PERSONAL NOTES FRONT LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 26, 1 July 1905, Page 22

PERSONAL NOTES FRONT LONDON.

(Fruiu Oi»\ Special Correspondent.! JjONDON, May 19. With the approach of the English summer come the first contingents of colonial tourists who are f.iliowiiu* the sun from their own Antipodean clime. These fortunate travellers contrive, most of them, to get three summers in succession by coming here in May and returning to Australia and New Zealand after the winter there is over. They are wise in their generation who choose the month of May for their first view of the Old Country, for England looks its very i>est in the spring-time. Even gley old Loudon is t ransfurmed as by a magic wand in these few precious weeks of spring and early summer. Its noisy streets no longer end in a blank v.all of mist, and fog. The towering d( me of old St. Paul's stands out clearcut against an azure sky; for we do have blue skies ip London—hi the sum-mer-time. Splashes of green in almost every thoroughfare remind one how plentiful are the trees in the very heart of the metropolis. As for Hyde Park and Regent’s Parks, they are a glorious feast of colour for the eye in the merry month of May. Wordsworth’s apostrophe to the view from Westminster Bridge must be extended 10 the vernal glories of Hyde Park—“ Earth hath not anything to show more fair!” And if London has put on a garment of beatify. the countryside is even lovelier. Visitors from the Antipodes, accustomed though they bo fo scenes of beauty, cannot fail to be impressed with 1 he sweetness and charm of an English rural landscape. A New Zealand lady writes to me this week: “I simply can’t express my delight at the charms of this beautiful and interesting country. and I feel as though I want to see every tiny, little bit of it.” 'lliat is the spirit in wh’eh to enjoy a holiday, and it is one which most visitors to the Ohl Land at this season of the year must * 4 hafe. ’l'he New . Zealand Court ai the Colonial and Ihdiah Exhibition has attracted the attention of a large number of visitors to the-Crystal Palace during the week. Mr I'. IL Hooper, of the Agmit General‘s Depa;tnien't, is in charge of the c< urt. and will remain at the Palace until B? exhibition closes in September. Amongst the New Zealanders invited to be present for the opening were the following:—Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas. Sir Walter Buller. Sir Wm. Russell. Hon. R. Oliver, Mr G. Beetham, Mr T. B. Ching. Air Grey Thorne George. Miss Standish, Mrs Irving. Miss Maude Liston. Mr A. F. Bridges, Miss L. AL Izard. Mr W. A. Bowring. Mr B. Pharazyn. Rev. H. W. AN illiams, Mr \V. N. Bond. Mrs John Edmond ami Miss Edmond. Major G. AL Hutton. Rev. F. 11. Spencer. Mr Herbert ( irnningtoii, Airs W. A. Crawford. Mrs J. B. Reid. Miss Campbell. Mrs AleKrllar Wise. Mis Ballance. Air and Mrs A. (lements, Aliss Clements. Mr R. 11. Rhodes. Mr E. A. Blundell. Mr Jas. Howlison, Air G. Dennistoun, Mrs Pharazyn. Mr T. E/Donne. Captain Hooper (x.s. I utanekai). Air John Prouse, Mr J. 11. Witheford. M.H.R.. Mr W. \ctonAdanis,. Miss Alice Williams. Mrs F. G. Thomas, Mr Gordon Arenas. .Mr 11. Nathan. Air G. Dean Greenwood. Mi<s 11. Lissaman. Air Liibeeki. Mr G. Randall Johnson Mr Edward Newman. Miss W. J. Buthgale, Mrs Richmond an:l ot hers. Lord Raufurly was one of the speakers last evening at the annual meeting <»f the Society f< r Ihe Propagation of the Gospel, held nt Exeter Ha’.l. Describing what he had seen in the great diocese of Auckland, he mentioned a spot where a Presbyterian anti a ( hurch of England place of worship stood -41 boost side by side. Thev wore certainly not both needed. This competition in religion was stilling Ihe efficiency of the work. Some unitv should be arrived at to prevent such waste. Could nbt one Inhise be built f<r thy service of God. to be used equally by different Churches? This would set free men and resources for other places whore they were nee led. Exacth the same principles and the same story must be preached from both pulp:ts. 'I he difference. to his mind, was only a matter of expression, of. different nut hods leading to the same end. (“No. no.”) He thought they ■ would not say “no” if 1 hoy "realised the situaticn. He was-speaking not of England,

