PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 24 June 1905, Page 43

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Speciar Correspomleut.)

LONDON, May 12.

The Misses Gwendolen and Beryl Garsia, late of Christchurch, returned by the Orontes on Saturday from tlmir visit to New Zealand, and have been in town this week with three of their brothers. Mr Eric Garsia has left the Argentine, and is now proposing to start for Niarobi, in British Central Africa.

Mr H. Beale, of Masterton, who is travelling partly for the sake of his health and also for pleasure, came Home via Suez by the Marmora, arriving on the 3rd ult. at London. He expects to remain about four months in this country. His health has improved as a result of the sea voyage.

Mr A. F. Carey, of Christchurch, accompanied by his wife and two children, arrived by the lonic on a visit of business and pleasure combined. He spent a fortnight at his old home at Tiverton, Devonshire, and has since been engaged on business matters in town, with occasional visits to Brighton. Winchester and Southampton. His plans include tours on tin* Continent and through Palestine and India.

Mr and Mrs Lynn-McKelvie. of Lower Rangitikei. arrived in London on May Ist. iThey left Sydney on March 15th, travelling by the P. ami O. steamer Marmora. and had a splendid passage. They intend remaining in town until the end of May. when they go to Ireland for a few days, and then to Norway for the fishing season, hack to London, and on to Scotland. Afterwards they will visit the Continent and then America, where they propose to remain some time. The return voyage to New Zealand will be via Vancouver. It is entirely a pleasure trip, and Mr MeKelvie expects to be back in New Zealand about 12 months from now. or perhaps later. While in town Mr MeKelvie has been attending wool sales, and saw some of the wool off his own station sold.

Mr James Georgetti. of Mangaweka, and Mr W. G. Haybittie. of Feilding. have arrived in London, rhe former in pursuit of health and the latter on a pleasure trip. They left Wellington for Sydney on March 4th last, and came Home via Suez by the German liner Bremen, breaking the journey at Naples to visit Italy and France. Mr Georgetti has placed himself under the treatment of a nerve specialist in London, and is already feeling much improved in health. After remaining here for about a month rhe pair will visit Scotland, and the return journey to the colony will be made via America. They expect to reach Wellington in the month of September next.

It was a New Zealand night at the Colonial Institute on Tuesday, and colonists of light and leading bulked large in tin* audience which tilted the lecturehall at the Whitehall Rooms. But for a heavy sprinkling of lords, admirals and knights (1 hope 1 have them in proper order of precedence according to Burke) one might have imagined oneself back in New Zealand, so many familiar faces were there on every side. The occasion was Lord Ranfurly s lecture on "New Zealand and Its Dependencies." It was an excellent opportunity for an interesting discourse on tolonial life and ways, especially in view of the unique insight into matters afforded to your late Governor during seven years of office in New Zealand. Candour compels one to admit, however, that the lecture proved rather disappointing. His lordship was so anxious to be non-committal in his comments that he confined his expressions of opinion to eulogies upon the climate and resources of the colony, its general prosperity, its increasing trade, and its “noble race” of Maoris. The lecture was mainly devoted to a recital of facts and figures relating to New Zealand’s scenic charms and natural and industrial wealth, and the result. as a literary effort, was somewhat colourless. No doubt his lordship considered it wiser to be on the safe side, in spite of its being the dull side. And who knows that these seeds of knowledge about the colony may not some of them take root even in the stony ground of British ignorance? Mr Witheford. M.H.R.. quite excelled himself in returning thanks to Lord Ranfurly for the lecture. A princely vein of generosity ran through his speech, and spread a fine rose-glow of enthusiasm all around. He had never hoard a better epitome of New Zealand's wondrous story—what could he do to recompense his lordship? A brilliant inspiration”! have only a widow’s mite to offer,' said he, “but if his lordship would accept my seat in the House of Representatives I would willingly re sign in his favour.” The offer included, apparently, the reversion of the Premiership, his claim to which the Auckland member was willing graceful’y to waive in favour of Lord Ranfurly. Mr Witheford reminded me of the monarch in the ballad who. in an ecstasy of rapture oyer a minstrel's song, bursts forth: “ O minstrel! thy guerdon name. Be it half my kingdom that thou shouldst claim. It shall be thine, it shall be thine For thy song to-day!" The audience was vastly delighted, but Lord Ranfurly. it is understood, has not up to the pre-ent accepted what Air Witheford in his mode-ty was pleased to call his "widow's mite.” Really, Mr Witheford was the life of that Institute meeting. Without him it would have been almost — shall we say—depressingly formal. There was a freshness and unconventionality about his speech that acted like champagne upon the audience, lie melted them from formality to mirth with delightful ease, and one of his remarks hit them. as the “Times" would say, ‘"right bang in the eye." It was certainly a startling assertion. Mr Witheford was suggesting that Lord Ranfurly might use his intimate knowledge of New Zealand’s great resources tv influence British capitalists to invest more of their money in the colony, and he went on to .-ay that his lordship bad been an eye-witness of New Zealand’s rapid growth. “Wh; ," said he. ‘ a man like his lordship, who. during his seven years in the colony. lias increased the population 'by a hundred and twenty thousand’’—Mr Witheford finished the sentence as earnestly as he began it, but the rest of it was drowned in a yell of laughter. It was normally a very sedate, decorous audience, of the evening dress type, which implies the reverse of demonstrative. But the speaker's artless phrase was too much for their powers of self-restraint. they threw etiquette to the wind and fairly howled with merriment. The Hon. W. P. Reeves was one. of the speakers at the annual dinner of the Cold Storage Association on Tuesday evening—an engagement which prevented his attendance at Lord Ranfurly’s lecture, having been booked some time before the date of the latter was announced. The Agent-General replied

