PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXVI, 28 June 1902, Page 1361

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Owo Comapondent.) LONDON, May 16. The Seddon Testimonial Committee altered their minds on one point, and have now fixed the maximum subscription from individuals or firms at 10 guineas. So far they have done very well, and to-day can boast a subscription list showing a total of £2OO odd. Among the ten-guinea admirers of “King Dick" we find Sir Montague Nelson, Nelson Brothers, Mr. William C. Dawes, Messrs. Westray & Co., Messrp. P. Hayman & Co., Mr. J. Cathcart Wason, M.P., Sir Edwin E. Dawes, the New Zealand Shipping Company, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, the Tyser Line, the National Bank of New Zealand and Mr. J. A. Ewen. The five-guinea sympathisers include Mr. Wolf Harris, Mr. W. S. Allen, Mr. Frank Hyams, Mr. W. Acton Adams, Mr. R. H. Glyn and the “British Australasian,’’ while Air. A. Fell worships at the Seddon shrine to the tune of seven guineas, and the Earl of Glasgow subscribes a modest two guineas. The published list suggests that the committee has still to receive a very considerable sum, unless the field open to them has been very poorly exploited, and apparently they will have at their disposal a matter of £3OO. This would hardly cover the cost of a portrait by n first-rate artist, but it would suffice for a really good service of plate. This could be presented- to Mr. Seddon whilst he was still in England. This could hardly be done in the case of a portrait, for which, moreover, frequent sittings of considerable duration would be necessary to ensure a satisfactory likeness. The time at the Premier’s disposal will hardly admit of this I should imagine.

Among those presented to the King at the levee at St. James’ Palace yesterday were the Earl of Seafield, on succession to title, by the Secretary for Scotland, and Lieutenant F. Seymour, New- Zealand Permanent Militia, by the Commander-in-Chief.

Air. John Blundell, of Wellington, with Mrs. and Miss Blundell, arrived in London a few days ago, after a cold and stormy voyage by the Gothic. At present they are temporary residents in Bedford Place, Bloomsbury, a quarter beloved of colonials who do not care for living in the big metropolitan hotels, and prefer home comforts to gorgeous surroundings. At present Mr. Blundell has no definite pleasure programme, but he contemplates a trip to Ireland and a tour in the English Lake District, and Will. of course, do the Coronation round in London, and get a glimpse of the naval review at Spithead. He proposes to return to New Zealand in time for Christmas, and will probably travel out by way of the Continent and Suez.

Airs. Levi, of Dunedin, is studying at the Royal Academy of Afusle. She is at present with Signor Albanesi, whose speciality is pianoforte playing.

Major F. Nelson George and Afessrs. James E. Davenport and John B. Whyte have been elected Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute.

Air. and Airs. Seymour Thorne George and Aliss Thorne George were present at Aliss Balfour's reception last Friday night. Air. George, interviewed by the “British Australasian,” declared thal unless the Thames-Hau-raki did something soon to drain the Thames deep levels the Government would have to take action, pronounced the Coromandel district as patchy as ever, dredging overdone in the boom, and considered that although a large percentage of the dredges are jayable, there is nothing for English capital in them; it is all local business. Air. George wound up by a reference to the prosperity and patriotism of rhe colony, and a hint that when he returns to New Zealand

about September he may be a candidate for the House of Representatives.

Mr 11. Pegram, whose bust of Sir Harry Atkinson was, I am glad to hear, so much appreciated in New Zealand, is making great progress with his bust of the late Sir John Mackenzie. The Ageut-General inspected the rough clay sketch a few days ago, and was able to give the sculptor some hints as to the physical and mental characteristics of his old colleague, which Mr Pegram promptly and skilfully turned to good ae.count.

An extremely interesting exhibition of photographs was given at a recent meeting of the Linnean Society, says “Knowledge,” illustrating certain New Zealand plants which depend for fertilisation upon certain species of birds. The New Zealand bell-bird is one of these fertilisers, performing this office for the native fuschias and the native flax. In the course of its visitations the bird's head becomes thickly covered with pollen, so that, at different times of the year, according to which of these two plants is in flower, the bell-bird may be obtained either with a bright blue or a red forehead, these colours being due to the pollen. Some years ago this led to a curious mistake, Non Pelzen, describing one of the redheaded birds as a new species. Although at the time many doubted the validity of this, it was not till 1870 that the supposed new species was abandoned, proof being given of the artificial nature of the red colouration.

The large consignment of apples and pears sent Home in the Waikato by the Styx Apple Company has proved both literally and metaphorically "a frost.” Instead of being stored in a merely cool chamber, they have been kept in a temperature more suitable for frozen mutton than for fruit, with the result that deposits of snow were found on some of the boxes, and that the fruit has been frozen through.

The late Air Nicholas Chevalier has ieft behind him in his portfolios about 50 water-colour paintings and sketches, and 70 sheets of pencil drawings of New Zealand scenes, of high artistic merit and much interest as records made on the spot of the early- aspects of rhe colony. His widow naturally wishes to give the New Zealand Government and art galleries the first chance of acquiring the collection, and, judging from a few samples at which 1 glanced at the Agent-General’s office this morping, I should say that the collection, or at least a selection from it, would be a valuable addition to New Zealand’s art resources. Particularly- picturesque are Air Chevalier’s impressions of the Mouth of the Alolyneaux, Alt. Earnslaw, North Alavora Lake, Sandfly Bay, Pigeon Bay, Upper Rangitikei, Kapiti, Torohonga Creek, Rimutaka, Otira Gorge (near Paikakariki), and the Otira Gorge.