but of the colonies; and it was infinitely better that a clergyman of <iny denomination whatever should visit a place (han none at all.' ''the first Seed was. hoi of churches, hut «»f men; and the men to be sent should Im? live, conscientious. and active men. recruited from the best and most highly-trained sources. By permission of the Council of the Royal Geographical Society, opportunity will be afforded at the banquet in honour of the retiring president on Monday to present to Sir -Clements Aiarkbam, on- behalf of the immediate relatives ot the officers and scientific staff of the Antarctic ship Discovery, a reproduction of the Cup of Cashel, in recognition of his unwearied efforts in providing for the comfort and safety of the members of the Antarctic expeditoh. It is stated by 1 hr ‘‘Globe’’ that £.15,000 has been offered the well-known Australian painter. Mrs Ellis Rowan, for her pictures, on condition, that she resides in Germany and drvotes her talents to that country. Similar offers, it is said, have been made by the United States and the Australian Governments. These pictures arc a unique collection, as the artist is an explorer as we’l as a painter, and has discovered Australian Howers unknown to anyone else. The late Quern took the greatest interest in the collection. Al. Paderewski, the world-fain; u - p'anist. arrived from America last Tuesday, on his way to. Switzerland, where he is to rest for two months. When XI. Paderewski ro-e .to ,leave the train no one would have fudgedvfrum. his.appearance that he had ever been seriously Hl. “Dressed in a -dark Inverness coat with a flowing cambric tie and a silk hat. his personality seemed to have lost none of its charm and "-magnet-ism.” says an interviewer. “I am much better now, however, anj I am going for two months’ lest to my villa on Ijakr Geneva,” the pianist remarked. He smiled when toH of the report that he might never be able to play again. ‘‘lt is not true,” he said, adding regretfully, “but. of course. 1 crfnnot fulfil my engagements in London this season. Where 1 shall next perform I cannot say at present, but probably I-shall play in London in October.” , The pianist has brought back with him from Australia no fewer than six cockatoos. They are. it seems, his favourite pets. Al. Paderewski speaks with enthusiasm of his audiences in Australia and New Zealand. “It was like .playing in Europe;—in England.’’ he observes. ' AA’e artists, of course, think - that people have to be of exceptional culture to understand and appreciate us.” He says this with a smile. “And in Australia and New Zealand the people were most cultured and charming, and 1 have seldom or never enjoyed more real appreciation of what 1 am able to do in my art. 1 was quite sorry to leave Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps I may go then* again—who knows!” “I know it has been said.’' he cont-inued, “that 1 mean to retire from the piano and a conqmser pure and simple. That is not so. 1 love the piano too well to discard it while my playing gives pleasure to the public. But that doos not mean that I do not compose also. 1 have, for instance, a symphony which may b? played in Leipzig, perhaps in AAar.saw : in fact. I hav<- half promised it to the Philharmonic. Society there. It is complete except for two movements —- the orch(*tra pails for which 1 have not yet scored. But for the present 1 make holiday.” sai l Pa lercwski. and Madame corroborated this statement with an emphatic nod. Mr Robert Chisholm. ex-Mayor of Dunedin, accompanied by Mis ami Aliss Chisholm, is on a visit to. the Old Country. They travelled by the Orontes from Melbourne to .Marseilles, and after spending a day or two there and a day at Lyons went on Io Paris, where they stayed a week, coming on to London a fortnight ago. They ex fleet to remain about four weeks in town, and after Mr Chisholm has finished his business here the party propose. touring Scotland and Ireland. The return journey will be made via Canada, staying some time in the chief centres. “I am particularly anxious to see the development going on in Canada.” said Mr Chisholm in conversation with your correspondent. - “Iteransp with our preferential tariff now in fonvjh.e United States is handicapped, while Canada is

offered facilities to do more bu«ine<g with us than she has done hitherto. 'l'he Canadians have not pushed trade in 1 New ZcaTand to anything like the extent- z that the States have. Imbed, it Is only within the last year or two that any effort at all has been-made by the Cairn- • dian }M>oplr to do any business with the Australasian colonies.”

