THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1417, 21 June 1917, Page 34

THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

HERE AND THERE. We learn with pleasure that, on the request of the French Vice-Consulate in Auckland, the French Government has just granted, by wire, to Major Thomas Brown, of the King’s Empire Veterans, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honour. This high distinction has been conferred on our eminent countryman in recognition of his entomological researches on insects, and particularly for his different gifts of interesting collections of coleopteia, specially collected for the Museum of Natural History at Par s, and which gained for him a certain notoriety in scientific circles. We are happy to join with the many friends of th’s distinguished man of science in offering him in this circumstance our most sincere felicitations.

A loss to the community has been caused by the death of Lieut.-Colonel T. Hope Lewis, who passed away suddenly at the Northern Club last week. Lieut.-Colonel Lewis, who was one of the best-known of Auckland’s medical practitioners, was born in Liverpool in 1855, and after qualifying at Home for Its profession came out to New Zealand in 1882. Shortly after his arrival he was appointed the first resident medical officer of the Rotorua Sanatorium, and a couple of years later came to Auckland and started in practice in Ponsonby. He was port health officer for fifteen years, and has been an honorary surgeon to the Auckland Hospital since 1896. From 1894 to 1896 he was m partnership with Dr. (now Major) W. E. Sharman. In August, 1915, Lieut.Colonel Lewis placed his services at the disposal of the Government, and was appointed Inspector of Military Hospitals in New Zealand. To fulfil his duties expeditiously he gave up his local practice and made his headquarters in Wellington. Lieut.-Colonel Lewis was one of the founders of the National Defence League, was president of the Victoria League, president of the Savage Club, an active member of the Acclimatisation Society, the Auckland Golf Club and the Choral Society. He enjoyed the respect and affection of all those who came under his ministration, and his death will be deplored by a large circle of fr’ends and acquaintances, not only in Auckland but all over the Dominion. He is survived by his widow, eldest daughter of the late Judge Fenton, one son, and a daughter, Mrs. Guy Williams, of Masterton. The interment, which took place at Purewa last Thursday, was private, only relatives and intimate friends attending. Innumerable wreaths and messages of condolence from friends, ex-patients and institutions -with which he was identified, were received as a tribute to the memory of the deceased gentleman.

Speaking at a send-off to soldiers at the Gore Town Hall, Mr. G. J. Anderson, M.P., said that he had made representations to the Min ; ster for Defence and the Commandant of the Forces (Brigadier-General Sir A. W. Robin) on the subject of allowing shirker families to escape their responsibilities. He intended to divide the House at the first available opportunity on the subject of giving instructions to the Government that any man who refused to answer the call in defence of his country should not be allowed to own property in the Dominion. If that were given legislative sanction most of the trouble about shirkers who disappeared would be avoided. It was scandalous that a man should refuse to defend the country that showered benefits on him.

Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P., Wanganui, and Mrs. Veitch have returned home after a visit to Auckland. •r ♦ » Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, is spending a holiday in Auckland. The New Zealand representatives of Messrs. Lever Brothers have been advised that S r William Lever, who has been raised to the peerage, has chosen as his title Lord Leverhulme. * » * • News has been received by Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, of Hawera, that his brother, Major J. G. Kirkwood, who some time ago was awarded the D. 5.0., has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Sergt.-Major E. J. Butler, N.Z.P.S., has been appointed a ship’s quartermaster on H.M.N.Z. transports, and has been granted the honorary rank of lieutenant.

Colonel Claridge, of the Indian Civil Service, is on a visit to New Zealand, and is at present in the South Island.

Mr. L. S. Drake, motor inspector for the Wellington City Corporation, who enlisted in the Expeditionary Forces over a year ago, and was invalded back to New Zealand, has resumed his duties.

Mr. W. H. Derry, district manager for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, has been appointed manager of the Tasmanian branch of the society. He will leave Auckland for Australia shortly.

