PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 258, 5 November 1906, Page 3

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(From Oμ Special Correspondent.)

LONDON", September 2S

Iβ connection with the King's visit i 0 Aberdeen this week to open the now fniversity building-, it is interesting to L c that this is the first time in 2-30 | oars that a British king has entered I Granite City." Aberdeen has been | ..„,„ the most of its celebrations d"Sn« e the week, and the cold grey itT by the sea has worn all the gaiety 0 ! s Continental town en fete. Thouj s of invitations were issued, and ccholars from all the. home countries ! n d from many distant lands, including Australia and Xew Zealand, have found rtfflfway l 0 Aberdeen to take part in celebrating its University's 400 th anniversary. A feature of the festivities has been the magnificent, hospitality it Lord Stra-theona. the millionaire Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. The story goes th-at Lord Strathfona met the president o£ the University some time ago. anil was talking w ith him about the forthcoming odebrat'° ns, "If it were possible." said his Jord■bipT" l should like to lake some small part in showing my interest, in the j peat gathering at ilu> University. Do I tou think it would l>e acceptable if 1 i i<ked everyone present—students, delegates, graduates, officials, and visitors— to a'dinner?" The president was a little sta-gtrpTed at the number, lie said. "Why, there vill be some 3400 person.-."' "I see no difficulty.' , answered Lord Etrathcona. •Tor one Thin?," continued the president, "we have no hall in Aberdeen ! which could seat that number at din- ' Her."' •In Canada."' returned Lord Strathfona. "that difficulty would not trouble U 5. We should build a hall."' "The. cost would he tremendous.'' "I be- you." said his lordship, "not io allow the question of cost to disturb you.' . And so it came about that a. hall was built at Lord Strathcona's expen.e to a«ommoda.te 2400 guests. The. catering was entrusted to Lyons and Co., the big London firm, who took up to Aberdeen 600 waiters and a train-load of

table -a-arc. The banquet look place last night, and was a. brilliant success. Its cost to Lord Stra.tb.eona will be about £12,000. of Tvhich, £3000 is for the building. In addition, the Chancellor handed over to the Provost of the city the Emu of £500 for a. dinner to the poorest citizens on the. day of the King's visit. Xo wonder Aberdeen swears by the "Grand Old Man. , ' of Canada! Mr. Chamberlain, on the advice of ais doctor, lias cancelled all his public engagements for the coming autumn, which will be spent in retirement at Highbury. It appears lie has been suffering from the most severe attack of gout h<! has ever experienced. Ho went home to Birmingham on Monday -week, and be would have returned a week earlier but for the fact that jrotit then was not his only trouble. While walking in his louse in Prinee-s-gardens he slipped town and twisted his foot. The injury «as so painful that he was not dJa \.o walk in comfort, but after mling the limb for tonic days he was in a position to travel. He bore the journey by "the Great Western Railway very well, and on arrival at Snow Hill Station lie. was carried on an invalid chair from the train to his carriage.. This method was adopted by the right Jion. gentleman's family as a. measure of precaution, but when the fact lx»csine known rumour to spread that Mr. Chamberlain's illness was still of so serious & character as to leave him prostrate. It has also born .stated that the gout lias affected his eyesight to such an extent that he is "unable to see, that

his right arm is so contracted that he is net able to write. Mr. Xeville Chamberlain says it is true that lib father's eyesight is slightly affected, and that lie has not been "able to read much, but an improvement is now noticeable. It is not true that bis right arm is seriously contracted, but the gout has resulted in his fingers being so cramped tnat he cannot write with comfort, and therefore he does not personally undertake any part of his correspondence.

Lord Rosebery's appeal on behalf of "Iβ Auld Brig o , .Ayr ought to find a responsive e( .h o in lllp neai . ts o{ p co t. s . ™fn all the world over. It appears wat £10,000 is required for the pmserT ation of this famous bridce, anrl as jet only £4son has been "subscribed. -Peafang at Ayr the other nicbt, Lord ™«*ery, in a telling passage, suggested 'tot thn innumerable Rums' Societies sattered throughout the world had a we chance now of proving the sincerity w their hero-worship. "If,- he said, «cry man who has attended a Bums ™ner. and shed tears over the. memory Burns, and rua/ie speeches about a " d reC ' itpd P oams ahout Bl,rn? - ---■, drunk whisky in honour of Burns *n,u Tery onn of these now !ivin S J" " ie »"d would send a shilling, or even ,T ncc > t0 the. central fund, why your 3, r f, ,Tou!d bl> overflown?, and "you .'W'ld have to giJd the old bridge in orZj° Q *W*<l your Hinds. Are we to "PPose that the Burns jubilees which at ,\ c '. hil,! - and these annual dinners, wind, there ;uv such recitations, wV' OM, a,KI "bations, such uuvoiL^V'^ 11 " 51^115 ' swh si » of the tresL f i] ) a . bar,! mention of the dis- ( o reZ?+w delinito opportunity offers the ™ thpse Professions to practice. iffh 11° liuln uircd ' BlippCTS?" P ° Ct ° f thC WOf - ■ij^P 1 -', 1 '." 111 bp :, sra " ila ' til* v Jj °g is not promptly saved.