Oxford has just taken a step which will be of advantage to colonial graduates who wish to take a post-gra-duate course at that seat of learning and to the Rhodes’ scholars, a large proportion of whom will doubtless graduate in their own country before proceeding to Oxford. Congregation last Tuesday- accepted the preamble of a statute which proposes to enable such students from a dulyadmitted colonial or Indian University as have pursued a three years’ course at such University, and taken honours in the final examination of such courseto proceed to the B.A. degree at Oxford on condition of having kept eight terms by residence (viz., two years), and of having obtained honours in a final school. All colonial students are to have shown a competent knowledge of Greek.

According to the “New York Tribune” it is All’ Chamberlain's ambition “to make a tour of the British colonies when he can leave the Colonial Office for a period of eight or ten months, and visit Canada, Aus-

tralia. New Zealand, and South Africa.” Probably Mr Chamberlain would like a colonial tour, but while the present Government remains in office a trip of eight or ten months is quite outside the range of practical politics.

The Empire has responded to the invita'ion of “Good Words” to compete for prizes for the three best Coronation odes by “dropping into poetry ’ pretty freely. The judging committee has now before it 1047 poems for the purpose of “odious comparisons.” Great Britain and Ireland have furnished 641, Canada 91, New Zealand 71, Victoria, 59, India 33, and the loyal little Leeward Islands 24 odes.

The apportionment among the various colonies of seats on the colonial stand at the corner of Gcorgc-street and Parliament-street to view the toronation processions has been finally settled by the reversion to the status quo ante. To the suggestion of the self-governing colonies that Canada and New South Wales should be given more seats, Air. Chamberlain has replied that he will give the suggestion consideration, but that in view of the ever-increasing demand on the Colonial Office for seats he cannot hold out much hope of being able to comply with it. The various colonies are now busily’ engaged in allocating seats to the numerous bona fide visitors, a large proportion of whom are sure to be disappointed. The task of the Agents-Generalis not made more easy by some of those wealthy colonials, long resident in England, who on an occasion of this kind ought to take a window and entertain their various colonial friends, instead of trying to get seats on the cheap on the stand intended for colonial visitors only. Two very glaring cases have come under my notice. One wealthy and well-educated colonial wrote to his Agent-General, calmly requesting the latter to procure 'for the ladies of his family seats in the Abbey to witness the Coronation! Another, who draws all his money from the colony with which he is identified, but who for years past has disassociated himself from all gatherings, dinners and functions, and it. goes withuot saying from all subscriptions connected with his colony in London, is also among the applicants for the “ten bob’ 5 seats. These art by no means isolated cases. There arc unfortunately’ only’ too manycolonials of this stamp over here who hold aloof from all colonial institutions here, adopt rather a tone of contempt for the colonies, never subscribe a penny to a colonial fund, but who are only’ too eager io proclaim themselves colonials with a big C, and to trade on their colonial connection when there is a chance of getting cheap scats for a great show. The Agents-General could make out a list of such applicants which would rather astonish the good folks of their respective colonies.

About one thousand new mahogany chairs, of Chippendale pattern, are

being manufactured for the use od peers and peeresses In Westminster Abbey on Cot-onation Dey. After the ceremonial those who occupied them will have an opportunity <f purchasing the chairs, but any remaining unsold to the original occupants will be available for purchase by the public. Happy the housewife who can provide herself with a Coronation suite of chairs sat upon by the aristocracy. It would, of course, be sacrilege for a mere commoner to rest on these “Sents of the Mighty,” and purchasers will no doubt keep the Coronation chair roped off in a special corner with the inscription: “Visitors are particularly requested not to touch.”

The King is having the Coronation ring, which, according to old precedent, must be rc-set for each sovereign, prepared for his use on Coronation Day’. The ring is a heavy band of plain gold, and has a large table ruby set in the centre, on which is engraved a Saint George’s cross, resembling the Greek cross, having equal arms. The English Coronation ring, which was first worn by Edward the Confessor, is the symbol of alliance between the monarch and the nation. It is only worn at the ceremony of the crowning. The Armiilie, or Coronation bracelets, which must be worn on the 26th of June, have remained unchanged for centuries. They are of solid gold, in breadth an inch and a-half, are two inches and a-half in diameter, and set round with splendid pearls.

Madame Humbert, the central figure in the great Humbert-Crawford frauds, by which she has lived in clover for five and twenty years at the expense of credulous Parisians, was, in spite of her aristocratic maiden name of D'Auriguac, merely the daughter of a provincial shopkeeper. It is a remarkable fact, that most females who have won notoriety by duping the public have been of lowly origin, and in many instances very imperfectly educated. Mrs Gor-don-Baillie was a case in point, and Aladame Humbert is another. Tho

"Crofters’ friend” was indubitably clever, but she must be reckoned infinitely inferior in craft to the Parisian lady, who will go flown to history as the perpetrator of the most colossal private fraud i.f modern times. Mrs Gordon-Baillie was a swindler who trekked -here, there and everywhere, and owed her long run as much to her mobility as to her cleverness. Aladame Humbert was, so to speak, bound down to a very’ small field of operations. Yet she reigned for a-quarter of a century and is not even yet in the grip of the law.