PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18, 4 May 1907, Page 23

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent .J MARCH 22, 1907. Sir Joseph Ward arrived in London on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by Lady Ward and Miss Ward, and Mr. Hislop, his private secretary. Beyond a visit to the New Zealand Association’s ■‘At Home” on Wednesday evening the Premier has attended no public functions this week, and indeed the round of banquets and receptions arranged in honour of the Colonial Premiers will not commence until next month. When it docs begin, a formidable social programme awaits the visitors. They are to be entertained to banquets by the City of London, the Imperial Parliament, the Imperial Institute, the Constitution Club, the National Liberal Club, the British Empire League, the Eighty Club, the 1900 Club, the Pilgrims, and the Imperial Industries Club. A reception will be held in their honour by the Colonial Office. The Premiers will also be entertained by the King and Queen and by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They will be the guests of the Earl and Countess Beauchamp, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, Lord, and Lady Derby, Lord and Lady Lansdowne, Lady Wimborne, Lady Crewe, Lady Haversham and Lady Portsmouth at receptions and evening parties. Lord Strathcona will entertain the Premiers at Knebworth, and other week-end parties are being arranged. On May .3 they will be the guests of the Admiralty at Portsmouth for an inspection of H.M.S. Dreadnought and the Home Fleet, and arrangements arc being made for a tour of the provinces, which will include municipal welcomes at Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh and other towns. To-day Sir Joseph Ward visited the Colonial Office and was introduced to Lord Elgin, Mr. Winston Churchill, Sir Francis Hopwood, and various departmental heads. His public duties will begin with the opening of the Navigation Conference next week.

Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and Miss Ward spent their second night in London at the elub-rooms of the New Zealand Association, and took part in a whist-drive organised for the occasion. Over sixty New Zealanders and friends were present, about thirty of whom attended the house-dinner held by the Association in one of the smaller din-ing-rooms at the Westminster Palace Hotel. Mr. J. K. Logan, of the New Zealand Telegraph Department, presided at the dinner. At 8.30 an adjournment was made to the Association’s rooms in the same building, and the company sat down to whist, fifteen tables being occupied. The first prize for ladies, a silver-backed mirror, was won by .Mrs. M. G. Hceles, and the second prize, a silver-backed hairbrush, by Mrs. Pember Reeves. Mr. B. Spiller won the gentlemen's prize, a silver inkbottle, beating Dr. Fitchett by a point. The prizes were presented to the winners by Sir Joseph Ward, who in a happily-worded little speech expressed his pleasure at spending so agreeable an evening amongst his fellow-colonists. He wished he could look forward with the same sense of unmixed pleasure, he said, to the formidable round of public banquets which lay before him in the near future. He would in that case be able to leave England a lighter and a happier man. (Laughter.) Altogether the gathering was a great success, and is likely to result in a further accession of members of both sexes to the New Zealand Association. Amongst those present in addition to the Premier and his wife and daughter and Mr. Cyril Ward, were Mrs. W. I’. Reeves and Miss Reeves, Dr T. W. Parkinson (Chairman of the Association), Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Palliser and Miss Palliser. Dr. and Mrs. Fitchett, Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Robison. Miss Ethel

Heywood, Mrs. Lascelles, Mr. J. Sutherland Ross, Mr. and Mi’s. Cowern, .Mr. IL Lees, Mrs. Seth Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Witt and the Misses Witt. Mrs. London. Air. 11. H. Wall, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Mason, Mr. A. S. Cook. Miss Ditchings. Mrs. Hale and Mr. C. Hale, Mr. Nuding, Mr. and Mrs. Duvernet, Mr. R. F. Jackman, Mr. A. L. Freeman, and Mr. R. F. Dickinson. ® © © Geneial Botha is probably amongst those who have taken the precaution of oidering their clothes beforehand, for when he was last here as one of the