Pa >i«h Cl,,'*'! ™ arrif!d in Blandford ilisa T•J! ' ■ Dorset ' last Tuesday to f F y nesJ Clinton, eldest CluTton o j? f T n e GodfreY Fynesc «emonv i^ ro ' ew Zoaliln(1 - The «rfe7 ll' Whleh was «f a private charE M[orH% P v, c r med b - y thn K^" l ' °f

Wive £ allisc r. thr rrpre- I Thionikm° the New Rwby ■ day t0 Northaniptoa yester- : r, teh of tbeir lour : Tlle ' ~?* a vcr - v eas r vietorv, I Sil ' Vγ v ,V I,dlimds by 3 ' Points to I '«* of it, 1 i 1S " tells mc that the vie- ! cii %totL- h Afri «ns ->".s due S to an n - Uperior P ace - He likens feiUn, and 1 Qmar y B°«>d-cl aS B English ? e fiafd A o .* regard them as OP t0 SW, 2! the ' ,A]l But of+l, *^° nbser ' and lt w

carried the team through the flying colours in their opening match. They did not exhibit the tactical sublety of the "All Black" rearguard, but depended on the speed and strength of their wing men to push home their attacks. Mr. Palhser is interested to S ee how they will snape against a faster side than"East Midlands were able to put into the field.

A New Zcalander by the name of T. •T. Richards played for Bristol City last Saturday against Exeter. Jtir'ha-rds played as a forward, and the "Sportsman" speaks very highly of hU form, describing it as being "of the real Colonial standard." The "Sportsman" ad<Vs:— "Fleetiiess of foot, plenty of dash and unlimited nerve are his three outstanding qualities, and the Exeter backs in Adding opponents' kicks were unusually harassed by him. Unless a player got in a quick responsive kick he found himself in the grip of the Colonial—and there wore not half-measures about this forward's tackling."

]\lr. H. W. Peryman, of Christchureh, is revisiting his old home at Dartmouth, after an absence of nearly 58 years, six of which he spent in Adelaide "and Victoria, and the rest in Nelson and Tai Tapu, Christ church, where he has now resided for Ai years-. Mr. Peryman was recommended to take, a long sen. voyage for his health, and accordingly sailed for England by the Athenic, arriving on August .'JOih. The trip served to restore him to excellent health. He wnt down to hi.-: native Devon, and has since been touring in the south and west of 3'Jngland. On September sth, Mr. Peryman spent his 7Sth birthday in visiting Stonelienge. Next week he comes to London, and in the course of his visit hopes to see over some of the public day schools, having boen himself a. member of the Christchureh Education Board for nearly 26 years, and three times its chairman. Afterwards he will visit Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, and other centres.

Mr. C. Campion, of Wanganui, and Mr. Wilfred A. Wilson, of Auckland, have arrived by the s.s. Oβ vestry Grange after a fair-weather passage from the colony via Cape Horn. One the way Horoe they took part in some very enjoyable skating picnics at Punta Arenas, organised by the captain, whiie their vessel was loading at that port. The main object of their trip to England is to see some of the. larger electrical installations in Great, Britain. They leave London for Scotland next week, and afterwards will visit Ireland and perhaps Paris.

Mr. Harold Beauehauip will return to AVelliujrton next month by the. Corinthic. Mrs. Clark, sister of the. late. Mr. W. A. Low. will also be a passenger to Xew Zealand by this vessel.

Miss May Beattie and Mr. Edward Lauri have taken up work ou the variety stage, and their sketch was the leading feature last week at the Haminersmita Palace.

Mr. Cyril Iveightley's npw dramatic company ha? been playing '"MUcs Carew, Highwayman,' , to big houses in Cork.

'"Thp School for Scandal" and ''She .Stoops to Conquer" were also announced.

