PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XV, 10 October 1903, Page 46

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, September 5.

On Wednesday Grand Lodge of English Freemasons was presided over by Mr Charles C. M’Millan. District Grand Master of Auckland, who had as Deputy Grand Master Mr Walter Napier, D.G.M. of the Eastern Archipelago, and Mr Justice Bucknill acted as P.M.G.

Mr W. J. Courtney, of Ponsonby, left for Auckland last Saturday. During his visit to Ireland, taking advantage of the new Land Act, Mr Courtney was able to dispose of his property in that country to which he succeeded only recently.

Mrs and Miss Holbein and Mrs C. J. and Mr Arthur Woods, who comprise a very pleasant quartette of touring Aucklanders, have been visiting places of interest in the British Isles during the past few months. They contemplate an early return to the colony, leaving here on September 25th by the Orontes. Short stays in Melbourne and Sydney will make it close on Christmas before the party is back in Auckland. Major Nelson George is now in London, staying in Russell Square. He has sold his farm, “Carlogs,” in Stockbridge, as his health had not been very good, and the worry of looking after the place proved too great. He has not decided upon future movements, but will probably shortly visit New Zealand.

Mr T. Peacock is leaving for Auckland on the 10th September via Canada and Japan. Mr Peacock will join his family in Sydney in November, and expects to be in Auckland early in December.

New Zealand papers are asked to give publicity to the fact that on August 29, at the Church of St. Peter, Hornsey, Mr W. H. Dickie, of Tollington Park, took to wife Miss Lilian Worthington, younger daughter of the late Mr Edward G. Worthington.

Mr William F. Ware, C.E.. of Auckland, arrived at Tilbury last Sunday by the Oroya from Gibraltar, having completed his work on the Dockyard Extension at the “Rock.” He leaves London shortly for the Lake District, where he is looking forward to meeting his mother and sister, whom he hts not seen for seven years, afterwards visiting friends in Wales. Mr Ware does not at present know the date of his return to Auckland, but his mother and sister return by the Orontes sailing on September 25th.

Admiral Sir Charles Hotham, who on Saturday last gave up the Portsmouth command on his appointment as Admiral of the Fleet, has held most of the great naval commands. From 186064 he served in the New Zealand War, where he was severely wounded, and was mentioned in despatches, besides obtaining the medal. Since then he has taken part in the bombardment of Alexandria, has been a Lord of the Admiralty and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific and the Nore.

On the evening of the 26th ultimo a large gathering of Glasgow constables took place at the Central Station to wish bon voyage to two comrades, John Mackenzie and William Fraser, who were proceeding to London en route for New Zealand. Headed by a piper, the party accompanied the emigrants to the platform. where a friendly demonstration took place until the train left for the Metropolis. Both men have been connected with the City Police for a considerable time, and were highly popular among all ranks of the service. The “Denbigh Free Press” of Saturday last contains a long and interesting letter from Mr H. Wynn-Williams, barrister. of Cnristchurch, and brother of the late Judge Watkin Williams, who formerly represented the Denbigh boroughs in Parliament. The letter is addressed to Colonel West, and deals generally with pisciculture and angling, and concludes with the remark that after 50 years stay in the colony he “still thinks it one of the best countries in the world, notwithstanding the advanced Socialism under our ‘King £>ick.’ ”

Dr. Thomas Cahill, of Wellington, has been staying in London since the early part of last month, having taken a postgraduate courts in New York on his wav over here. His idea is to visit some of the special London Hospitals, continuing his investigations and research in Edinburgh, Paris. Brussels, and Vienna before returning. While in Canada Dr. Cahill visited the Thousand Islands. Niagara, and the leading cities of the Dominion.

The Rev. Matthew W. Butterfield, of Wairoa, had just passed the examination for Bachelor in Divinity, of Durham University.

Mr J. McDonald, who went out with the Bth New Zealand Mounted Rifles, is now staying in London. He has no intention of returning to New Zealand for some time.

Mr. and Mrs. William Campbell, of Wellington, leave for New York on Wednesday next for a six weeks’ trip in America prior to proceeding to New Zealand. They sail from ’Frisco on October 29. During their stay in England they have indulged in one continuous round of sight-seeing, and have also had a month’s tour on the Continent.

Dr. Hocken is now at Edinburgh engaged searching records for his forthcoming book of two celebrated writers and well-known authorities on New Zealand historv, native or otherwise.

Mr. R. Sneyd Smith, of Christchurch, landed in London by the Ruapehu on the I9th ult. He is in quest of the latest knowledge in eleetrieal tramways and power stations. At the present time Sir. Smith is on a visit to his cousins at Teddington, and he will not return to the South Island for some time to come.