Boer generals he and his colleagues were in a desperate predicament. Naturally, during the war they had little thought of clothes, and when they arrived in London and found a host of invitations awaiting them, they discovered that they had no clothes suitable for the fashionable receptions and parties to which they were invited. Twenty-four hours’ notice was given to a linn of tailors who provided the necessary wear for them in that time. Even in that interval, General Botha had to explain to an insistent duchess that he could not go to dinner at her house as he hail no dress clothes. Her telegraphed reply- was: “Come in a blanket or pyjamas, but yon must eome.” © ® © Some of the West-End tailors have received orders from the Colonial Premiers for numerous suits of elot lies of the smartest cut and material for their use in London. © © © Dr. Egan, of Auckland, is enjoying his holiday trip to the Old Country after twenty-one years’ work in New Zealand. He eame over last July by the Gothic —the voyage which ended in the ship's wool cargo taking fire—and sines" then ho has travelled about the country, besides spending a good de.il of his time in the metropolis. Himself a faithful devotee of cricket, Dr. Egan took the opportunity- of seeing most of the big matches at Lord’s and the Oval last summer, and during the football season he has seen the South Africans at Blackheath and the international between England and Scotland. Last Saturday found him divided between the rival attractions of the University Boat- Race and the big "soccer” match. England v. Wales, at Chelsea, and football carried the day. Dr. Egan has greatly enjoyed the opportunities of bearing grand opera and first-class concerts in London, and has heard most of the leading vocal and instrumental artistes of the day. His ward. Miss Lily Aulsebrook, of Auckland, has been placed under the tuition of Mr. Santley, the famous baritone, and is making very satisfactory progress. It is not intended, however, that she shall make her London debut yet awhile. Of another Auckland vocalist, Mr. Walter Kirby, Dr. Egan speaks enthusiastically, describing him as a thorough artist, with one of the sweetest aud most exquisitely modulated tenor voices he has ever heard. He thinks it is a great pity, for the sake of the public, that Mr. Kirby is not heard more often on the concert platform in London, for the beauty of his voice is quite remarkable. At present, however, Mr. Kirby has no lack of profitable engagements for private “ At Homes ” and receptions in the West End, and so far has gone in very little for concert work. He lias an idea of going to Italy for further study, with a view’ to taking up grand opera, but as yet, T understand, his plans are quite indefinite. Dr. Egan fell a victim to influenza in London at Christmas-time, and was laid up for six or seven weeks. He was ordered up to Harrogate to recuperate, and was so weak that he had to In" wheeled to his hotel in a Bath chair; but a few day’s of the bracing Yorkshire air made a wonderful difference. His stay at Harrogate set him up again, ami his health js now fairly good. His doctor, however, advise him to spend another six months over here before starting on the long journey back to Auckland. Whether he will be able to do this is at present uncertain, and his plans for the immediate future are therfore. indefinite. © © © Mr. M. Lloyd, paying his first visit to this country from New Zealnad, was aboard the White Star liner Sucvic. wrecked this week oil' the Lizard. “I was in bed when the crash came,'' says Mr. Lloyd, "and I rushed upstairs in my pyjamas. Then I eame down and finished dressing. The captain came down from tho bridge, and said, ’ You need not be alarmed, there is no danger; just take things coolly ’ Then the Boats were ordered ont\ and the stewards instructed to put life belts on the passengers. It was three in the morning liefore the gentlemen passengers begun to be taken off, and this work lasted till halt piW! twelve. Many preferred to wait for daylight, as there was no danger in remaining on board. The lifeboats took many people to the tugs, which then steamed direct to Falmouth, and returned for more. At Falmouth wo were all accommodated in hotels last night ”

The New Zealud .alleos at the Higtt < ommissiuner's .Jfi.-e arc bceoumx mora numerous as tac Spring approaches, and the Department-is looking forward to a big influx of visitors from the colony this season. Amongst those who signed I he visitor's book this week were Dr. and Mrs. Fitchett (Wellington). Mr. and Mrs. James Mills i Dunedin), Mr. V. C. Yirdlestone (Wellington), Mr. 11. Jaitiiner Luke (Napier). Mr. Goo. Coup (Kaiapoi). Miss Mildred Trent (t hrisUhur.-h , Miss Mabe! ( liftouAfogg (Wanganui), Miss Ruby Fletcher tChi'islclmreh), Mrs. Hainer (Wellington), Mrs. Al. N. Horne (Parnell), Mr. C. Erie George (New Plymouth), Mr. Wm. Ramsay Wilson and Mr. Frank liemlry (Timaru), Mr. Win. Belt her t Dunedin), S. G. Cow les (Wellington). Mr. C. K. Izard (Wellington). Mr. George Mellor (Alexandra, Air. I has. .Smith (Wanganui), Mr. 11. Browning (Cbristeliureh), Mr. F. A. Butterfield (Christchurch), Mr. t yri' 11. Tewsley (Dunedin). © © © Among oilier New Zealanders .nil the .Suevie were Airs, and Miss Bartholomew and Miss Sea brig lit. w-lio reached London on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Bartholomew. interviewed by th? representative of a London paper, said: ” We had just rcti'.ed to. cur I links al a quarter to eleven i n Sunday night, when we felt a violent shock. One of our (laity ran up >n deck to see what it was, and eame back dying that the engines had stopped, and we should bo delayed. We thought it was all right, and did' not trouble. Then we I card some women scream, and a gentleman tame to tell us it was nothing to be alarmed at. Some hysterical ladies had rushed up on deck in their night dtesses, thinking the boat was going down. Just after this a doctor came am! said: Ladies, take my advice and dress, ami come on deck at cnee.’ This we did, and then found that tire ship had struck i n a rock, and the boats were ordeied to lowered. There were about sOO passengers . on board, and it was eleven o’clock on Monday morning before we were all landed. There was no panic among the passengers with the ereeptii n of the few ladies 1 referred to. The women and children were the first to be saved, and this caused some tearful scenes, as husbands and wives were separated. The women all climbed down the sides of the ship, and were swung by ropes into the boats. The. captain was very kind. His ow n grief at the loss of his ship was pitiful, but bis first thought was for the passengers’ safety. AVe were about the last of the ladies t*> leave. ‘I be first boat that was laumhed was smashed on the rocks, and w<> saw a little boythrown into the sea. but he was rescued We have lost ad our luggage.” © © »3 Mr William Be'cher, the secretary jf the New Z:al:iml Seamen’s Union, has just arrivcj in London to attend the Navigation Unnferem-o. at which he will be one ot the New Zealand delegates. Air Belcher visited the House of Common ■ one night this week, and was introduced Io a large number of the Ljibour members, to whom he delivered a message of good will fro'ii the I.abour me;, of New Zealand. Mr J. Bumble, a New Zealander who served ir .he South African war as a corpora, in the Fomth ( outingenf, had the misfortune to be aboard the West African steanu , Jebba when that vessel was wrecked on the Devon coast last Sunday night. He lost all his belongings. The \e-sel struck at midnight on Sunday in thick, foggy weather. All the passengers were brought up mi deck, and a great many camo rushing up half .•lotlicd. Parts of the vessel were soon awash, ami it was impossible to go either forward or aft, as heavy seas were sweeping over the ship. Lifebelts were serve.l out to tho passengers, and .after they were all supplied the erew lit led on belts themselves. It was pitch dark, and very wet, owing to the seas constantly breaking over the vessel, and they bad to wait for hours Imfore there was any sign of a i'sene. In the meantime all the boats were got ready. The saloon was Hooded with water, bill one of the -'Jssionnries went to the piano and pantomime tunes with his feet in w: w. The monkey-house broko adrift, gas washed about the deck with liig!’.l>,e and ■•argo of all sorts. Ah ter a long while they saw a ligM somewhere on th" t...-’ s ami then a*

