PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 12, 21 March 1908, Page 59

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) ' LONDON, February 7. Mr. Murdoch McLean, who is over here buying plant for the Otira Gorge tunnel works, is well pleased with the result of his enquiries in England and on the Continent. “From what I have seen,” he tells me, “I am fully convinced that we shall be able to finish the contract in the specified time, or very near it.” © © © The Bishop of Auckland, the Bight Rev. M. R. Neligan, M.A., has arrived in England, and will probably remain till the end of the year. The Bishop of Waiaipu, the Right Rev. Dr. W. L. Williams, is expected at the end of this month. They will both attend the Lambeth Conference of Bishops and the PanAnglican Synod. © © © Recent callers at the High Commissioner’s office: Mr. W. Mahoney (Christchurch), Dr. Adelaide Orchard (Christchurch), Mr. K. J. Thomson (Gisborne), Mr. W. E. B. Buckeridge (Gisborne), Mr. A. H. Baskerville (Wellington), Mr. iW. Cocks (Christchurch). © © © Mr. A. T. McCaw, of New Zealand, and the London Hospital, received his L.R.C.P. diploma at the last meeting of the council of the Royal College of Physicians of London. © ® © Dunedin is represented in the pulpit of Spencer Place Central Baptist Church, London, in the person of the Rev. James Ings. Mr. Ings was born in Dunedin, and remained there till 1900. He travelled in Australia, and then voyaged to South Africa, and stayed there during the late war, visiting and preaching at Durban, Pietermaritzburg, ; Capetown, Ladysmith, and other places. He also travelled through Zululand, and preached to the natives through an interpreter. Leaving Africa, Mr. Ings sailed for England, and soon afterwards accepted a pastorate in the Scottish Highlands, at Grantown-on-Spey. Here he worked for three years, and then came up to London, which had always been the Mecca of his pilgrimages. On the death of the Rev. Philip Gast, who had been pastor at Spencer Place for 44 years, Mr. Ings was invited to fill the vacant post. At that time the congregation had dwindled to a handful. Mr. Ings quickly infused new vigour into the work of the church. He had the place put in good repair, and well lighted and ventilated and heated. As to getting in the people he had to go out to get them. He organised a brass and reed band, but had to buy the instruments and to dig out the players. That band, now composed of 120 men, has marched oub Unto the streets every Sunday since its formation. “The scope for Christian work round here is illimitable,” says Mr. Ings. “The social conditions are simply a menace to all London.”

One of Mr. Ing’s brothers, Dr. Joseph Ings, after a brilliant university career at Edinburgh, went as the first medical missionary sent from New Zealand to China. He died at Canton only recently at the early age of 29. His widow is seeking as a qualified nurse to continue his work in Canton. Another brother, the Rev. Robert Ings, is minister of Moonee Ponds.