Mr E. E. Leaning, of Auckland, is on a pleasure trip to this country.- He came Home via> Cape Horn, -and -iPfter spending -three? hi London 4tas gone to A\’okrr4iampton to visit -relative’s. He proposes visiting other provincial centres, ami then crossing over to Paris, whence he returns via Suez to New Zealand. Mr Leaning will be absent from the colony between nine and twelve months. On' of the most popular features of the Royal Soci<ty’s conversazione <»n ANcdne-day evening was a lantern display by Dr. E. A. Wilson, of photographs taken by the National Antarctic Expedition. Air. >Seddon, in a recent spe ch. incidentally remarked: “It is possible that I may be called to London at no distant date to assist in the counsels of the Empire.” The “Daily Chronicle,” commenting ‘on this, fac.'tiously suggests that it may mean that the presence of “King Dick*’ is absolutely necessary as arbitrator between Mr. Balfour and Air. Chamb rlain in regard to fiscal policy. Air. Thomas Meek, of Oamaru, and Mrs ALcck have arrived in Lomlon by the s;s. Athenic. and are staying at the Kenilworth prior to having for a trip to Scotland next week. l uuderr-Urud that Mr. Meek pur pose#ratrending a tlour-millers’ conferenw.- which takes pkiee shortl v in Switzerland. . Mr. Charh s Fellows, who >p< ut a num. he r of years in the colonics, is the author of “Mr. Chippendale of Port a novel of Australian and New Zealand life, which Messrs, Hutchinson - and Co. will issue shortly. Air. E. J. JcHicOe, formerly of • Wellington. >Vho is contesting the Wakon division of Liverpool in the Lilwral interest at Hie next general election.-has made a sporting offer to Ids bppdm nt on the question of Chinese labour. Mr. F. E. Smith, the Conservative candidate, had stated “on reliable authority” that no Chinese convicts or criminals under sentence of decapitation had keen offered the alternative - <:f living in the-South African mines. Mr. Jeliicoe denies Mr. Smith’s assort ion. ami has deposited £1(10 with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, to be covered' by one ‘of -similar amount from Air. Smith. Th;- Lord Mayor has been asked to decide* Hie point upon evidence taken officially in Canton. 'l'he successful party is to receive back his £IOO. and the other £IOO is to lie hanchd to the Lord Mayor’s unemployed fund. Ncit r the Lord Mayor nor Mr. Smith has yet intimated acquiesce nee in Mr. JelHcoe’s proposal. Among the g ntlemc n who. having passed the* required examinations. wei« admitted meml)ers'cf the Royal C 4ege of Surgeons at the ordinary nit e ting of th? Council last Friday were Mr. Sydney Chalmers Allen, Mr. Kenneth Farquharson Gordon, and Mr. A. B. O’Brien, of New Zealand. Mr. Allen lias been studying for tb<» AI.R.C.S. degree at King's Colleg.?. Mr. Gorden at Aliddlesc-x Hospital, anil Air. O’Brien at Guy’s. By tlw N.Z.S. Co.’s Rimutaka. which left London, yesterday. May IS. the following were* saloon passengers:—Dr. W. B. Ainger. Airs, E. and Mr. J. Armstrong,

SHss C. Boyle, Mrs. Broughton, Miss F. t Franekrn. Miss F. SUklulhHiu ■. Miss Whitton, Rev. tfc J. and Mrs. Deary, and 'their son, Mr. and Mrs. and Mi>s Frewster. Mrs. S. Gell and son. Mr W. S. Gillett, Mr. \V. T. Grant, Mr. C.Higham, Miss Hollinrake, Mrs. E. Irving, Mrs; H. Junieanx. Mr. l E. Y. Mills. Mr. ,1. G. and Mrs. Palfreyman, Mr. W. Peggs, Mr. A. J. and Mrs. Pennington, and the Jlisses Pennington, Mr. A. L. I’ltinibridge. Mr: J. Ridge, Mr. S. Robertson, Mrs. R. aruFMiss Rosa-ow. Mrs. M. anil Miss M. Rutherford. Mr. .ft Smith. Mhs Thompson. Mr. 11. R. Tuftori. Mr. W. S. Wylie. The Rimutaka also carries ah ut 100 in tli? steerage. Air. Clement L. Wragge. late of the Queensland Weather Bureau, is lecturing on astronomy and weather in a small hall at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. The hall is described on the programme as “EleetriquF Palais' de I’Gptrque and