to the toast of "Perishable Products’* (proposed by Sir Montague Nelson), and in the course of his speech complimented the ‘cold storer--" on t ie great improvements that had been effe ted in the handling of colonial frozen prod m e al the London docks since he fir-t came to England. Apropos of Lord Ranfurly *s meeting: rumour has it that the Agent-General’s secretary had or<l«us to watch the proceedings, and in tin* event of any attack upon the colony in the course of the general discussion, to summon his chief by telephone. \- it happened, however, the discussion which followed his lordship’s lecture was most harmonious, and Mr Reeves was not called upon to come to the rescue of New Zealand in a hansom cab. An interesting point was raised by Air T. A. Coghlan, the Australian statistical expert, in the discussion which followed Lord Ranfurly's lecture <»n New Zealand the other night. Air Coghlan drew attention to the very large deeiease in the private capital employed in New Zealand owned by non-re-ident'-. and quoted some remarkable figures showing that while the value of property in Now Zealand had increased by 50 per cent, in the past twelve years, the amount of British investments had decreased from 14 per cent, to less than 41 per cent, of the total value of that property. ’This reduction of outside indebtedness was. he said, a very notable achievement for a colony whose population was still less than a million. Mr Witheford. M.H.R.; who also took part in the discussion, took a different line from Air Coghlan in his remarks on British capital. He urged capitalists in I he Old Country to assist colonial industries instead of putting so much money into foreign countries, whereby they assisted the latter to compete against their own colonies. If British labour went to the colonies and British capital went to foreign countries, he said, the equilibrium was not maintained. He suggested that lh< re was a great field before Lord Ranfurly ami other public men in the Ohl Country in diverting the flow of British capital from foreign countries to the Brit sh colonies. Lord and Lady Ranfurly have just taken a house in Pont-street. mainlv