Two more veterinary surgeons, Mr. Blair and Mr. Broom, leave London thia month for New Zealand, under engagement to the Department of Agriculture. © © © The Cambridge University press has just published the first volume of a work by Dr. Richard C. Maclaurin, late Professor of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics at Wellington. The treatise is entitled “The Theory of Light; a Treatise in Physical Optics,” and it is to be completed in three parts. © © © The R.M.S; Mamari leaves London today, February 7th, for New Zealand, via Capetown and Hobart. She takes the following passengers for New Zealand ports:—Mr. J. Abbott (Lyttelton), Mr. E. Adams, Mr. T. Adams (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. C. Allen, son and daughter (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. J. Bainbridge (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. J. Bannatyne (Auckland), Mr. G. Barson (Wellington), Mr. H. Beale (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs.l W. Bendall (Wellington), Mr. F. Bishop (Wanganui), Mr. R. Bodley (Wellington), Mr. T. Bradley (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. A. Brett (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. G. Broom, son and daughter (Wellington), Mr. J. Bryson (Timaru), Mr. W. Burbidge (Lyttelton), Mrs. J. Burnham and two daughters (Wellington). Mr. and Mrs. A. Cahill (Auckland), Mr. J. Garmalt (Greymouth), Mr. A. Corner (Wellington), Mr. D. Coulter (Lyttelton), Mr. M. Crystal (Wellington), Miss A. Dadley (Auckland), Mr. C. Duncan (Auckland), Mr. W. Eddleston (Auckland), Miss L. Elder (Auckland), Mr. C. Fort (Auckland), Mr. A. Goble (Wellington), Miss J. Gourdie (Port Chalmers), Mr. and Mrs. E. Guest and family (Auckland), Mrs. E. Haiselden and daughters (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. F. Hale (Wellington), Mr. S. Hallett (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. J. Head and 2 sons (Nelson), Mr. J. Hicks (Gisborne), Mrs. I. Hobbins and family (Port Chalmers), Mr. W. Holgate (Wellington), Mrs. C. Jarman (Wellington), Mrs. E. Jeffrey, Miss I. Jeffrey (Lyttelton), Mr. R. Kirkpatrick (New Plymouth), Mr. and Mrs. G. Kroner (Wellington), Mr. T. Lakin (Wellington), Mr. W. Lewenden (Wellington), Mr. J. Libson (Lyttelton), Mr. J. I. Lockington (Auckland), Mr. R. McConnell (Napier), Mr. H. McDowall (Wellington), Mr. A. Martin (Wellington), Mr. W. Mathers (Lyttelton), Mrs. E. Mountford and son (New Plymouth), Mr. W. Murphy (Auckland), Mr. A. Noble (Auckland), Mrs. S. Parker (Wellington), Mr. T. Pickett (Wellington), Mr. H. Pudney (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. J. Ramsden and daughter (Auckland), Mrs. M. Rimmer and son (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. C. Robb and family (Port Chalmers), Miss A. Robinson (Nelson), Mr. J. Rollinson (Wellington), Mr. J. Sanderson (Wellington), Mr. J. Shirreff (Gisborne), Mr. J. Simpson (Wellington), Miss E. Slade, Miss M. Slade, Miss J. Slade (Wellington), Mr. E. Smith (Wellington), Mr. G. Smith (Lyttelton), Mr. T. Taylor (Port Chalmers), Mr. W. Taylor (Wellington), Mr. B. Thomas (Wellington), Miss A. Tonge . (Wellington), Mr. M. Trembath. (Greymouth), Mrs. M. Trow and family (Wellington), Airs. A. Twist arid sons (Wellington), Mr. G. White (Greymouth), Mr. L. W. Whittaker (Port Chalmers), Mr. and Mrs. A. Wilkins. son and daughter (Auckland). Mr. E. Wilson (Auckland), Miss F. Wimble (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. T. Wood and family (Wellington), Mrs. S. Worm (Wellington).

Mr. James Alamson, M.A., LL.B. (Edin.), the new Dean of the Faculty of law at Victoria College, Wellington, leaves England by the P. and O. liner Himalaya on February 14. Mr. Adamson, who is 37 years of age and unmarried, is a member of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh and a practising member of the Scottish Bar, to which he was called in 1896. He had a brilliant career in the law classes and as a law graduate at Edinburgh University, taking first prices in'many subjects. One of his examiners, the Professor of Scots Law at Edinburgh University, wrote to him as follows: “I beg to congratulate you on the best set of papers I have ever had the pleasure to examine.” Mr. Adamson is deeply read and thoroughly versed in his profession. He gained the degree of Bachelor of Laws “with distinction” in 1896. © © © Rumour has been busy during the week respecting the future movements of the New Zealand football players, whose official tour so far as the Northern Union is concerned will terminate at Cheltenham on Saturday week (says the “Athletic News” of February 3). Nothing official, however, can be announced, for assuming that “provisional overtures” have been made by Northern Union clubs for the services of several of the more prominent players, it would be a most unwise proceeding for those interested to make public the negotiations, for the Northern Committee are determined to have the following rule respected, which was adopted on May 30:—“Resolved, that any club, player, official, or authorised agent guilty, directly or indirectly, of approaching any New Zealand player prior to the termination of their tour, the club or the club they represent shall be absolutely debarred from obtaining the transfer of such player, or using bis services under any circumstances.” Wo slated last week that Todd had .been granted permission by his committee to terminate his agreement after the Cheltenham match, and it is now hinted that two more prominent players in Smith and J. R. Wynyard have not signed the new schedule which was drawn up at Leeds last Monday, and in which .the other men accepted the terms offered for the tour which is to take place in New South Wales at the commencement of the next Australian football s-uison. If the two men have been “approached” during the prohibited period, the successful clubs will need to satisfy the Northern Union Committee of the bonafides of the negotiations.