MR. COATES AT HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 9

MR. COATES AT HOME

INUNDATED WITH CALLERS

A JOKE TAKEN SEKIOUSLY.

LONDON, 18th October. Mr. and Mrs. Coates were inundated by callers during the week-end, including many New Zealanders, but Mr. Coates found time to confer with Mr. Bruce on the Conference and other matters. The Senate of Edinburgh University has written intimating a desire to confer an honorary doctorate of laws on Mr. Coates, who has accepted the invitation and will attend a special conferment of degrees on 15th November. A delegation from the International Press Conference which recently met at Geneva was introduced to Mr. Coates by Messrs. Selig and Bell (of Christchurch), who expressed the hope that the next Conference would be held in New Zealand in 1928. Mr. Coates assured the delegation of a cordial welcome. Mr. Coates to-day accompanied Sir James Parr and inspected the new site for the High Commissioner's offices. Much amusement was caused in New Zealand circles by some London newspapers' serious literal publication of Mr. Coates's jocular declaration: "My wife is a Londoner; I am a Maori," with the subsequent explanation that he only meant he was a born New Zealander. Mrs. Crates is enjoying the reunion with her family and is already a favourite in Imperial circles. Sir James and Lady Parr to-night gave a successful reception in Mr. and Mrs. Coates's honour at the Great Central Hotel. The attendance was 1400. Thoso invited included Mr. and Mrs. Amery, Major and Mrs. Ormsby-Gore, General Hertzog, Mr. Cosgrave, Sir Joseph and Lady Cook, General Sir Alexander and Lady Godley, Sir Thomas and Lady Mackenzie, and many New Zealanders.