NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 22, 30 November 1910, Page 7

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD.

LONDON, October 21. Mr. Robert Wilkinson, of Dunedin, • nd hi* wife and family, who arrived in England at the end of April on a visit of business and pleasure combined, are How residing at Hove, near Brighton, for three months. They will remain at Hove, till their departure for New Zealand by the Malwa on December 16. Mr. Francis L. Crosbie, late of Dunedin, has gone to Glasgow to enlarge liis experience in engineering, and intends to spend a couple of years there before returning to the Dominion. He spent several weeks in Ireland and a fortnight in London before settling down ito work on the Clyde. Mr. S. Highman, of Sydenham. Christchurch, who came to England last May by the Rimutaka, intends returning by the Tnrakina, which leaves London on .‘November 26. During hie stay here he lias gained the diploma of the National ■Fretwork Association. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Field, of Nelson, who are on a visit to the Old Country, have altered their plans in regard to spending the winter in Europe. In view of the outbreak of cholera in more than one Mediterranean port, they have determined not to travel that way, and, instead, they will sail on October 27th by the new Rotorua for Capetown, where they will spend two or three ■months before proceeding to New Zealand. Mr.. Mrs. and Miss Howley, of Umaru, who have l>een travelling in ■England, Ireland. Scotland, and on the Continent for the past three years, left London to-day by the I’. and O. Morea on their return to New Zealand, via Sydney. Mr. S. E. Cooper, of Wanganui, arrived here by the Orvieto on October 15. via Suez, and intends staying five weeks in London, going thence to Scotland and the Continent. He will return to New Zealand by the Orsova. leaving London on January 6, and is due home about March 1. He is combining business and pleasure on his visit to England. Miss Norah D’Argel (Long), the young New Zealand prima donna, appears to have achieved a very conspicuous success on Friday night at Lyons,, where she played Marguerite in “Faust” at. the opening of the six months' opera season in the French city. came fresh to the famous role of Marguerite, having never heard it interpreted by any other artist, and the result was that her treatment of the part was quite unconventional and distinctive. This seems to have delighted the French critics, and they comment in glowing terms, not only on the brilliancy of her voice, but also on the freshness and personal charm which she infused into the character of Marguerite. “This performance will live in our memories,” says “Le Progres,” “by reason of the brilliant success attained by a debutante, Miss Norah D’Argel. This success assumed, after . the final trio, the proportions of a triumph.” This paper describes the young New Zealander as “nne etoile de detnain!" The eritie of “Le Nouvelliste” speaks of Miss D'Argel’s original and personal rendering of the part as a ■ precious surprise. and praises the “finesse” of her phrasing and the belllike quality of her high notes. “It is impossible to resist her charm,” says “La

Depeche de Lyon.” “She ha* given us a Marguerite such as Goethe conceived.” And this paper goes on to declare that the New Zealander pronounces French a good deal better than many French people. “She possesses a very charming voice, very clear and very pure,” adds "La Depeehe,” “and she manages it adroitly.” . Yet another Lyons newspaper, ’ “Le Salut Public,” is reminded of the famous Mary Garden by Miss D’Argel’s performance, and suggests that the New Zealander should take up W agneiian roles. “What a delicious Eva and what a splendid Elsa she would be capable of giving us!” exclaims the “Salut” critic. Mr. F. J. Dight, manager of the Manufacturers’ Agency in New Zealand, has come to Europe on behalf of his firm. Mr. Dight returns to Wellington in January. Mr. and Mrs. IV. R. Holmes of Auckland brought their visit to England to a close to-day, leaving by the Morea for Sydney. They are due home ou December 11th. Miss Gertrude Lonsdale, a singer who has made several visits to New Zealand, was one of the artists at the concert held in connection with the annual ladies dinner of the London Press Club on Saturday night. Mr. Robert Needham, a New Zealand baritone, who was for some years engaged in concert and comic opera work Fn Australia, latterly under the banner of Mr. J. C. Williamson, is now playing the part of Prince in “Tlie Merry M idow ’ in one of Mr. George Edwards* provincial touring companies. Mr. and Clara Lady Fitzgerald have left C'arrtgoran. County Clare, for NewZealand. as Lady Fitzgerald has been advised to winter abroad. It is thought the long sea voyage should prove beneficial to her health, which is never very robust. The following New Zealanders have been elected members of the Royal Colonial Institute: —Messrs. James H. McKay, F.R.T.8.A., Josiah Martin. F.G.S., Charles J. H. Naim, Arthur L. Barker, W. R. Baker, Wm. Crichton. F.R.1.8.A., and Lawrence Wilson, Miss Florence Jones, of New Zealand, has been elected as an Associate. Recrnt callers at the High Commissioner’s office: —Alexander Elder (Kakanui), Miss Heiwitt (Waikato), S. E. Cooper (Wanganui), W. L. Young (Wanganui). Keith Boon (Nelson), M. MeKellar (Papanui), R. H. Rogers (Gore), G. S. and Miss Wix (Wellington), E. F. O’Brien (Westport), Harold H. Brinkman (Christchurch), P. and Evelyn D. Isaacs (Wellington), May E. Barr (Dunedin), Mrs. and Miss Ostler (Wellington). Mr., Mrs., and Miss Howley (Timaru), C. L. Ayson (Oamaru). Mr. T. E. Sedgwick’s scheme for a trial shipment of 50 English town lans to New Zealand farms is how approaching fruition. He tells me that the Central (Unemployed) Body for London have rescinded their resolution of two months ago, “not to co-operate unless the cases were unemployed cases over 18 years.’ Mr. Sedgwick will therefore take 25 of the Central Body’s cases who are none the worse for being una'ble to find work, and 25 others of his own selecting for whom he has collected the necessary passage money. “The advertisement should do New Zealand good,” said Mr. Sedgwick, “although the delay has been annoying.” List of New Zealanders at the White City for the week ending October 20th:

