ON TOUR AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 9

ON TOUR AT HOME.

I'ErtSONAI, NOTES FROM LONDON. London, January 11. Miss rioivnce (ic.idman, a Wellington lady lienli-t, has secured a good appointment ill Wi-beeh.

Mr. and .Mrs. A. Kidd, of Auckland, spent Christmas and New Year at l,eods, and have now returned to London. Mrs. .11. .1. Heddon, and Mir* Marie Scddnn leave by the Argyllshire, from Liver|»;«d, mi January 211, on their return to New Zealand.

Mr. Ifasil Selh-Siuilli.of Christchiireh, has been appointed an honorary rorrespnudiiHr secretary in New Zealand by the council of lfie lioyal Colonial Institute. I'mtessur liickerton, ot Christ-church, intends to prolong his slav ia this country, and has taken over his Hat at 18 1 einhroke Mansions, for a further year. •Mrs. \nn Asch, of Christchurch, is shortly expected in England, as are also Mrs. \\. .Mason and Miss J. Macandrew, of (Jileeiistowu; Mr. ,1. P. Firth, Principal of Wellington College, and Mrs. Firth.

, Mr. Irankland, of Wellington, who was or many years actuary for Dm New Zealand Government Life Department, and who has resided in England for some considerable time, returns, next mouth, lo New Zealand.

Judge Cooper, of New Zealand, is at present, staying at Matlock, ajul will be there till (he end of this month. Ho sails on February 1!1 for' New Zealand. Mrs. Cooper and the Misses E. and G. Cooper remaining behind for a longer stay.

. Iwa, the Maori contralto, has been tinging lately at Aylesbury, where, as she sang, the theatre management exhibited films of New Zealand scenes. Mr. Adam Madill, J.l'., of Auckland, who is on a world tour with his family, is now in Ireland.

Mrs. Alexander Thomson, of Halfway flush, Duuedin, with her daughters, and i T ■ .'^ - Thomson, has toured the United Kingdom and the Continent, and is now staying in Cornwall. Mrs. Herbert Alington, of New Zealand, who acted as Mistress of the Robes in the New Zealand section of tho Pageant of Empire, given at the Festival ol Empire, has ljccn presented with a gold neck-chain, a very handsome pearl, and amethyst pendant, and a letter of gratitude for her services, from the committee.

Ihe death occurred a few tlnvs aw ofMr. William lllakcuey, a retired Chief Paymaster of the Navy. In 1851 Mr. Blakeney made a voyage to Australia in the brig Fantoine, after which lie spent five years assisting the exploration of the coast of New Zealand, and charting the surrounding seas. He died at the age of

Mrs. Neilson, of Auckland, and her son, who brought a very large collection of fancy kauri gum and a working exhibit of greenstone to this country for display, first at the Franco-British,'then at the Anglo-Japanese, and, later, at the Festival of Empire, at the Crystal Palace, returns to New Zealand 'by the Runic, which leaves Liverpool on February 11. The lonic, which left Plymouth on Saturday, carries, amone others, the following passengers for New Zealand:—The Rev. A. n. and Mrs. Aulivn, the Misses M. and A. Harrison, Messrs. E. H. nrd G. R. Black, Mrs. F. Tznrd, Major W. Doyne, Miss Arinitagc, the Misses S. G. and N. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. E. Randall, and Mrs. A. H. and the Misses Williams.

Mr. and Mrs. .tarrett. of Auckland, arrived in England, their first return to their native land afler thirty years' residence in New Zealand,.at the conclusion of an interesting tour of America and Canada. They spent several months in this country, then visited Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Thev sail, on their return, by the Otranfo, on February 2, breaking their journey at Sydney," in order to spend a little time there' with their, son, who lives in Queensland. Much sympathy will be felt by all New Zenlnnders lor Mr. 11. li. Marriott-Watson, the New Zealand author, who has recently lost his wife, Mrs. Kofiamond MarriottWat.son, after a brief illness, at their country home at Shere. Mrs. MarriottWatson was herself honourably known in the ranks of literature, and has written several volumes of graceful verse, and others of prose. Her last book, "The Heart of a Garden," met with success nn its publication in 1905. In addition, the deceased lady was a constant contributor to English magazines and newspapers. Quite recently she contributed a briffht article on "Christmas Books" to the "Daily Chronicle."