Temple of Crania." and visitors are invited to ”eome and behold the glories of the universe and th? ’ majesty of creation I” Mr. and Mrs. Fred. W. Perman (Miss Florence l.e Clcrq) have returned from Australia and New Zealand, after filltilling a twelve months' contract with Mr. J. C. Williamson, playing in "The Marriage of Kitty," “Cousin Kat',” ’‘The Duke of Kilkcrarkie.” and ether light pieces. All the principal towns in Australia. Tasmania, and New Zealand were visited during their tour. Mrs. Brown Potter's season at the Havoy lias come rather abruptly to a elos?. the expenses of “Du Barri” proving so heavy compared with the receipts that it was decided to cut short the run. Mrs. Brown Potter, who withstood a bad attack of influenza towards the last, -playing sometimes with her temperature as high as 102. now intends taking a thorough. rest. According to the "Standard” Lord Plunket is the latest of Irish landlords to dispose of his property to his tenants under Mr. Wyndham's Land Act. The Australasian rights of Mr. Charles Hannan’s melodrama. “The Whitechapel King,” originally produced in May. lOOlt. under the title of "Tile World’s Way.” at the Pavilion Theatre, and this week being played at the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre, hav.? been secured on lease by Mr. J. C. Williamson. Mr W. E. Geil. the Anierii •an evangelist, who commenced in Australia ami New Zealand and recently brought to a conclusion a tour of the world's mission fields, purposes spending this year in Gi eat Britain, conducting a mission for missions up and down the country. “1 have had some wonderful meetings already in the North of England,” he told an interviewer the other day. “In Newcastle one hundred young men came out as volunteers for. the mission field after three meetings. In Sunderland it was just the same. I find everywhere a marvellous readiness -an the part of ou.r young people to say. 'Here I am, send me.’” Mr Ceil declared the net result of his observations in the tour round the world was that the missionary cause “is about the best investment in which the Church has put its stock at this moment.” The death has occurred in his 75th year of the Rev. James Leighton, rector of Harpurhey. Manchester, who was ordained in 1854. and for the next fc;ix years dived amidst the stirring scenes of the Indian Mutiny. Shattered iu health he returned to England and made bis home in Southport till 1874, when he was appointed to the Cathedral Church, Nelson. New Zealand. and Examining Chaplain to the Bisliop of Nelson, at whose request he made preaching tours in the diocese 4i nd held services among the golddiggers. In 1884 he was appointed to the living of Harpurhey. the parish then containing 18.000 souls, lie retired from his labours there in 1901. on completing his seventieth year and for the past four years he had lived in retirement at Ki I peck. Hereford. Mr Leighton leaves a widow and daughter and a son, Mr Gerald Leighton, the well-known writer on snakes and editor of the "Field Naturalist Quarterly.” Callers at the Agent-General’s this week:— Mrs E. M. Faulkner (Havelock), Dr. and Mrs Hayes and Miss Hayes i(Waimate), Miss* Lilv M. Wilsoii (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs Walter N. Young (Dunedin), Mr T. Ross Bur*

(Dunedin), Mr A.. IL Tripe (Wellington). Mr and Mrs S. Clarke Johnson and Miss Johnson (Wellington). Miss McHardy and Miss E. McHardy (Hawke’s Bay). Mr ami Mrs Francis J. <le Cr<»z (Otago). Mr - and- Mrs Walter Bewley (New Plymouth). Mr and Mrs Hugh Campbell (Auckland), Mr and Mrs John Groves (Masterton). Mr Hedley J. Thomson (Gisborne). Mr James 11. Thomson (Dunedin). Mr ami Mrs It. T. Bailey ( Monwhanga ). Mr and Mrs Paterson. son and three daughters (WelUiigttui). Mrs J. M. Bain and Miss Willignmon (Dunedin). Mr F. G. Bolton (Wellington), Dr. and Mrs E. Aubin (Thames), Miss M. Ewart (Christchurch),. Mr J. Stenhouse. Mrs Sienhouse (Dunedin). Mr 11. Walker (Wanganui). Mrs Morison (Havelock). Dr and Mrs It. BritTault (Auckand), Miss Kitty Wallace Mackenzie (Wellington). Mr T. Washbourn (Nelson). Nir Arthur M. Hemly (Dunedin). Mr Thos. Volkmann (Wellington). Mr D. M, Neil (Invercargill), Mr J. W. Ans worth (Birkenhead). Mr and Mrs 11. C. Begg and two daughters (Dunedin). Mr A. IL Miles,‘Miss B. and W. Miles (Wellington). Mr and Mrs 11. T. Lysaght (Normanby), Mr Walter MacNa lighten (Wairarapa). Mr ami Mrs G. W. France (Matawai). Among the passengers by the < ironies, which ariived on the 6? h inst., w as Mr John Groves, of Te Nui. Masterton. who is visiting England after an absence of close upon fifty years, accompanied by his wife. Before leaving Masterton Mr Groves was entertained to dinner by a number of representative business men a.nd settlers of the d strict, and presented with a silver-mount-ed walking-stick, a case of pipes, ami a travelling rug, while a travelling rug was also presented to Mrs Groves. Their present visit is-purely a pleasure trip. During the past fortnight Mr and Mrs Groves have been doing 1 he sights of London, and next week they visit Faris, whence they will proceed to Mr Groves’ birthplace in tin* Isle of Wight. lours through Scotland and Ireland will follow during the summer months, and the return journey to the colony will be via Canada. Mr Groves expects to be back in New Zealand about (lirist mas. Mr and Mrs Walter Bewley, of New Plymouth, are finishing up a slice? sin I pleasure tour in London prior to leiving for New Zealand by the Omrah on June *2. They came via Suez by the Ortona, and. landing at Naples, spent three months on the Continent, visiting Pompeii. Rome, Florence, Pisa. Milan, \ eniee. Lucerne. Grindelwald.- IDrne. and Paris. Since the beginning oi March they have been in England, visiting relatives ami making trips to var ions places of interest. Mr F. G. Bolton, of Wellington, who travelled home chielly for the sake of his health, which had been impaired by overwork, arrived by the Athenie a few days ago. and is now' in town sightseeing in company with Mr A. 11. Tripe, also of Wellington. I hey propose going north together in a week or two for a tour round Scotland. Mr Bolton expects to remain in the Old Country until October or November. Mr A. S. Burgess, of the linn of A. Hatrick and Co., Wanganui. is on a visit of business and pleasure in this cuuhtry. He came by the .Marmora as fains Marseilles, and thence by the P. and O. special to London, returning to Paris a week later to escape the cold weather prevailing here at Easter. After a fortnight in Paris Mr Burgess returned to London, and next week he leaves on a visit to Scotland and Ireland. He will leave Liverpool for New York about the middle of July, and, crossing Canada by the Canadian-Pacific line, join the mailboat at San Francisco for Auckland. Mr George W. France, of Hawke’s Bay, arrived by the Athenie on the 12th inst., with his wife and family, on a pleasure trip to the Old World. They are making London their headquarters, but intend visiting the Midland ami Eastern counties before leaving. They purpose returning in August next, via Capetown and Hobart. Mr It. T. Bat ley, of Moawlianga. accompanied by Mrs Bailey and their two little girls and Miss Doris Torment, arrived by the Rimutaka. at the end of last month. and is now staying at feout hsca. Nir But ley’s object in com-

ing Home is for a complete change an«l fur pleasure, with which he hopes to combine business to a certain extent. Ihe party will travel through the *Ollll- - ry <|istricts. spend some t ime in London. and vi-it Scot la ml ami Ireiaml: a trip tn the Continent is also inicuivd. Mr Hatley left his English home in January. ISIiJ, and with the exception of a trip Home iu- 1877 has resided con Giuiouslv in the interior of the North I'slat.dj. ’