for the purpost* «•! tHleriaming the j tor their grown up daughter. Lady Co>--t:ince Kitox. The lalt<*r was prc’-cn • rd last spring l»y lu r iimthrr. but lit season was, iinfortiiiiatrly. much iute - ft-ieil with by the illne-s of Lady Rai - Italy, who. iinnirtliat**ly after going ti Court for the first time '•inc* her retort tmin New . Zeakiu.l betaine seriously, ill. an 1 was in consequence only abl-s to chaperon Lady » 011*1.nice to one or two of ih<* piinCpai I all*, including one at Stafford House towaids the eml <»2 July. La<l\ Ranfurly. however, is not* in very good health, and intends re* tertaining a good deal during the coming London season. The will of General Solomon Richards. of Solsborough. Co. \\e\fo.d. who died on February 27 last, bequeaths h’r household ami perstnal effects and his lands at Solsborough to Major Crban \ igors Richards, of Beaufort. Sandy Co\e. and of the New Zealand forces, i'he (‘state is entailed. General Richards left personal estate valued at V .31 <»f which .L 15.917 ranks as Engli*h ’state. He betpitatbed .£52 to each <«f his two *i*t< rs. and £152 and the use of a iodgt* at Solo*borough for life to hi* serxant. Mis Mary Jackma n. The following letter from Lord Ranfurly io the "Westinhist, r Gazette’’ explains itself: Sir. My atteTition has been tailed to a paragraph in your p«p<*r of the 9th. indirectly stating that I carried r.iy party politic* to New Zealand and made no effort to disguise my suit* Nationalist sentiments, on one o<casion actually taking part in a New Zealand Orange demoiistration. I sha 1 be glad if you would insert this lettei in an equally prominent position inyo.ir paper, as I Hally contradict those ns sen ions. Never in New Zealand did I enter into English party polities, nor did 1 attend any Orange demonstration whatsoever. I am not an Orangeman and never have been one: hut I know Ireland owes much to an institution which has done its fair share to preserve the integrity of the Cnitetl Kingdom anti to uphold the British Crown. Yours faithfully. Ranfurly.” Ou May 2*l the birthdav of Queen A ictoria t lit* Prince of Wales will un-

veil in St. Paul’s Cathedral the memorial to the colonial soldiers who fell in South Africa. This striking and notable addition to the tributes to the honoured dead has been carried out in bronze from a design by Prinrvss Louise. Some IS months ago a privileged few v.ere allowed to see the Princess* original cartoon, painted by herself, which was affixed to the south wall, to enable the Dean, Sir Laurence Alma Tadema, and one or two more to judge what the effect would be. This showed an angel of life size, with wings outstretched, leaning over the cross on which the figure of the Saviour is hanging. An angel is supporting the hands of Christ, and the floating draperies somewhat veiled the figure. The modelling of the wings suggested the arrest of Hight, and with a bold outline and sweep were very powerfully conceived, while much care was given to the figure of the Lord. The tablet below bore in plain Latin letters the inscription: — “To the memory of the colonial sons of the Empire who gave their lives in South Africa for their country. A.D., 1900-1902. ‘Fear not, for I am with thee; 1 will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west. 1 will say to the north, “Give up,’* and to the south. “Keep not back; bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”*—lsaiah xliii., f>. (L This mounment has been raised by friends ami comrades in Great Britain.’ In its completed state the memorial is not yet on view, but with such slight modifications as have been found necessary it will occupy a position upon the wall close to the south door. 1 Lady Mary Lygon, Earl Beauchamp’s sister, who will be remembered in New Zealand as a member of the Princess of Wales' suite during the Royal colonial tour of 1901, was married on Saturday to Major the Hon. W. 11. S. Forbes-Trefu-is, Scots Guards. The wedding took place in the church elose to Madresfield Court, the Worcestershire seat of the bride’s family. Lady Alary* was given away by Earl Beauchamp. and was attended by the Ladies Agnes and Maud Lygon, her sisters, and the lion. Ada and the Hon. Mary Trefusis, the bridegroom’s sisters, as bridesmaid-. Her gown was a very beautiful one. in the form of a princesse lobe of ivory panne, opening to show fin underdrcss of embroidery in mother of pearl. chenille, and silk, the overdress having a bordering of similar delicate work, while over it was worn a long Empire coat of exquisite old lace, forming a transparent train, lined with tulle ruches. Her sole jewel was a pearl and diamond collar, the gift of Lord and Lady Ampthill, her brother-in-law and sister. The bridesmaid- 4 were in dainty dresses of palest green gauze, the draped bodices finished with high belts of glace of the same colour, smd collars of Mechlin lace, while they wore green straw hats to match. The presorts included a diamond ornament lor the hair from the Prince and Princess of Wales. a Air Ernest Edwards, formerly of the Gt ago School of Mines, eldest son of Air Herbert Edwards, of Ngapara, returned to London from the Abyssinian border a tew days ago. In the interests of the London-Soudan Exploration Go., Mr Edwards travelled up the Blue Nile as far as 10 degrees N. Curiously enough, it was cold rather than heat from which the expedition suffered most, the reason being that the Abyssinian border, despite its nearness to the equator, reaches high altitudes. Mr fl’.d wards is leaving shortly for Western Australia. Air and Mrs J. Stewart and daughter, of Auckland, were among the passengers by the Orontes. which reached Loudon on Saturday last. They propose staying here for about a month, and then visiting friends in Scotland and Ireland, returning to Auckland about August. Major Gilbert Hutton, D. 5.0., of the Koyal Engineers, who is an ‘‘old boy” of Christ College (N.Z.), and a graduate of Canterbury College, has just arrived in London on leave from Jamaica, jn order to see his parents, who are on a visit to England. Major Huttou left New Zealand in 18KG, after getting his commission in the Koyal Engineers, nnfl he was last in the colony in 1892. wh<n be went on leave from India. He against the Boers during 1899-