Mr. George Fleming has been appointed secretary to the Auckland Commercial Travellers and Ware housemen’s Club.

The King has approved of a miniature replica of the Victoria Cross being worn on the riband in undress and service dress uniform by all recipients of the decoration. The award of a bar will be marked by a second min’ature cross on the riband, an additional cross being added for each bar awarded. ♦ ♦ » • Sub-Lieut. H. Vivian Haszard, of Waihi, and formerly of Thames, who left early in December last to join the motor patrol service in England, has, with ten other New Zealanders, obtained, at the Royal National College, Greenwich, the highest pass in the service, gaining what is described as the “excellent” pass. Sir Henry G. Richards. Chief Justice of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, India, is on a visit to New Zealand. He is accompanied by Lady and Miss Richards.

Mr. Alexander Stewart, who died in Dunedin last week, in his 82nd year, held a unique position among Otago schoolmasters, having been for 44 years headmaster of the Union Street School and the “old stone school” that occupied the same site.

The old Maori weather forecast—that when the flax and toi-toi were unusually luxuriant in bloom n the autumn a heavy winter followed—seems to be verified this year (observes the “Oamaru Mail”). Along the Waitaki, and indeed everywhere, the flax bushes were heavily crowned with flowers, and the height and thickness of the to 5 -toi plumes were the subject of general remark.

Spring flowers are appearing very early in New Plymouth this year (says a local paper). Several of the daffodil family are in bloom in some of the sheltered gardens, whilst the azaleas, always a feature of New Plymouth in the spring time, are partly in flower. The beautiful flowers of the rhododendron and the azalea mollis are also emerging. The mild, though damp, weather of the past month or two is no doubt responsible for the early bloom.

Captam N. V. Bell, who has relinquished the position of camp adjutant at Trentham, was entertained by the officers of the instructional and administrative staffs at a luncheon recently.

In the King’s Birthday honours list there occurred the name of Colonel Standish among other recipients of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.). This is Lieut.Colonel Ivon Standish, son of Mrs. Standish, of New Plymouth. Colonel Standish, who will be 34 years of age in December next, left as a major of artillery with the main New Zealand Expeditionary Force. * ♦ ♦ * A.t Hakataramea a woman over 60 years of age, and her husband, also over 60, have lately been engaged putting in their wheat, all their sons having been taken for the war. The woman has been ploughing and driving a four-horse team. * * * * Mr. G. Nevill, who for the past 15 years has been chief clerk of the Victoria Insurance Company, was presented with a handsome writingcabinet, in polished rimu, on the eve of his departure to take up the management of the British Traders’ Insurance Company. * * • ♦ Persons travelling by tramcar in Vienna now must do so either between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., or between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. These are the only times when the tramcars run now. “Grave popular discontent has resulted.” # » ♦ * Chaplain-Captain P. J. Minosue has taken the place of Chaplam-Captain T. Guinane at Featherston Camp. * * * * Mr. John Rowe, J.P., ex-Mayor of Onehunga. was presented with a testimonial and nurse of sovereigns in recognition of his work in the interests of the borough. Sir F. W. I/ang made the presentation. « * * * Mr. Laurence R. Dickson, son of Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P. for Parnell, has been appointed to an important position as wireless operator. Mr. Dickson is only seventeen years of age. $ * * * Mr. H. H. M'Cullough, formerly manager of the Auckland branch of the British Dominion General Insurance Co.. Ltd., has been appointed general manager for New Zealand. •4: * * * Representations are to be made to the Minister for Defence by the Patriotic Societies’ Advisory Board to the effect: “That the Sohliers’ Financial Assistance Board should have power to assist all sailors whose residence is in New Zealand or whose dependents reside in New Zealand.” * * * During the course of his lecture on “Trench Warfare,” at the Officers’ Institute Wellington, Major C. E. Andrew, N.Z.S.C., exhibited a gas-helmet such as is used at the front. Not only all the men. but all the horses and mules also, he sa ; d. had to wear gashelmets: and the joke of the whole lot was to see a transport driver trying to put a gas-helmet on a mule. ' * ♦ *• Cable advice has been received from the matron of the Aotea Convalescent Home in Egypt that the authorities have authorised the extension of the home to Port Said, to accommodate 60 patients.

The Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence has received the following letter from Mr. H. Hands, Mayor of Cape Town: — “I desire to thank you very sincerely for your letter of February 16. in which you are good enough to express appreciation of what has been to show some little hospitality to the New Zealand troops calling here. On behalf of the var ous committees concerned, viz., the Red Cross Society, the Gifts and Comforts Organisation Committee, and the Visiting Troops Entertainment Commit tee, and, I may add. the whole of the citizens of Cape Town, I can only as sure you that it has been a pleasure to welcome our New Zealand brothers to endeavour to relieve the tedium •of the long voyage, and to make them as comfortable as possible while they are with us. There will be no relaxation of our efforts in this direction, as we regard it a privilege to be able in some small way to show gratitude for and appreciation of all that New Zealand has done to help the Empire in this struggle against the forces of lawless iniquity.”

Waterspouts are uncommon things on the New Zealand coast, but on the last trip of the steamer Tasman from Whakatane to Tauranga one was seen by the passengers. The sea at the base of the column was violently agitated. and the water was whirling in a remarkable manner, but the vessel did not come within range o f the movement.

Featherston has a beautiful Anzac Club, which was erected by the residents of that district (remarks the ‘Wellington Times’). Quite a number of wealthy young settlers contributed £5OO each towards the histitution. There are seuarate rooms for nrivates. non-coms., and officers. The same rule applies to their wives, and a private’s wife cannot go into the officer’s rooms unless accompanied bv an officer’s wife. There is now >n camp as a pr’vate one of the squatters who contributed £5OO. but he is not aHowed to wander at will through the building he so materially he’ned to build, but he is confined to the privates’ quarters. He is also acting as officers’ orderlv. and ’‘s each day obliged to groom the horse he generously gave a while ago.

It has been decided to commemorate the jubilee of the nnening of the Thames goldfields, which falls on August 1 next, with a. nuiet function, and arrangements are now in hand The combined celebration carnival has been nostnoned until after the war.

For failing to give notice of change of address to the Government Statistician. as required under the Military Service Act George Wilb’am Barnett and Frank Oaklev Skelton were each fined 10s. at Wellington recent.lv.

The Rotorua “Chronicle” reports that two anglers. Mr. and Mrs. Millar, of Tauranga. who had been in camn at Rotorua for some time, were sue cessful in placing in their baskets 940 trout, the largest weighing 611 b. Among those landed were ten of 61b each and six of 611 b each. The average of the 940 was 2§lb. The trout were in fine condition, and demonstrated that the fish in Lake Rotorua are improving.

Railway passengers in England need no longer pull down the carriage blinds after dark. Sir George Cave, the Home Secretary, recently issued an order, revoking the previous orders, which were regarded as a necessary safeguard against enemy aerial attacks. These provided that, except in case of necessity in a station, carriage windows must be kept covered from half an hour after sun set fill half an hour before sunrise

“There is far more fellowship in the bar or smoke-room of a public house than in the average Christian Church,” said the Rev. Bernard Snell chairman of the Congregational Union, at a recent conference in England.

The medal of merit was recently awarded to Scout Marshall, of Mackaytown, Upper Thames, by the London Headquarters Scout Council. Some months ago the lad noticed a large block of stone which had fallen from one of the high cuttings on the Waihi railway line. and. being unable to remove it. he gave the alarm and. brought a resident to remove the obstacle, which otherwise might have caused a serious accident. The Home authorities forwarded the medal through His Excellency the Governor.

