Tourist and Traveller

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1555, 12 February 1920, Page 42

Tourist and Traveller

HERE AND THERE.

Dr. Donald Watson, youngest son of Mrs. John Watson, Remuera, and formerly of Thames, arrived in Auckland by the Ruapehu, accompanied by his wife and child. Dr. Watson left New Zealand thirteen years ago to study medicine in Edinburgh, and has had a most successful career. During the war years he served with the R. A.M.C. in India, Mesopotamia and Egypt. He will probably return to the Old Country in a couple of months’ time.

The commercial travellers and warehousemen of Hawke’s Bay are erecting a sand-pit adjoining the children’s paddling pool on the Marine Parade, Napier, as a memorial to the late Mr. Frank Moeller, for many years host of the Masonic Hotel in that town.

Mr. Justice Hosking, who has been on a visit to Australia, has returned to Wellington, via Auckland.

Mr. G. M. Kehbell, of Wellington, who has been in the Old Country for the past eleven months, returned by the Suffolk.

Mr. H. M. Bishop, Hastings, has been appointed manager of the Masonic Hotel at Napier, and has taken over his duties.

Dr. Sidney Allen and Dr. P. D. Cameron have both returned to Dunedin from the Mother Country, where Dr. Allen was engaged on military service.

Oak at the present time is almost as cheap as soft woods, said Mr. M. C. Duchesne, speaking at a meeting of the English Forestry Association.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wedderspoon, of Oriental Bay, returned to AVellington on the s.s. Suffolk, after a trip to Great Britain, Canada, and America.,

A London cable states that with the Friedrichruh’s departure from England on January 22 every Australian Digger except those remaining on the staff has now left for home. Only 1300 men engaged on staff work and 2500 soldiers’ dependents remain. The Zealandic will embark 400 husbands and 640 dependents, and the Hororata 400 husbands and 450 dependents, at the end of February. Apart from this, they will return in dribs and drabs. The decision to repatriate discharged men disappointed with their experiences in Great Britain has so far resulted in 250 soldiers and 225 dependents applying. Many more applications are expected when the decision is more widely known.

Mr. George AVirth, of Wirth’s Circus, has received a cablegram from Sydney stating that his brother underwent a serious operation on Thursday, which was performed successfully by Dr. (Sir Herbert) Maitland.

In travelling through New Zealand, said Mr. Reed, the Chautauqua lecturer, he had. noticed some very beautiful rivers. He did not believe there was any country in the world which had more beautiful streams and rivers. There was as much water going to waste in the rivers and streams in New Zealand as would produce enough electric power to run every train in the Dominion and to supply all the manufacturing industries, to light the public buildings and homes, and even * then t]je potential powers of those wonderful rivers would not be absorbed.

Captain Alec Whitcombe has returned to Wellington after an absence of over four years from New Zealand. He saw active service in France, and was afterwards transferred to Russia, where he remained until the withdrawal of British troops. Captain Whitcombe received the Military Cross for conspicuous conduct.

The completion of the largest transaction in the history of the drapery trade in New Zealand is announced. The directors of the Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand, Ltd., popularly known as the “D.1.C.,” have signed a contract to purchase the entire holding of the present shareholders of the well-known drapery firm of George and Kersley, Ltd., of Wellington and Wanganui. It is understood that the settlement, which is to be made on a prompt cash basis, will run well into six figures.

Mr. AVilliam Shirtcliffe returned to Wellington from England by the Bremen, eccompanied by Mrs. Shirtcliffe.

Now that opera tickets are seven dollars, says the Baltimore American, “Grand opera has been brought within the reach of the working classes.”

The death occurred in AVellington on February 2, of Mr. Walter Scott Reid, late Solicitor-General. Mr. Reid, who was in his 81st year, was well-known in legal and other circles throughout the Dominion. Born at Edinburgh, where he received part of his education, he went to Tasmania in 1852, and ten years later was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Tasmanian Supreme Court, coming out to New Zealand in 1865. He was recognised as one of the ablest authorities on constitutional law in _ the Dominion. He was also a great” supporter of art.

Mr. and Mrs. Ledingham, of Melbourne, have arrived in Auckland, and will visit Taupo for the fishing.

Particulars from Brisbane of the re-cord-br.eaking achievements made by Norman Ross, the American swimmer, during his visit last month to that city, show that he was opposed by the brothers Springfield when he lowered the 200yds. Australian record established by the late Cecil Healy, of Sydney, by l-ssec. Ross covered the distance in 2min. Usee. . His time' for the 220 yards was 2min. 20 4-ssec., which is 2 3-ssec. better than the previous record, which was held by Kieran and Beaurepaire. In spite of the fact that he was suffering from the effects of a cold, Ross swam beautifully and with powerful strokes had no difficulty in outdistancing his opponents, finishing a lap ahead of the second man.

Mr. H. R. Smith, town clerk, Christchurch, with * Mrs. Smith and Miss Smith, have left on a two months’ visit to Australia.

When spoken to on board the steamer Konigen Louise upon his arrival at Fremantle on January 28, Sergeant Alf. Felton, who recently defeated Ernest Barry for the rowing championship of the world, he said he was pleased at having brought the title back with him to Australia, its natural resting-place. Although Barry had challenged him for another race in August, he was equally confident that the title would remain in Australia. Barry was expected to leave England about the end of February for Australia, as he was desirous of becoming acclimatised. Felton, who looks well, and was accompanied by his manager, Mr. Reaby, was met on his arrival by the Rowing Association and taken to Perth.

Mr. Harold Reddaway, of the firm of Messrs. P. Reddaway and Co., Ltd., Manchester, England, is making a business visit to .Australasia, and has been spending part of the time in Auckland and the thermal districts.

“The only message I can send your meeting is this: that the conscientious objectors, having saved their skins, can afford to refrain from heroic attitudes, and will show a seemly gratitude to the dead by working as hard as they can for that world settlement which the overthrow of an aggressive German militarism has made possible.” So wrote Mr. H. G. Wells, the novelist, to a convention of the No-Conscription Fellowship held in London.

A new company of “The Dandies” will commence a tour of the Dominion at Nelson at the end of the present month. Mr. John Hopkins has secured several new English artists, amongst whom are Mr. George Sharratt, a character comedian; Miss Annette Lang, a vivacious soubrette and dancer.; Miss Rosa Walton, pianist and monologuist; and Mr. J. R. Nicholson, a tenor and light comedian. Three members of the old company who gained much popularity have been retained. These are Miss Christine Andrews, soprano; Miss Madoline Knight, contralto; and Mr. Renn Millar, basso.