The Br v. H. T. Smith, of Auckland, lectured Jast week at Gunnersbury, London, YV\, before a large audience, in the Gunnersbury Congregational Church, on

"Missionary Life in the South S^as.' , Mr. Smith spoke from an experience, of twenty-two years spent ill (he. South Seas. One thing, be. said, that struck him on his return to England was the disregard of the Sabbath, in contrast to Xew Zealand, where ''the congregation were generally found waiting in a large crowd for the services to begin.'' Ido not know what churches in Xew Zealand Mr. Smith was referring to, nor in by own experience of colonial life ca.n I remember seeing those 'Marge crowds" waiting for the church doors to open.

Mr. A. C. Caughey. of Auckland, who is revisiting his native district of Portaferry, in the North of Ireland, gave a lecture there the other day on "New Zealand, the Brighter Britain.' , There was what the local reporter describes as "a large and discriminating audience." Mr. Caughey gave, n rapid review of the history, natural features, resources and political development of the colony, and at the close of his lecture was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Mr \V. B. Gumming, son of t.he. chief postmaster at Auckland, is in London on a business visit. Mr dimming left New Zea.land five years ago for the Transvaal, and is now in business in that country as a timber merchant. Tie ex pecti to return to South Africa, towards t,Ph end of November, and within the next two years he hopes to be able to revisit >\ew Zealand.

Mr? and Miss Widrlop, of Wellington, who arrived from the colony in May last, are now visiting Mrs Widdop's married daughter. Mrs Shortridge, in Surrey. They intend to remain in England during- the winter months, but their subsequent plans arc as yet indefinite.

Mr H. ,T. T). Mabon. of the teaching staff of the Auckland College and Grammar School, leaves London nest week for Paris. He will travel in France, the Uiviera.. and Italy until December 12th. when he joins Ifhe N.D.L. steamer Scharnhorst at XapleSj en route for Xew Zealand.

Dγ McDowell, of Auckland, represented the Xew Zealand University at, Aberdeen this week, when the granite city celebrated the 400 th anniversary of the birth of Aberdeen University»

Recent callers at the New Zealand High Commissioner's office: —Mr Leonard H. Harrixmi (Christc-hnrehl. Miss M. C. Edmond. Miss Mac-Lean Edward (Dunedin), Mr D. li. P. Galbraith (Auckland), Miss Claudia Price (Wanganui), Mr and Mrs W. King, Miss H. E. King (Wellington), Mr and Mrs George Ftilford (Akaroal. Mr C. Campion (Wanganui), Mr Wilfrid A. Wilson (Auckland), Mr Norman FitzHerbert (Wanganui), Mr George Coup (Kaiapoi), Mr George Pott (New Plymouth), Mr and Mrs .r. H. Jackson (Petone), Mr and Mrs C. W. Palmer (Wellington), Mr James S. Roberts (Christrhurch), Mr and Mrs J. D. Breebin, Miss Dale (Wanganui), Mr Hy. Hanaway (Dunedin), Mrs and Miss Widdnp (Wellington), Mr W. Sa-nders Johnstone (Waipukurau), Mr S. A. H. Robb (Christchurch), Mr A. Ambler (Oiiristchurch.), Mr Harry Aril old (Christchurch), Mir D. J. Fyfe (Dunedin). Mr W. F. Lewis (lnvercargillj, Mα- and Mrs J. J. Boyd (Wellington), Mr Edward A. Seagar (Wellington), Miss Julie A. Tomlinson (Nelson).

"A Colonial Girl of the North Island" has an article in this -week's "Queen" on station life in New Zealand from a woman's -point of -view. She finds that tjtongh ihg, life i&-*Hfiuli over&%- times,

yet she is happy, and, she hopes, not idle or profitless. In this conclusion she believes that she voices the feelings of many colonial women on up-country stations. "Sometimes," she adds, "English folks come to live in New Zealand, and after a year or two go home disgusted, blaming the country. Too often the fault lies in themselves. The average man perhaps thinks that the colonies are make-shifty, and attempts to remodel everything on the English lines, refusing to take any advice, and reckoning his own way better than any other, and naturally things do not run smoothly."'

By means of the kind efforts of the staff of the "Napier (XX) Daily TelegTaph" the handsome sum of over seventy pounds has been generously given to the Fresh Air Fund by the subscribers to that journal. "A3 this means," says the "Xapier Daily Telegraph."' "that fully seventeen hundred children will benefit by the 'Daily Telegraph's" fund, we desire, while expressing our satisfaction, lo return thanks to those who have rendered such a. result possible." The promoters of the Fresh Air Fund here in 7_iondon also make grateful acknowledgments" of the. generosity of their New ZeaJand friends, which in the words of the '"Daily Telegraph. "' was exercised "in the hope that the children now the objects of this fund may bo enabled to rise in future above their present surroundings and prospects."