A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 7

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

(From Our Oicn Correspondent) SYDNEY, December 20. The surprise of the week was undoubtedly the marriage of James Liddy, the poetical Villon of “The Vagabond King.’’ to an attractive —and well-to-do —widow from New Orleans. It was quite an old romance. The somewhat unexpected arrival cf the lady, in Sydney, however, by an American mail boat, revived it. Mrs. Esther Gagnet, passing through Sydney, en route to Java, called up the blonde —one might almost say golden-haired Mr. Liddy. for he is quite often—on the* phone. Did he remember her? Of course Mr. Liddy did. In three days they decided to be married. The sequel was a little ceremony at SSt. Jude’s Church, Rand wick, according to the rites of the Church of England. The bridegroom donned his tights as Villon subsequently, and the bride

“sat in front.” At the end of tinshow, Nil*, and Mrs. Liddy went round to Romano’s, where they met a number of friends. The bride comes from “way down South” in the States, jyhere

she was reared among the melodious coloured folk on the cotton fields. This is her fifth tour of the world. Needless to say the trip to Java was cancelled. James Liddy, though an American citizen, was born in Bolton. Lancashire. He went to the Suites as an infant in arms. Chinese Murder Case The Gow murder case is over, and to the surprise of all Sydney, tlie yoiyig couple accused of the crime, were acquitted by the jury. Mrs. Gow, the wife of a Chinese tailor, married a young naval rating, a few days after her husband’s death. Subsequently, the half-Chinese woman and Ernes) Trapman, her new husband, were arrested. There is no doubt about the fact that the Trapmarls had a most trying ordeal, especially as Mrs. Trapman’s infant, Chuey Gow, was confined to Long Bay with her. The agony of the mother might well be imagined. Mrs. Trapman, after the trial, said that she would look to the Government to return her two other children from China. “I dare not go there now,” she said. Trapman was permitted 12 hours freedom with his wife by the naval authorities after his release. He then had to return to his ship. Mr. Bavin's Health The health <jf the State Premier, Mix Bavin, has been causing some concern for weeks past. The other day he told me that he was feeling much better. The present Parliamentary session has been particularly strenuous. Tlie Government has received no assistance from the Opposition ir regard to its programme. Naturally, in view of the former possibility of a certain happening in England, a gracious gesture on the part of the Opposition would have been particularly opportune. The Government hathad the possibility of a sudden adjournment hanging over its head for weeks past. The rush of work, therefore, has been extraordinarily acute, hampered and harassed by an Opposition, which, in the main, does not conform to the decencies of ordinary Parliamentary life. No wonder that Mr. Bavin looks—and feels—ill* The Premier is due for a long holiday at the end of tliefrsession. Foreign Wool Buyers France and Japan were particular!;, active at this week’s wool sale, ami competition was even a little more keen than usual. France paid as much as 27£d for six bales of ewes from Weabonga. The New England fleece was soft, of good quality, and fair bulk. Japan was attracted by wethers from Moree at 263 d. Yorkshire secured several lots from the same district at 24d. Australians arcsomewhat alarmed at the quantity ui raw materials leaving the country. Ninety-seven per cent, was exported last year, and only three per cent, actually made up in the country. Margaret Bannerman Even more radiantly beautiful after her New Zealand tour, I had only the veriest glimpse of Margaret Bannerman on her return earlier in the week from the Dominion, of which she speaks in the most glowing terms. Unfortunately, we shall not sec the English actress again in Sydney. After her return Melbourne season, which opens on Saturday, she will leave for England, sailing probably about the middle of February. For New Zealand. Mrs. Hope Lewis, formerly of Auckland. and Mrs. Hugh Williams, from the Wairarapa, were arrivals by the English mail steamer. They are on their way to the Dominion. Father Salza, an Italian priest, whose career in the field was cut short owing to the loss of his left arm, is in Sydney, en route to New Zealand. Though a chaplain, he participated in several actions in the war with the Italian “shock” troops, whose black uniform has since been adopted by the fireeating Fascisti. The new Italian Consul for Wellington, Signor Giovanni Fornichella, will also be crossing tlie Tasman in this week’s mail steamer. Accompanied by his wife, he arrived by the Orama, Professor James Park, Dean of-the Faculty of Mining and Economic Geology at Otago University, was a passenger by the Ascanius. Ho has been abroad studying mining districts in England, Scotland and South Africift He will spend about a fortnight in the city before sailing for New Zealand. Monte Luke Honoured

Monte Luke. the New Zealand photographer whose portraits represent probably the supreme art of the camera, as far as Sydney is concerned, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Sucietjx This is tlie highest award that a photographer can attain in the British Empire. It is recognised among camera men as the equivalent of the Royal Academy to artists. Monte Luke had the unique distinction of being elected an associate and fellow in the same year. New Doctor of Music

It may not be generally known that Arundel Orchard, the head of the Sydney Conservatorium, upon whom the University of Durham has conferred its degree of Doctor of Music, once lived in New Zealand. On leiving England he first went to the Dominion and after spending some time there proceeded t" Sydney. For some years he was conductor of the Royal Sydney

Liedertafel, which was subsequently known as Royal Sydney Club, for obvious reasons. Dr. J. C. Bridge, the occupant of the chair of music at Durham, has cabled the University s congratulations to Dr. Orchard. Australia’s Ban Activities of the Pan-Pacific Secretariat. the Red organisation with which the Australasian Council of Trade Unions is affiliated, are dealt with in an official report submitted to the third secretariat meeting, by a foreigner named Earl Browder. Mr. Bruce, it will be recalled, prohibited the holding of a Pan-Pacific Congress in Australia. The report states that invitations have since been received from Vladivpstoek and Manila to hold the conference there. The chances are that it will take place in the Siberian city. The report added: "Wo have information that the two big unions of New Zealand, the seamen and the miners, have voted to affiliate and will send delegates to the ! congress of 1929.” What will official , Labour in the Dominion say to that? j