PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 3

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

THE PRIME MINISTERS PLANS. , CHRISTMAS WITH RELATLVES. (I-ROU D'JS OWN COBBXBPOKDINT.) LONDON, December 3. .Next week the New Zealand Prime Minister and his party will leave for France. The trip has been planned to be a-.personal'visit to"the New Zealaud Military Cemeteries and the New Zealand War Memorials, Mr Coates naturally been anxious to see the changes that, have taken-place since tho time of the. war. Ho had intended originally that the trip should bo purely private in character, but when it became known that ho was going oyer, various functions were suggested by prominent people in France. The programme is not definitely complete, but while in Paris, the Premier will make a presentation to the French Rugby Union in appreciation of its hospitality to the Maori football team. .It, will take the form of a shield.

After spending a few days in London, .during which he will take up certain questions with the State Departments in England affecting New Zealand —more or less of a Departmental Coates will to to Ireland. If a convenient date can be arranged for the presentation of the LL.D. honoris causa, he will cross to Dublin to receivo the distinction from Dublin University, afterwards going to Northern Ireland, where he and his party will be the guests of Sir James and Lady Craig., at Stormont Castle. It is expected that the visit to Ireland will take four or five days. Mr Coates will return to London shortly before Christmas, and he hopes to spend that period with his relatives in Herefordshire.'

Mrs Coates is still feeling the •'aftereffects of her indisposition, and during Mr C'oates's tour in the Midlands she went to stay with her relatives as soon as she was able to bo up and about. Sho quite expects to be well enough to go to France. The Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell .left Waterloo this morning by the Coriutiiic boat-train, accompanied by Miss Bell. Mr E. J. Harding (representing the Under-Secretary of State for the Dominions). Mr Bearo (representing the Government Hospitality Committee), Sir James Parr, and a number of other well-known New Zealanders were at the station to wish him farewell and "bon voyage." On December loth Sir James ami uady Pair will be entertained at dinner by the Men Wayfarers of the Overseas League, and afterwards the High Coin missioner will deliver an address at Vernon House. On December 17th, Sir James will be a guest ;it the dinner of the Australian and New Zealand Medical Association. On January 3rd either .sir James or '-Lady Parr—possibly both —will attend the Church Army dinner lor poor children. ;it the Guildhall, made possible T»y the geuerosiiv of .some New Zealanders in the Dominion who r.re interested in the charitable activities of the Church Army. On January 11th. Sir James Pan- will give an address, on New Zealand before the Fellows of the lioyal Colonial -Institute Over this meeting Earl Jellicoe will preside. New Zealanders at Oxford Vniversiiv have established a Club of their own' following the example of New Zealanders at Cambridge, who have long possessed their Heitiki Club. The ° title selected for Oxford is the Hongi'Club Its inaugural dinner took place a.few

aavs ago. Mr A. E. Porritt is the president, and Mr T. T. C. Birch (Palmei'ston North) is tho secretary. Much to the regret of the organisers it was not possible for either the New Zealand Premier or tho New Zealand High Commissioner to bo present at the dinner, but the Heitiki brothers attended. Mr Porritt is now well settled down, to his medical work at St. Mary's Hospital, feeling very lit after the splendid holiday which ho and Mrs Porritt had in Normandy and Paris during the summer vacation. He has had the ill-luck, though, to damage- a knee while playing Rugger, and the result is that ho cannot yet lake part in tho game. Mr H. J. B. Cleverly, a former Councillor and a director of tho firm of Messrs Knees, Ltd., Trowbridge, Wiltshire, is leaving for New Zealand for reasons of his health. He was entertained at dinner by Masonic brethren, manufacturers, professional, and business men of Trowbridge. The chairman, Mr T. C. Usher, J.P., C.C., said he had visited New Zealand sonic forty years ago, and he could assuro Mr Cleverly that he was going to have the time of his life in the Dominion. Their guest was to be envied, for he was going to one of the most glorious countries in the world, and he would find the New Zealandcrs a most delightful set of people. Among tho presents given to Mr Cleverly was a lucky New -Zealand mascot, some greenstone which Mr Usher had brought back with him to England all those years ago. Archbishop Julius lias been fulfilling various preaching engagements in various parts of London lately. At Enfield he wound up a sermon in his practical typical manner, thus: "Wealth, position, ambition—none of these completely satisfy man's spiritual needs, and they rarely satisfy his bodily ones either. If a man gets a small amount of money he sets out to get more, and when he gets it he is not content until he amasses a fortune. Still he remains dissatisfied. I have never known a rich man who was perfectly happv. Ihere was always something that lie wanted. If my wife tells me that she will be perfectly happv if I get her a new coat, I knoiv that she is wrongshe II need some trimmings to go with it. ' ■