other light, and then green and red lights. “They’re going to fire a rocket,” someone shouted. In a minute a rocket was fired from the cliff, and it Banded right amidships. The second mate ran forward and got it. They made a rope fast to the mainmast, and n breeches buoy was rigged up. Three lines were got out, one to the top part of the cliff, and on this the gentlemen passengers were hauled ashore, the ladies going to the lower part of the rocks. The ship was cracking all the time, and they were frightened that it might break up any moment. Mr Rumble was on his way to London from the Gold Coast, West Africa, where he holds a position with the Ashanti Auxiliary Gold Mines. ® © © The bad luck that has attended Mr JR. L. Baker and Mr Arthur Blewden in England came near to leaving the Antipodes without any representative in ithe Amateur Boxing Championships, Io be decided at Alexandra Palace next? Wednesday, and blundering by somebody nearly put the finishing touch to the misfortunes of the only Antipodean fit to take the ring. Poor Baker is still dreeing his weird at the Tooting lever Hospital, and is not likely to he discharged for another three ■weeks. Blewden, who was stopped in his work by an accident to his foot, has. I understand, managed to get fairly fit for the fray, but through some misunderstanding between him and his club authorities in New Zealand his entry was not sent in for the light-weights until last Wednesday (March 20). In the ordinary course the entry would have been too late, but the A.B.A. called a special committee and decided to admit the New Zealander. With his name added to the list the entries number 59—-a record. There are 12 for the Bantam class, ten for the Feathers, 13 for the Light-weight, 12 for the Middles, and 11 for the Heavier. Among the latter are Weaver, the South African champion, and Yau sen, a Dane, whilst the foreign element in the Middles fis limited to Holberg, a Dane, who is also to try bis luck in the lightweight competition, which will also bring out M. Wells, of the Lynn A.C., the holder, and several other tough propositions. To succeed in this event, Blewden will require to be something above the common, and from what I have heard he is hardly likely to be at his best by Wednesday next. 9 9© During his stay in Paris, Mr Gilruth. the chief of the New Zealand Government’s veterinary staff, visited the Pasteur Institute, and at the Natural {History Museum he investigated the most recent discoveries in diseases of a parasitic nature. He also put in some time at the famous School of Veterinary Surgery and Research, and made a speciality of studying matters which relate to dairy produce, and the way in which it is affected by bacteria. Since his return to London Mr Gilruth has been almost daily at. Smithfield Markets. © © © Air Thomas Spurgeon, who lies seriously ill at his house in Clapham, has been urged by the members of the Metropolitan Tabernacle to withdraw his resignation of the pastorate. «jtC a largely attended meeting of the members this week, the following resolution was pa-.-ed:—“That we. the members of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, present at a special church meeting, having heard Pastor Thomas Spurgeon's letter of resignation and the deacon'-, report upon it, now express our unfailing affection for the beloved pastor at, I our deepest grief at hearing the contents of the letter. We fully realise the great strain of the work upon him during the time of his pastorate, and we are sure that this, with the addition of the great responsibility of the many institutions, has proved a gigantic burden. We cannot face the possibility of a Separation between us without a feeling of gravest apprehension. We very affectionately urge our earnest desire that the beloved pastor will take a prolonged and uninterrupted rest immediately after his convalescence. We earnestly entreat that he will withdraw the letter c f resignation until this remedy has been tried, and we supplicate Almigb** e God that our dear pastor and friend be spared to the (Iturch for many happy years of gracious service under the Divine •mile.”