Some sportsmen in South Canterbury have this season shot ducks which they believe to be a cross between the native grey and the mallard. The hybrid is a bigger bird than the grey duck but it is not so good for table purposes from the point of view of quality.

In preparing synthetic drugs, aspirin, phenacetin, antipyrfn, and many others, practically a German monoply before the war, British monopoly before the war, British gress that prices are coming down rapidly. Drugs which remain dear are those containing opium, which came largely from Turkey, and liquor ice, of which a great deal came from Mesopotamia and Syria.

“We are feeding 20,000 of London’s pool* quite apart from our war work,” stated Adjutant A. E. Hosking, of the Salvation Army, at a meeting of the Wellington Patriotic Society. He added that the army also provided accommodation for thousands of munition workers.

Guests of honour at the recent reunion of the Wanganui section of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association were Mr. G. W. Sampson, ex-Chief Postmaster at Wanganui (53 years’ service), and Mr. M. C. Corliss, formerly Superintendent of Telegraphs in that d’strict (47 J /£ years’ service). Mr. Sampson was presented with a gold albert and Mr. Corliss with a case of pipes and other small mementoes.

A Tiritea (Manawatu) settler reports the presence of the komako or bell bird. Its clear call may be heard each morning and evening. This is sa ; d to be the first evidence of its presence in Manawatu for many years.

If Germany had not completed her nitrate manufacturing preparation be fore the war broke out she would have had to sue for peace, it was said at the National Society of Dyers and Colourists at Manchester. With out nitrates she could not have con tinned to fight.

A War Regulation has been gazetted which prohibits the hoisting on a flag pole or other display of the white ensign or the blue ensign, with or without any distinguishing mark, unless with the permission of a military authority. An exception is made in favour of the New Zealand flag, which is a blue ensign with a certain distinguishing mark.

Arrivals at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, last week included: —Mr. T. G. Voung. Mr. R C. McNeilage, Mr. P. Todd, Mr. A. C. Ross, Mr. N. A. Nash, Mr. H. W. Macdonald, Mr. A. W. Dawson, Mr. F. Leitch, Mr. W. G. Hurley, Mr. H. Clark, Mr. Erskine Nicol. Dunedin; Mr. H. Andersen, Mrs. E. Narbey, Mr. C. Clarke, Mr. A. Turner, Mr. T. V. Crease, Mr. C. Mclntosh, Mr. S. Jacobs, Mr. H. W. Clarke, Mr. R. King, Mr. J. G. Longuet, Mi - . N. R. Macbeth, Mr. J. F. Browning, Mr. E. Button, Mr. C. W. Sanders, Mr. C. M Madden, Mr. J. D. McGregor, Mr. W. J. Trustturn, Mr. A. C. Johnson, Mr. H. W. Palmer, Mr. J. Clayton. Mr. A P. Hopkins, Mr. H. Wood, Mr. J. Moffatt, Mr. J. A. P. Philp, Mr. H. Foley, Mr. C. W. Anderson, Mr. D. Ronayne, Mr. Jas. Amess, Mr. R. Nettleton, Mr. N. Andrews, Mr. F. W. Kirk, Mr. T. H. Baker, Mr. G. W. Hargreaves, Mr. H. Hargreaves. Mr. W. H. Skinner, Mr. F. W. Hunt, Mr. R. Carrick, Mr. Selby Lucas, Mr. A. W. Cramp, Mr. H. W. Clarke. Christchurch; Mr. H. C. Best, Melbourne; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Clegg, Mr. H. Blackman, Mr. D. A. Fay, Wellington; Mr. S. Gillingham, Fairlie; Mr. H. S. Fenn, Cave; Mr. R. Milligan, Mr. R K. Ireland, Oamaru; Mr. R. Gardner, Gust; Mr. C. Archer, Southbrook; Mr. J. Ford, Foxdown; Mr. B. Hale, Sydney; Mr. J. D. McGruer, Invercargill; Mr. and Mrs. L. Silias, Miss Silias, Vancouver.