Like most eldecly folk who return to the “ Old Country” from New Zealand after a lapse of many years, Mr and Mrs John Woodward, of Springston, Canterbury, are, I fear, experiencing even more disappoint ment than pleasure from their visit. The places they once knew are changed beyond all possibility of recognition, and London, with its everlasting noise and bustle and general atmosphere of smoke and sweat and struggle for life, confuses and wearies them. Before leaving New Zealand the farmer and his wife promised whilst in London to look in upon the friends and sisters and cousins and aunts of various neighbours and acquaint ances. Little did they know what this signified. However, Mr and Mrs Wood ward made a brave start, and after spend ing a whole day riding about in busses (chiefly in the wrong direction), at last arrived deadly tired at the suburban home of one of their friends’ relatives. Judge their gratification on learning the family had recently removed to an opposite quar ter of the metropolis. When Mr Woodward drifted into your London offices having observed the N.Z.P.A. sign from the top of a bus, and remembered he had a letter to us— he seemed fairly bothered and flustered. Nevertheless it was evident he meant to go doggedly through with his sight-seeing. He wasn’t enjoying his trip as he had ex pected to enjoy it, but he meant to have his full money’s .vortli anyhow. Neverthe less, I expect the happiest day Mr and Mrs Woodward will see for a long time to come will,:be the one on which they set foot again in New Zealand. Mr Wilfred Rathbone, the editor of the New Zealand Graphic, has completed a sen sational novelette, which is now in the hands of London publishers, and will be issued in the form of a shilling “ shocker ” as soon as the arrangements for its ap pearance serially permit. The scene of the story has been laid partly in London and partly in Auckland, and it deals with the exploits of some up-to-date burglars who attempt to rob the Bank of Zealandia, and also annex a large sum in specie which the Wairarapa is bringing from Sydney to Auckland. Several titles are under con sideration.
