LORD LIVERPOOL'S WIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 111, 26 September 1912, Page 6

LORD LIVERPOOL'S WIFE.

A DAY WITH THE COUXTESS. a wixxixr; personality. London, August 10. The Countess of Liverpool was in Ireland when her husband's appointment, as (invernor of Xew Zealand was announced, but a network of telegrams ami letters at last found her returning to England, but not to London—to Ilartsholme Hall, the Earl's Lincolnshire seat.

The house itself is .a rambling redbriek place of many turrets, its mellow sides covered with creepers. In front and at the sides are terraced gardens—vivid with flowers—and leading down to a great lake, wood-fringed, in the distance, a white bridge spanning one neck of it, and queenly swans that answer, one found, to Lady Liverpool's call, swimming majestically about. Copper beeches, rugged oaks, clipped Irish yews, willows, elms, rowans a mass of scarlet berries—a dozen other kinds and dozens of each —are grouped about the edges of the water, and one could well picture the fairy-like beauties that must reign here in the moonligkt. Whether the Countess of Liverpool will be judged pretty it is difficult to say, after a quiet day spent with her in the country she seems much more than that.

As to features, she is tall and athletic looking, with beautiful grey-blue Irish eyes, brown hair, and generally a robust appearance that is the outcome, probablv, of her passionate love of outdoor life."

She is Irish, the only daughter of Lord llonck, with all the Irishwoman's love of sport, and, in addition to hunting, plays tennis and other games, is fond of walking and bicycling (she bicycles always to church, both in England and Ireland, so that the carriage need not be brought out that day). Then. New Zealanders will be interested to know that slie can cook, is an amateur photographer, is sufficiently interested in gardening to cut every flower that adorns the great hall, is fond of music, holds certificates for home nursing and firstaid work, has scores of fowls that she entirely tends herself. Moreover— Queen Mary will greatly approve her Excellency elect! —she not only knits all the Earl's socks, ties and scarves, but those of her brothers and his brothers, and various other relatives, and works for numerous guilds as well as for the village in Ireland and Lincoln. Let it not be inferred from this that she is some terrible and dull middle-aged person, for she is quite young and jolly, and overflowing with healthy energy.

A GREAT LOVER OF ANIMALS. On all sides her love'of animals k evidenced. A diminutive stairway leads out of her boudoir on to a part of the roof where she keeps broods of young ringdoves; hosts of snowy pigeons flew about her as she walked through the gardens, a little rough-haired fox terrier, Tartar—who is to make one of the household in New Zealand —was ever at her heels, or, covering . himself delightedly with wet mud. A huge Scotch collie is another pet; two .beautiful roan horses (also going'.'to '.New, Zealand) licked the visitor's hands , winningly. Yet another member,' of the family—whose mother went .soldiering to Chatham, Shrewsbury and Dublin, with Lord and Lady Liverpool—and who it is safe to predict will be one of the largest Persian cats seen 'i* the Dominion—is Thomas. As to his weight there may be some little difficulty, since, .when asked, Mary vouchsafed "all the weights as well as two irons!" and I had no guide as to the weight of the irons, and had to go for my train while it was being investigated. : . ~ Questioned as to whether she would miss London life, Lady Liverpool laughed merrily. "Indeed, no," she said, "for I've never cared for .town life at all. I'm never lonely, always tremendously busy, and I love everything to do with the open air. Not to excess, of course. :I am very fond of jny fowls, and hope I'll be able to keep lots in New.Zealand; but to neglect other things because ,of ■them would be ridiculous." .-, ,

Lord Liverpool, is, fond; of all game*, but more than any. otters of cricket, ami lately has bad a capital pitch made, where the servants play every fright. He doesn't play polo, but is keen about golf, fishing and bunting, and, with Lady Liverpool, generally goes for a gallop every morning before" brealffasT. It is probable that they will take a couple of riding horses, some 'ponies, and the Earl's charger out with them, when they sail, as they do in,, November.; Up to the present the route'.'has, not been decided on, but as they have relatives in Canada, it will, very likely be via Vancouver. ] ".,, ';'. ANXIOUS TO GO TO NEW ZEALAND. Every day's post brings applications by the score from would-be aide-de-j camps and lesser officials, and the keenest excitement reigns,at the Hall as to who shall be taken out among the servants. Except for about,ten house servants, none have been chosen yet, and Lord Liverpool is getting up early and sitting up late to try and cope with the ! letters that pour in—eighty came by this morning's post, for instance! fcjince she is an independent person and never feels lonely, Lady Liverpool thinks it unlikely that she will take a companion out with her, but she greatly hopes that Lord and Lady Monck will \ come out to the Dominion during the Earl's term of office, and she anticipates warm friendships ahead in New Zealand. Lord and Lady I'luuket, whose frisk seat is only four miles from Lord Monck's, and who, as we have had evidence so many times before, never, lose an opportunity of saying golden things about the country that was their home for several years.

liefore the motor, with its green and scarlet liveried servimts, puffed round from the picturesque stables, whence a clock set in a high red tower chimed relentlessly that it was within twenty minutes of train time, the writer had been taken through some of the most beautiful rooms in the house —a great library I leading into a conservatory bright with I all manner of hothouse dowers, a picture gallery above a double staircase, and others, and had wandered with this most charming of hostesses through orchards, greenhouses, flower and vegetable gardens, over the lake, and for a brisk walk through the wood that skills it. There is extenske shooting on the estate. A school treat was to be held on the morrow, and for this a motor boat and | other water craft were prepared, and | piles of presents set out on the billiardI room tables, to say nothing of an order for sweets carried into London, so that, I though she has no family of her own, the Countess' understanding of little people is very evident.

There seems every indication that she should be one of the most dearly-loved Governor's wives that New Zealand lias ever known.