—Mr. and Mrs. H. Sprott (Chertsey), Miss M. J. . Sprott (Chertsey), Mrs. and Miss D. Denison (Oamaru). Misses P. and M. A. Whitton (Oamaru), E. F. Maleolmson (Oamaru), H. H. Brink man (Christchurch), E. W. Meek (Wei lington), L. Faithful (Dunedin). A. E. Pitt (Christchurch), Mis’ F. Scales (Wellington), Miss D. R. Snow (Christchurch), Jas. Foy (Auckland), H. Kearin (Onehunga), A. J. Priest (Napier), H. J. Rowe (Auckland), P. W. Walton (Dunedin), G. A. Leslie (Wanganui), W. T. Wall (Wanganui), Mrs. A. K. Watson (Dunedin), C. R. Clayton (Wellington), Mrs. and Miss E. Mahon (Feilding), Mrs. H. P. Brown (Feilding). Mr. Harold Gregson, the popular New Zealand organist, gave his final organ recital at the Palace of Music, White City, on Friday afternoon, prior to his departure for Auckland on the 28th inst. Mr. Gregson presented a programme which showed to good advantage his brilliant .manual and pedal work, and clever registration. Some remarkably fine effects were -obtained in the rendering given of Bizet’s “Intermezzo." Guilmant's “Priere et Berceuse’’ was also given with expression. Other items deserving of special mention were the “Fifth Symphony” by Wider, the dramatic “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.” and the “Eleventh Sonata" by Rheinberger. The last two items on the programme were repeated by desire of Mr. Gregson’s New Zealand friends, who were present in large numbers, and gave him an enthusiastic reception. Mr. Gregson concludes his London recitals at the Crystal Palace on the 26th. Two days later he and Mrs. Gregson return to New Zealand, after a short stay on the Continent, joining their steamer at Marseilles. New Zealand play goers have a genuine treat to look forward to in the next Australasian tour of Mr. Oscar Asehe and his talented wife, Miss Lily Brayton, for the Dominion is to be included in the list of places to be visited. And much Mr. and Mrs. Asche are looking forward to the trip. They were quite overwhelmed with the warmth of the welcome given them in Australia, and of it Miss Brayton last week wrote me: “I shall never forget the pleasant days I spent in the sunny South, and look forward to our return.” ‘’Count Hannibal” the play in which the newly returned actors opened last night at the “New Theatre” is new only to the London public, as it has been played in the provinces here and also in Australia. In it Miss Brayton is the Huguenot heroine, Clotilde, Lady of Vrillac, Air. Asehe, Count Hannibal de Trannes. ’ The setting is in Paris on the night of the terrible St. Bartholomew massacres. Mr. Asche was born in Geelong. educated in Melbourne, and in his youth was a rancher “up country.” “He knows his business from A to Z,” said a eritie, speaking of his acting, this week. In its review of the lawn-tennis season to-day. the “Times” pays a handsome tribute to the New Zealander, Anthony Wilding, who won the All England Singles Championship. “Air. Wilding has shown himself the superior of the best this country could produce. He has played extremely well throughout the

year, and is still so young that there is no reason to supjiose that he has reached his best. His great , physical strength has always made it likely that he would win any match which he could into the fifth set: and he has lately co-ordinated his strokes in such a manner that lie can weary an aggressive opponent more effectively than formerly. This result has been brought about mainly by the improvement in his overhead play, which now allows hint to take full advantage of the openings made by -his bounding service, and by his toplifted drive. His chief weakness—as his match against M. Decugis shows—has been a tendency to go down before a determined volleyer; but to judge from his recent matches nt Queen’s Club, be has now acquired a lob which was not a feature of his game at Wimbledon. It could seldom la- intercepted, it was sel dom out, and it always travelled fast. And even allowing for the absence of wind, lobbing on s court with a low roof is no easy matter."