After thirty years of valued and faithful service as confidential clerk in the employ of Messrs. Ross and Glendining. Ltd., of New Zealand and London, Mr. James Syme Gibson passed away on Monday last at his residence, “Glencairn,” Stoke, Newington. The deceased, who was 55 years of age, was yesterday interred at the City of London cemetery at Ilford.

According to the society gossip of the “London Post” a marriage has been arranged between Miss Phoebe Rose Russell Rawlinson, the olny daughter of the late Mr. Lionel Rawlinson. of Oundle, New Zealand, and who is now resident at 168, Ashly Gardens, and Mr. Hugh Arthur Lethbridge Stone, of Rozel, Ryde, son of the late Lieutenant Stone, R.N.

Miss M. E. Bush has returned to London after an enjoyable holiday in the Eastern Counties. At Easton Lodge, Dunmow (celebrated all the world over by reason of the annual presentation of flitches of bacon to married folk who do not indulge in even the smallest amount of domestic strife), Miss Bush’s father’s native place, the New Zealand musician had an interview with Lady Warwick, and in the presence of Lady Colin Campbell, who is also a capable critic, sang several numbers. Both ladies congratulated Miss Bush on the possession of a very fine voice, and gave her much encouragement. At a concert given to the members of the Royal Horse Artillery in the Dunmow Town Hall, Miss Bush appeared in the role of pjaniste, and met. with a very warm reception from the audience. She has now taken up her residence with Madame Belle Cole at 33, Cathcart road. South Kensington, and commenced her studies under that famous singer in earnest.

Mr. Charles H. Walker, late of Eketahuna. is in London, having undertaken the trip for private family matters. During his stay here he has visited two or three of the leading horse shows, and expresses himself as being particularly struck with the quality of the English Shires. On the other hand. Mr. Walker saw nothing striking at the dairy shows in Cheshire and Derbyshire in the methods used here, though the stock was of better class than is generally seen in the colony. He will return to New Zealand by the Orient liner leaving on October 9, and upon his arrival in the colony will have a look round before deciding on any particular district wherein to settle.

Mr and Mrs James Wren, of Dunedin, are back again in town after a prolonged tour through the English lake district of Scotland. Mr Wren considers Edinburgh the finest city in Great Britain. They witnessed the King’s visit to Dublin and Belfast, and stayed in Erin

a fortnight sight seeing. On the run over from Ireland he met with a slight mishap. In passing by a lady and her chile on the wet deek he tried to s»«» the little one from falling, and slipped, coming down on the engine-room combings. which hurt hi* back. Hou < a er, though a source of inconvenience and pain for a while, Mr Wren is al! right again, and he and his wife will leave for Dunedin by the Oroya on Friday next, having thoroughly enjoyed their visit. Mrs Gideon Scott, of Dunedin, is returning by the Rimutaka on Tuesday next. She has been over here for some time hunting up some business in connection with her brother’s patent for curtains. So far her efforts. 1 believe, have not been attended with success. Mr Randall Woodhouse, R.1.A.M.. of Christchurch, who is now Professor of Singing at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, is in London for his vacation. and looking remarkably well. In his first year he has obtained the gold medal against all Ireland, and has "caught on” in Dublin to a wonderful extent. As proof of this, in May last, under the patronage of His Extellency the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess Dudley, together with the Lord Mayor, he gave an Irish-Australian concert, at which, by the way, Miss Marie Larelle and Miss Kate Rooney contributed, and the house was packed to the doors. Mr Woodhouse speaks with fervour over the kindly feeling shown in Ireland -towards Australians and New Zealanders. Lately he has been visiting his sister, Miss Lulu Woodhouse, at Halifax, who, unfortunately, has recently had to undergo an operation for the now too fashionable disease appendicitis.

Mr and Mrs James Rowe, of Christchurch, have been on a visit to Mr Henry Stephens, at Tonyrefail, on the Welsh border. Mr Stephens, some of your readers may remember, lived in Christchurch for some years. Another New Zealander they met was Mr John Jenkins, who used to live at Belfast, Canterbury. At present Mr Rowe and his wife are donig the old castles and churches in Herefordshire.

Mr Arthur Woods, Mrs C. J. Woods, and her son Arthur, together with Mrs L. Holben and the Misses N. and E. Holben. are all staying together at present in London. The last three and a half months have been spent in a round of gaieties and sight seeing in the Metropolis, and on the South Coast. The party leave for Auckland again by the Oron tes. which sails on September 25, and will enable them tc be back in time for Christmas.

Sir Walter Buller has been spending part of his autumn holiday in Ireland, principally in the neighbourhood of Limerick. where for the past fortnight he has been enjoying life greatly in spite of die excessive dampness of the weather. He is now at Killarney. and intends to spend the remainder of his spell in Devonshire, reaching London again about the middle of September.

