PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue V, 3 August 1901, Page 225

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

The New Zealand Contingents in South Africa were represented at the New Zealand dinner by three "gentlemen in khaki,” Messrs H. G. Heywood, James Poynter, and James Gardner, who bore with veteran fortitude the volley of applause that greeted them when Lord Onslow conveyed his thanks to them for their services. Mr Gardner who hails from Canterbury, was invalided Home with a bad ear. A severe cold led to the bursting of a discharge which pierced the drum of the ear, so that Mr Gardner was as deaf as a post when he landed five weeks ago. Thanks to the care of Dr. Field, his hearing has wonderfully improved, and in a mouth’s time he hopes to be out of the doctor’s hands. If 'he could not hear, he has at least been able to see to some purpose, and has explored the South Coast pretty thoroughly, taken a look at Paris, witnessed the trooping of the colour, and last week attended an agricultural show at Colchester, which entre nous he didn’t r consider a patch on the Canterbury one, either in quality or up to dateness. Everything seemed sacrificed to getting the beasts into a superlative, and as it appeared to him, exaggerated condition.

Dr. Grace was an absentee from the New Zealand dinner. His health has not been satisfactory during his sojourn in Kent. Sir Walter Buller on the other hand looked as fit as if the sword of Damoeles had never been suspended over his head. He has taken a furnished house at Richmond, and later on will, with Miss Buller, move into rooms in the palace at Hampton Court.

Mrs W. Parsons (Wellington) and her two daughters will return to the colony at the end of the year, as Mrs Parsons finds the English winter too trying. It is uncertain whether Miss Phoebe will remain in London or accompany them.

The Rev. 11. T. Purcbas (Christchurch), who landed a month ago, after a fairly comfortable voyage in the Runic, and who for several months was hors de combat, with a bad throat, has under Dr. Lindo Ferguson's advice been taking lessons in voice production in order to prevent a recurrence of his troublesome throat trouble. The result of his course of treatment has, I am glad to say, been satisfactory, and his throat seems quite right again. Mr Purchas has been staying at Church Farm, Cbeam. Surrey, and next week goes to relatives in Herefordshire. The date of his departure will probably be September.

Mr C. J. F. Allen (Christchurch), after ten days’ sight-seeing in the Metropolis, goes North to the Glasgow Exhibition, visiting Worcester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Blackburn, and Liverpool en route. After a run round Scotland he will spend some little time in Belfast.

Mr Montague Ormsby (Christchurch) during his three months’ stay, has been up in Yorkshire and Northumberland, and after a brief visit to London is now at Doddington, Wooler, Northumberland onee more. In a fortnight’s time he is going over to Ireland to see his relations; and on his return will most likely take a tour in Scotland. Early in October he will set out by one of the Orient boats on his return to the colon v.

Mr Fred. W. Best (Auckland), who came over by the Whakatane, and who is living at Dulwich, intends to spend some four years in England with the object of gaining practical experience in gun-making.

A science master has been selected for the Auckland Grammar School, and negotiations with him should be completed in the next couple of days.

Mr. Henry A. Pegram's fine bust of Sir Harry Atkinson is now on view nt. the Agent-General's office, where it will remain for the next three weeks in .order that Anglo-New Zealanders may have a look nt it before it is

shipped out to the eolony towards the end of July.

Mr. Cadman has been laid up for the last few days with a bad cold, the result of a chill, and is unable to leave his hotel. Mr. Smith is, however, “going strong" on behalf of self and partner.

Professor T. R. Blunt, the new French and German professor of Canterbury College, and his wife and children, were passengers by the Whakatane, which left Tuesday.

Mr George Sim, after an absence of 19 years at the Antipodes, has returned to his native land for a few months' holiday, and is staying with his brother, Mr Thomas Sim, West Cutts Farm, Aberdeen.

The Agent-General has received from New Zealand the Maori mat the result of a shilling subscription from the people of New Plymouth for presentation to “8.-P.” Mrs. BadenPowell will take charge of the mat for the general.

Mr. W. G. Whittaker (Auckland) declares in the “Daily News” that the democratic colony of New Zealand “will never again, under similar circumstances, give a man or a shilling in helping to crush a brave people with whom we never had a cause for quarrel, and struggling for everything New Zealanders hold dear. There was no spontaneity about the assistance given in the first instance. It was worked up by the Imperial blast-blowing Cabinet, three ot whose members have already, at the hands of the Duke, received their reward.”

Mr. Whittaker is entitled to his own opinion about the justice of our quarrel, but how he can conscientiously say there was no “spontaneity” in face, of the enthusiastic way in which volunteers of all classes and from all parts of the country came forward is a conundrum that only the “Daily News” leader writers can solve.

Many in your city will learn with regret of the death at the age of G 3 of the Rev. Joseph Cook, LL.D., the well-known lecturer, who toured the Antipodes in the early eighties. The late Mr Cook was horn at Ticonderoga, New York, in 1838, and was educated at Yale and Harvard. After some years of European travel he settled in America, spending most of his time at Boston. Here he delivered the famous “Boston Monday Lectures,” which he afterwards published in eleven volumes. In 1880 he started on a three years’ tour of the world, during which he lectured to vast audiences in England and the colonies, and is said to have made a modest fortune by his pintform appearances.

Mr Heathcote Williams (Napier) is spending a good deal of his time in the law courts and watching the English judges administer justice. He was struck with the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Darling.