PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 18 May 1907, Page 43

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) RONDON, April 5A sensational story was printed by the “Weekly Dispatch” on Sunday, to the effect that a new witness in the Druce case, who had come to England from New Zealand by the “Rimutaka,” had had her boxes broken into and a number of valuable letters from the fifth Duke of Portland stolen. This witness, whose name was withheld from publication, stated tfrtat she had been private secretary to the fifth Duke of Portland, and she was bringing his letters to London to place them at the disposal of Mr. Druce, who is laying claim to the Portland titles and estates. She claims that the lock of her trunk was wrenched open after the. luggage had been put in the “Rimutaka’s” hold at Wellington, and the papers extracted. None of the other papers here have paid any attention to these statements, and one of the passengers by the “Riinutaka” assures me that no credence need be attached to the story. lie suggests that the lady is suffering from delusions. <B> <®> Mr. Mark Cohen, editor of the “ Dunedin Star,” arrived on Saturday last by the Rimutaka, on a health trip to the Old Country. This is Mr. Cohen’s first visit to England since the time when he left it as an infant to go with his parents to New Zealand. He reached Loudon on Saturday night, having disembarked at Plymouth, and was met by his sister, with whom he is now staying in Bayswater. His first day in London was spent in bed as the result of a severe chill caught on the journey up from Plymouth, but he is now able to get about again. He is still suffering, however, from an injury to his left leg, caused by a fall on the companion-way on board ship, and at present lie can only walk with the aid of a stick. Apart from this accident, Mr. Cohen had a good voyage, the Rimutaka meeting with splendid weather all the way Home. He expects to remain in London for a month or two, afterwards going North to visit the provinces and Scotland, and returning to New Zealand towards the end of the year. Mr. Robert Horne, of Auckland, lias arrived in London from a long journey in the Far East, where he has been travelling in the interests of a large London firm of chemical manufacturers. He went from New Zealand to the Philippines, and thence to various Far Eastern ports, coming on to London via Colombo. After another week or so in the metropolis Mr. Horne starts out again on another long journey. He will visit first St. Petersburg and Moscow, and then travel by the Siberian Railway to Irkutsk. After a short stay there, he will train again to Harbin, and travel thence via Vladivostoek to Japan. 'v <•> The High Commissioner lectured on New Zealand a few nights ago, under the auspices of the Victoria League, at the Ladies' College at Cheltenham. O «■ Mr. J. A. Peacock, of Auckland, lias arrived in London on a holiday trip to the Old Country. Mr. Peacock travelled as far as Naples by the Orient, and thenee by the overland route. ❖ ❖ Lady Plunket, who arrived recently from New Zealand, gave birth to a daughter on Sunday last at Portobello House, Dublin. <s•<s><?• Mr. 11. J. Rawson, of Wellington, who arrived by the Waiwera, intends to study medicine in England, and is at present working in -London for the medical preliminary examination. <♦ «• <•> Recent callers at the High Commissioner’s office:—Mr. J. F. Kirby (Dunedin), Mr. G. Simmonds, Mr. Robert Horne (Auckland), Mr. Henry Rose, Mrs. and Miss Rose, Lieut. A. B. Rose (Wellington), Dr. A. E. Baron, Mr. and Mrs. Cotter, Miss Grace,Cotter (Wellington), Mr. J. A. Peacock (Auckland), Mr. E. Harris (Geraldine), Miss E. E. Smith

(Blenheim), Miss Austin. Miss B. Austin, Miss A. Austin, and Miss E. Austin (late of Blenheim and Christchurch). <» ❖ > The following passengers were on board the Shaw-Savill steamer Waiwera, which left London today for New Zealand: — For Auckland: —Mr. and Mrs. H. Carle, Mr. and Mrs. P. Heron, Mr. and Mrs. T. Needham and family, Mr. !•’. Purchas, Mr. J. Redpath, Mrs. J. and Miss Reynolds, Miss C. Rivers, Mr. E. Smart, Mr. D. Turner, and Mr. W. Wells.

For Wellington:—Mr. R. Cameron, Mr. W. Elliott, Mr. C. Hansen, Mr. J. Jensen, Miss J. McKie, Mr. J. M. Moult, Miss M. Ryan. Mr. G. Smith, Miss E. Taylor, and Mr. G. Willey.

For Lyttelton:—Mr. A. and Mrs. Aitchison, Mr. E. Elsom, Miss V. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. S. Granger and family, Mr. J. Harrison, Mr. T. Moore, Mr. A. Munslow.

For New Plymouth:— Mr. 11. Chard, Mr. A. Chard.

For Port Chalmers-.—Mr. J. Brown, Mr. W. Barnes, Mrs. M. Clayden, Miss B. Clayden, Mr. D. C. and Mrs. Hutton and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. Ombler, and Mr. A. Ombler.

For Oamaru:—Miss E. Godsal, Mr, and Mrs. J. McKee, and Miss A. McKee, For Titnaril: —Mr. F. Anthony. For the Bluff:—Mr. 11. Fraser.

For Napier:—-Mr. and Mrs. S. Hock ing, Mr. A. Hocking, and Miss F. Hock ing.