisbane, at Townsville, and at Thursday Island, and nearly two at Manila. In Hongkong Mr Hallenstein had three days to spare for sight-see-ing in the Flowery' Land. Some of the passengers went for a visit to Canton, but as Mr Hallenstein learned that even then the Chinese there were very insulting to Europeans, spitting in their faces, he wisely determined not to proceed further. From Hongkong they went to Kobe, where they spent a week and whence they made a very interesting tour through Japan, in the course of which they' put in a few days at Tokio. From Yokohama they sailed once more via Honolulu to San Franeisco. After a week in the Yosemite Valley they' travelled by easy stages to New York, staying on the way at Utah, Denver, Chicago and the Niagara Falls. From New York they went to Boston and Washington before coming on to England in the Kaiser Friedrich. Mr Halleustein’s Impression of the United States of America is that they will go ahead of any country in the world, their agricultural and industrial resources being so immense. He has not as yet quite settled his plans during his stay in Europe, but he will pay an early' visit to his son-in-law, Mr. Siegfried Barden, in Hamburg. Mrs. Fels will return to the colony in two months’ time, after placing her daughters at school. The latter will return with Mr and Mrs Hallenstein about eighteen months’ hence.

T regret to announce the death of Captain Russell’s father, LieutenantColonel Andrew Hamilton Russell, which took place at his residence. Font Hill, Torquay, last Friday. The cause of death was syncope. Lieuten-anf-Colonel Russell, who had reached the ripe age of 80, was given at the age of 16-years a. commission of the 22nd Foot by the Duke of Wellington, in .recognition of the services of hits father, who was killed in the Penin-’ sular war. After serving in the West Indies he took part in the war which resulted in the capture of Sinde, and then exchanged into the 58th Regiment. in which he served in New Zealand in 1845. His successful farming and political career in New Zealand are too well known to need enumeration. Returning to England in 1874 he took up his residence at Winchester, whence he moved to Torquay 17 years ago. He leaves five sons and three daughters. Mr and Mrs Arthur P. Lucas, of Nelson, were among the Himalaya’s passengers. Mr Lucas caught rather a. severe chill at Port Said, so after a few days in London they have been resting with Mrs Lucas’. brother, Mr Jennings, at Bury . St. Edmunds in Suffolk.

The visit of Mr C. L. Wiggins, of Christchurch, to the Old Country, which he had mot seen since he left it in 1861. was much saddened by' the news of the death of his son (of the Third New Zealand Contingent) in the Hospital at Germiston, South Africa, of which he only learnt through the newspaper report while he was at Ilfracombe.

Anglo-New Zealanders of all colours join in congratulating Mr Thomas Mackenzie on his election for Waihemo. ft was generally voted “hard lines” that, after he had thrown up his appointment in London, he should he ineligible for a seat at the last general election. To the New Zealand Parliament his knowledge of the English end of the frozen meat and produce trade should be Invaluable, and should do much to circumvent the ways that are dark and tricks that are vain of the Smithfield ring, to which he will doubtless prove a “Long Torn.” Mr Rowley Aiekin, son of Mr Graves Aickin, of Auckland, who is studying medicine, passed the recent examina-

tions highly creditably. Mr Choyce also added another to his unbroken series of successes. Dr. Sommerville, of Auckland, is at Edinburgh after a short visit to Germany, extending his experience especially in the departments of ear, nose and throat. Mr W. Wilson returned to town on Wednesday, where he met Mr Horton, and both probably proceed North. Mr Wilson enjoyed his visit very much, and is in excellent health. He expects to be back in New Zealand about Christmas. The many friends in New Zealand of the clever little violinist. Miss \ era French, will be pleased to hear that she has obtained the gold medal of the Royal Academy of Music. To achieve this distinction at the tender age of eleven is a somewhat remarkable feat and augurs well for Miss French's musical future. At present the little Maorilander is fulfilling an engagement at the Pavilion, Southsea. Mr E. 11. B. Milsom, of Christchurch, who is studying medicine at Guys, secured first-class honours in physiology and histiology at the recent London Intermediate M.B. Examination. and third-class honours in eerganic chemistry. He has also, I am glad to hear, been appointed demonstrator in anatomy at Guys. He held til! recently an appointment as demonstrator in chemistry, his successor being Mr AV. R. Allen, of Auckland. In the Second Division of the Intermediate, Air 11. AL Goldstein, of .Auckland, who is also at Guys, passed in all subjects excluding physiology, which 1 understand he will take in the final. His brother, Air 11. Goldstein, whose studies in medicine anil surgery are being pursued at Edinburgh University, has. 1 learn, just passed his first professional examination.

