OUR LONDON LETTER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 6 January 1909, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON. November 27

Bishop Leniham, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, took Dart in the ceremonies held in honour of the Pope's sacerdotal jubilee, at Rome. Thousands of pilgrims were there from all parts of Italy, and from all over the world. The special services took place in St. Peter's.

A marriage has just taken place, as mentioned in my last, between Mr Theodore Harper of Kluchi, Siberia, eon of Leonard. Harp sr, Esq., of Bruton, Somerset, and Miss "Winifred Hunter-Brown, daughter of Mr Charles Hunjter-Brown, of Long-Look-Out, Nelson The bride's dress was of white liberty velvet, with embroidered trimming, while satin picture hat, with cstrich feathers. The marriage took placo at Si>. Peter's Church, Cranley Gardens, the rector, the Rev AY. Swayno, officiating. The reception was at the house of Mr and the Hon Mrs Nash, cousin of the bride, a very small party b«ing" present, consisting of only near relations of the bride, and bridegroom. Mrs Henry Tancriid, formerly of Christchtirch, was__ present at the ceremony. The bride was given away by her brother, Air Philip HunterBrown, and Dr J. Harold Kemp, of Wellington, was best man. The many friends of Mr W. Recce, the ex-Mayor of Christehurch, are expecting him here shortly. He will pay a six months' visit to the Old Country. At a meeting of cifc'zens on the eve of his departure, he was presented with an address expressing appreciation of his many public services. The presentation was made by the Hon C C. Bowen, who said he know no man who had done more for Christehurch than Mr Recce, or who had shown more judgment in what he tmd done.

The Rev A. F. Smith, of North-' cote, and his wife and family, have booked their passage back by the lonic, leaving London on December 10th, and are due at Wellington on January 26th. Mr Smith has spent a considerable part of his time on a preaching sind lecturing tour in the North of England, on behalf "of the Society for Propagating tho Gospel in Foreign parts.

Among those who have lately left for' • the Dominion is Mr A. A. Norths a teacher of sinping. He has spent 12 years over here, and would have remained had not the climate disagreed with him. He bos, however, decided to (=ettlo permanently in Christchurch. Mi North thinks the New Zealand cliniata is wonderful compared to that of London, He says that your ■country should produce* the •finest singers in the world. Other New Zeaianders on the way homo are Mr and Mrs H. Vavasour, and the Misses Q-. and .B. Vavasour, Captain H. E. Humphries, and-Captain Takenham for ■ Wellington, the Hon H. St. Leeer for Gisborno. Mr T Anderson F.R.GuS.. for*Po«t Chalmers?-and. Pr D. Prascr-Hurst 'f.r Wellington. Th°y are all in the Taimii. Tne "Hon W. Hall-Jones, your new High Commissioner, is expected here early in, January. There seems to I>9 an idea that his connection with the office will mean some xadical changes. S-'H© will b^^finiiiei-y.-chaEged^reitb the* t-isk of reorganising on up-to-date lines. Mr Kenna.way.will probably retiro on a- well-earned pension, and thero will be a distinct t separation of tho financial from the'general business department. It is considered that the proper place for the office of the High Commissioner should be in the City, and not so far away in tho West End, and -f the present lea-sa can be advantageously disposed of, it is almost certain that more convenient premises will bu eecured in the central part of London.

Miss Oonah Fitzgerald, the grand daughter of the late James Edward Fitzgerald, the first Premier of Ne> Zealand, was. married a few days agi in the parish oi Wdrplesdon near Guildford; to Mr Albert de Castro Glubb. The ceremony was of a private character. The bride's father, Mr Gera.'d Fitzgerald, is now "living in Wellington. Mr Glubb belongs to a well known family at Liskeard, in Cornwall.

Mr Harry Farjeon, mentioned by me largely in former letters, the son of the distinguished New - Zealander. and grandson of the famous actor^ Joseph Jefferson, haa been winning distinction as1 a composer sjice he left the Royal Academy of Music. Many. of his works have enjoyed great popularr ity, and similar good fortune awaits his latest ''Deux. Moments Musiceax," which wore -successfully introduced by Miss Vera Margolies, at her pianoforte recital/ held at Stein way Hall, on November 17th.

Another clever Dominionite, Mr Cyril Towsey. the piahiste, is very much heard of just now. .He has had many successful appearances as accompanist. . He acted in that capacity at tho Melba. concert, and also at the concert held last week at His Majesty's Theatre in aid of the pantomime fund for poor children. Several interviews with Mr Tow-soy have appeared in this column from time to i ime.

Two veterans of tho New Zealand wars have just passed away. MajorGeneral C Blewitt, late of the 65thi (York and Lancaster) Regiment, died at the ripe- old sge of 84. He was present at tho storming of Rangiaohia, and the capture of Orakau, at which he commanded a detached force. Ho was mentioned in despatches in June 1864, and in 1901—thirty-seven years later—he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Such are the delays of officialdom. The other, Boatswain Tinper, lato of the Royal Navy, died at Bicton Heath, near Shrewsbury, at the still riper age of 90*. Ho was one of the few survivors of those who fought in tho New; Zealand -war of 1845. He saw service in many parts of the world, having taken part in the Crimean campaign, the China war, and having been eneagod in many expeditions against the -irates who in the years gono by infested tho coast of Africa, and the waters east of Suez.