A handy little text book of New Zealand. eminently suitable for use in schools, has just been issued by Mr Edward Arnold, at the modest price of I,'. The author of this work is to be congratulated on having added to the numerous books on N.Z. one which gives a vivid and concise conception of the colony, and an advanced school primer which is eminently readable by young and old. One notable feature of the work is that it opens with a disquisition on the essential differences between the island colony and her nearest neighbour, so there is no chance of the reader continuing his study of the colony under the impression that “New Zealand is a little island just off the coast of Australia.”

The number of visitors at the AgentGeneral’s this week was again very small, nearly everyone being out of town. Those who recorded their names were: —From Wellington—Mr and Mrs William Campbell and Dr. Thomas Cahill, M.D. From Christchurch—Messrs W. E. Black, R. S. Williams, C. D. B. Pyn and A. E. Ridley. From Dunedin —Mr A. M. Byrne. From Auckland —Mr and Mrs A. Price and Messrs F. and W. G. Foote. From Wanganui—Mr Alfred Marne.

Mr and Mrs Sidney Williams, of Christchurch, reached London last Sunday on a pleasure trip. Unfortunately on the voyage Home Mrs Williams suffered from an aggravation of a growth upon the right eye, which necessitates

her seeing a specialist here. After getting out of the doctor's hand*. Mr acd Xf* Williams intend visiting Bath. Mr William*, who has been away in NewZealand 29 years, is a native of Bristol.

Mr and Mr* Morris Fox. of Welling ton. have been .(tending a most enjoyable time on the Continent, and are now on a visit to relatives in the Mid land*. Mr Fox leave* to-morrow for New York to attend the Congress of Actuaries as the delegate of the NewZealand Government, and expect* to be o-jer there about a month. While in London he took the opportunity of having a run through some of the leading insurance companies' offices, and intends also to visit kindred establishment* in Edinburgh. Returning by the Ortona. which they catch at Naples. Mr Fox and his wife expect to !*• bark in Wellington about the end of November.

Mr A. E. Ridley, who came Home bj* the lonic for a change of air. and also with the idea of seeing some first-class cricket, is now in London. Upon his ar rival, however, urgent business fo some extent interfered with his plans. Since his arrival Mr Ridley has managed to indulge in a very enjoyable three weeks’ yachting cruise round the Isle of Wight and the South Coast. He now contemplates a flying trip to Scotland and a visit to Paris. Speaking of cricket, Mr Ridley considers the wickets in New Zealand “are every bit as good as the grounds round about here, although the genera! appointment*, of course, are a long way ahead of ours." He will ret’trn to the colony in about two months, via Australia.

News has arrived from Penang of the marriage there on July 18th. at St. George’s Church, of Miss Beatrice Jane M rsothesley. second daughter of the late Mr Eustace Wriotheslev, of Awamoa. Oamaru. to Mr Henry Kendall, of the Federated Malay states Civil Service, and son of Mr J. R. Kendall, of The Hyde. Hatfield. England.

Miss Eva Hale, of Christchurch, who is travelling with the Hon. and Mr* Peacock, is now staying at Plymouth. The party came over by ’Frisco, where thev stayed ten days, afterwards putting in s ?”. ,e ti . me in C> nada and New York, arriving in England on the first of the present month. Miss Hale is on a visit in Plymouth to her sister. Mrs Shipton. The date of return has not been considered yet. LONDON. August 28. Messrs F- J. and W. G. Foote, of Whangarei. arrived in town on the 12th inst-, from -Scotland. They came home across Canada and went on to St. John’s. Newfoundland, which is their birthplace. After an absence of 39 years they were welcomed back by a number of relatives and friends, and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Next: week the brothers visit Ireland for a short time, and then intend returning to New Zealand on September 11, joining the steamer at Naples.

Mr and Mrs Robert E. Hall, of Oakdene, Crediton. have just returned from their two years’ trip in the Antipodes, and were welcomed back by the inhabitants of Crediton. They have a son in New Zealand and a daughter in Australia. whom they went out to see. Both enjoyed their visit to Australia and New Zealand very much and feel much the better for it.

Mr N. F. J. Hazard, of Auckland, has just returned from a six -weeks’ trip to Canada, where he has been visiting friends in Halifax and Quebec. Mr Hazzard, who is Home on furlough from the Gold Coast, returns about the middle of September to resume his survey work at Dix Cove for the Government. Afterwards he will be stationed for some tune in Ashanti.

Mr T- C. Dennison, of Oamaru, and Messrs Leonard. Percy and Reginald Webb, of Wellington, are also Horae on leave from the Gold Coast, where they have been engaged on Government survey work. It is not certain that Mt Dennison will return to the Government service, but he may possibly return to the Gold Coast on mining business. *