1902 in Natal and the Transvaal, where he was twice mentioned in despatches and was decorated tor services as Staff Officer. Major llutUn ft the ?un of C aptain Hutton. F.R.S., the curator of the Christchurch Museum. Mr Percy Galloway and Messrs A. and C. Gouk, of Auckland, are on a visit of pleasure to this country. They reached London on April 25, and after spending a few weeks here they will xisit Scotland and the Continent. Mr Galloway proposes to remain in England until the arrival of the New Zealand football team. Air Arthur Downes, of Masterton, travelled Home by the Vancouver route, in order to see something of the Dominion, which he had long been desirous of visiting. He broke his journey at Victoria (8.C.) and other places, and was \ery favourably impressed. Mr Downes proposes to a few months in England, and then return to Canada, probably with a view Io settling there. The death has occurred at Annan of Airs Hill, grand-aunt of the Hon. Richard Seddon, Premier of New Zealand. Mrs Hill was in her 92nd year, and was the oldest female inhabitant of the town. Mrs Hill was a native of Middlebit*. but had spent over seventy years in Annan. “Miss Tenney, of Hall Place, Spalding. has just received through the post from New Zealand a leaf of a tree which was sent witliout any envelope or protection whatever,” says the “Standard.” Doubtless the sender had some difficulty in finding an envelope to lit that tree. Air A. D. Willis, AI.H.IL, and Air Witheford, M.H.R., visited .Manchester a day or two before the former’s departure for the colony, and were shown over the wharves and docks where the New Zealand produce is handled. Both expressed astonishment at the magnitude and equipment of the Manchester docks and cold stores. They also visited the Royal Exchange and the Corn ami Produce Exchange in that city, and expres-ed the opinion that Manchester was ahead of London in catering for buyers. Callers at Agent-General’s this week included the following:—Auckland. Mr IL B. Aitken. Mr and Mrs Stewart. Aliss Stewart (Birkenhead). Mr Thos. Buddle, Aliss Buddle: Napier. Mr and Mrs Fred. Williams; Gisborne. Mr W. Livingston; Wellington, Air S. Salvk. Air C. C. ( rump. Mr and Airs Hill (Karon), Aliss A. Lew er, Mr and Mrs 11. Langdon and two daughters, Air and Mrs Ballinger: ( hristchurch, Mr A. Ockenden. Captain F. W. and Mrs Hutton. Air Win. Gavin; Dunedin, Air W. Alexander. Mr A\ . C. Bright, Mr and Mrs IL Chisholm. Aliss Chisholm. Miss L. J. Kelsey. Air and Mrs Donaldson and two daughters. Air Donald McDonald. Mr Stanley Bowman: Gore. Mr Robert Dewar. Misses Dewar (2); Martinborough. Airs P. L. McLaren and three daughters; Westport. .Messrs IL P. Sinsted and George Weston: Mangaweka. Mr James Georgetti; Feilding. Air W. G. Haybittle; Timaru. Mr John Davidson: Wanganui, Mr A. S. Burgess; Pahiatua. Mr Slewart Bridge; Bulls. Mr Lynn MrKelvie.