PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18217, 30 October 1924, Page 2

PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

GOSSIP ABOUT NEW ZEALANDERS.

(FIOM OUE orrs coxbekpoxdbxt.J LONDON, September 26. His Grace Archbishop Bedvood is in London this week, after having had a very interesting time in Ireland, much of the country being traversed by motor-car. He has booked his return passage by the Tahiti, sailing from San Francisco on November 5, and he will be accompanied by his Administrator, Father Smythe. Meanwhile, the Archbishop, who is enjoying excellent health and is remarkably active, is. now leaving for Franco and Italy. While in Paris and Toulouse he will sec many of his old friends, and, of course, in Rome he will have an audience with his Holiness the Pope. Returning from Italy to England, he will remain with his "nephew, Mr Vernon C. Redwood, until it is time for him to leave for New York. Everyone is delighted—and surprised—to see how well he is looking, and. his wonderful vigour is the subjeet of general laudatory comment.

Mr A. S. Taylor (Christclvurch) &as been travelling generally in EnglandScotland, and on the Continent, and he will leave by the Orsova on October 11. Throughout his travels Mr Taylor has been taking particular note of matters in connexion with tramway undertakings and roa<J formation, especially as they affect tramway interests. With the electricity undertakings in some of the cities of Switzerland and Northern Italy he was very greatly impressed, and the works made him realise that New Zealand, in its new developments, is only just touching the fringe of great possibilities in this connexion. When Mr Taylor returns he will have a good deal of useful information to impart to the local authorities regarding tramway matters, particularly in connexion with the permanent way and its maintenance. He was interested to find that in some of the busy centres, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, there are separate staffs dealing with the ordinary roads and with the tramway tracks, although both of these departments come under the aegis of the Corporation itself. Wherever he made enquiries Mr Taylor was very • courteously received by the Corporation authorities, who were only too glad to give him the benefit of their experience. Generally, he has found that the tramway tracks are formed on a concrete base overlaid with granite setts, while the rest of the roadways usually consist of wood blocks.

Captain C. W. Free, M.C., P.S.C., 10th Cavalry Corps of Guides Indian Army (formerly New Zealand Military Forces), on graduating from the Staff College, Quetta, has been appointed a General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade, Baluchistan District, with headquarters at Quetta. The Hon. James Craigie, M.L.C., left for home via Suez by the Orcades last week. He has-been doing a good deal of strenuous sight-seeing in England and Scotland in the last month or two. His son and elder brother travel home with him.

Mr Thomas Itobins (New Brighton) has been spending most of his time with relatives in Northampton,, whom he had not seen for 16 years. Mr Eobins has come Home on private business in connexion with his father's death, and the date of his departure is uncertain, but he hopes to return, if possible, about November or December. In the meanwhile he will visit relatives in Great Yarmouth, and he will go to the North of England. Mr W. Davis (Christchurch) arrived by the Ormuz, and is staying with his sister, at Greenhithe. " He has come to England on private, family business which requires his personal attention. Mr Davis will later go North and also to Cornwall. This week he is spending a few days in France and Belgium. The Literary Supplement of "The Times" has a very appreciative review on "The Cultivation of New Zealand Plants," by Dr. L.' A. Cockayne, who is described "as a botanist of worldwide reputation, and an enthusiastic gardener with thirty-five years' experience in cultivation of New Zealand plants, and the possessor of an easy and lucid style." Although intended primarily for New Zealand gardeners, it is considered the book should be of almost equal value elsewhere. The fact that Dr. Cockayne describes no fewer than 110 species of veronica testifies to the richness of New Zealand in the shrubby veronicas and to the thoroughness of his work.