Mr and Mrs T. W. Leys, of Auckland, have experienced a delightful time in Scotland, and are now in Ireland en route to Killarney and eventually Loudon. In the second week of August they make away for Paris and the Continent. Since their arrival by the Gothje, rAI and Airs S. F. Smithson (Timaru) have been staying more or less in Kensington, whence they have paid several visits to relations in the South of England.

The Edinburgh University summer session class prize and honours lists were published last Saturday ami, as usual, New Zealanders figure conspicuously in the medical lists. In elementary botany' no colonist managed to get first class honours, but the following obtained second class honours: Messrs D. W. Sibbald (25), W. 11. Simpson (35), F. A. Hanan (47), 11. V. Goldstein (49), H. E. A. Washbourne (68), and A. J. McMaster (71). The figures indicate the order of merit. In elementary practical botany, class 8., Air W. 11. Simpson gained sixth place in the first class honours list, and Mr F. A. Hanan the second place in the second class honours. In physics Air D. W. Sibbald came out 24th in the second class honours list. In practical physiology (histiology) Mr R. ’!’. G. Aicken figures in the first class honours, being No. 8 on the list, and in the second class list Messrs G. \\. Harty, I*. W. Mason, and A. W. Hogg IVwd respectively the 30th, 40th and 103rd places. In practical materia medica no New Zealander was found worthy to rank in the first division. In the second class list Messrs John Finlay and I’. W. .Mason were bracketed equal at 16, and Air G. W. Harty figures at 40. Two second class honours fell to New Zealanders in practical pathology. Messrs Stuart A. .Moore and William Norlands gaining 29th and 31st places. The latter also gained second class honours in forensic medicine ami public health, his position being eighth on the list. In operative midwifery and gynaecology Air A. A. Martin obtained first class honours, his position being fourth. In the prize lists of the Medical College for Women, Alinto House, Edinburgh, 1 find the name of Miss Ethel A. Orchard, who obtained 67 per cent of marks in practical chemistry, and 57 per cent, in theoretical zoology. In practical anatomy Miss E. C. Gunn obtained 56 per cent., and in mental diseases Miss Leach reached 80 per cent, of marks.

Mr Justice Denniston ami Air.- Denniston, who have been feeling the heat ver\ much, leave oil Aug. 23. for Aviemore, in the Highlands. The Misses Denniston are going down to the South of Devon. . ( Air Edward Cohen has passed his final examinations and received the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons. England, and the Royal College of Physicians, London, and has been appointed a house surgeon at. Guy s Hospital, his previous experienco of pluinua.y in New Zealand standing him in good stead. Mrs Laidlaw Thompson, of Auckland, and her eldest daughter, have been spending a very pleasant two months in A'ork and Scot land, ami are now a; < luremont. I'errapin Road. Upper rooting, where they intend staying for some time, and where Airs Thompson’s two younger daughters join her this week from Germany. The. date of their return to New Zealand Is stilt indefinite. Camm and Airs. Pascoe (Christchurch) left the Rome at Marseilles in time to reach Canterbury for the commemoration services at St. Augustine's College. They are now with relatives in Cornwall. Canon Pascoe is going on to South Wales, and his wife in August begins a round of visits To friends in the North of England and Scotland. They' will meet again m London earlv in September, and salt in the lonic on 27th of that month. Mr Charles File, of Kent, evidently gives great satisfaction to New Zealand breeders of high-class sheep, for he has just sold four shearling rams to New Zealanders, who have purchased from him before. Two of the rams were sold to Air. George Wheeler, of Stanway. Haleombe, and were shipped on Friday last from the Royal Albert Dock. These rams are of the Kent or Romney Marsh breed, and front the Ottinge Cour’. Registered Floek (No. 7). They were sired by Ottinge Brook 13th. 4589, ami nre only entered as Ottinge No. I. of 1899, and Ottinge No. 2, of 1899, and numbered 8048 and 8049 (Vol. 6). From his registered flock No. S Mr File has sold to Air David Rowland, of Abbotswood Farm, Maiuiwatu, who personally selected the sheep, two shearling rams by Windsor Ist, 6889, Vol. 5. which as a shearling ram won first at the Royal Counties' Show at Windsor, and first at Tunbridge Wells, and as a two shear won first at the East Keni Show at Canterbury. AVindsor Ist was sired by Jumbo 15th, 4728, Vol. 4. which was one of the first prize pen at the Palermo Show in the Argentine Republic i" September, 1898. Both Messrs Wheeler and Rowland have taken prizes nt the various local shows with sheep imported from Mr. File's flocks.