LADY DICKSON-POYNDER.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13742, 25 May 1910, Page 8

LADY DICKSON-POYNDER.

A CHARMING HOSTESS. Though for somo years . the now Governor's wife has been one of the most graceful hostesses in London society, and has entertained Royalty at her residence in Chesterfield Gardens, Mayfair, she has not yet overcome her objection to publicity in the form of newspaper paragraphs and interviews. A well-known and popular figure in society, she has never yielded to the insistent journalistic desiro to describe her charmiws dinners and receptions in the columns of the papers, and it was with repeated protests that sho submitted to the conditions of her new positiou and agreed to say a few words for the readers Of "Tho Press."

Lady Poyndor is of medium height, dark, and strikingly handsome. Her father, Mr Robert Henry I). Dundas, | is a direct lineal descendant of the Dun- j dases, ono of the oldest families in ' Scotland, and hor mother, who is also living, was the Hon. Catherine Anne Carrington Napier, daughter of the first Lord Napier of Magdala. after i whom the capital of Hawke's Bay was j named. Lady Povjider herself was married in 189G, and the one child of the marriage, a daughter is now twelve years of age. Laughingly protesting that sho did not wish to be "interviewed," Lady Poynder admitted that she was looking forward to the change with a good deal of interest. "Of course," she said, "it is quite a new thing for mc, and ono cannot tell how ono will like a new life; but I hear from all accounts that the people in New Zealand are'charming, the country delightful, and the climate wonderful. 1 feel certain the people will ho very sympathetic." It was only natural I should ask Lady Poynder to express herself on the . question of female suffrage. She pleaded privilege. "I reafly ehould

not say anything about it, at any rate in relation to New Zealand. In my public speeches I have always said I am very much opposed to it here in England, because"! do not think it would be a good thing for us." "My wife has never been an .active political woman," remarked Sir John. "•.She has milly taken no active part in thiiii-'s of thnt. sort." tin tho education of irirls. too, Lady Diek.«on-Poynder preferred not to speak. As for hobbies? "What does it mean exactly?" .sVm asked. "if it means that ono writes books, or paints pictures, or siugs in public, then I have no hobbies. lint lam very fond of literature and of art and of music. "Please do not .say that I am a keen motorist. I use the motor to go tr> the station and to 2*'t about, but not for anything else.. With mc it is purely a useful form of locomotion. But I like riding and hunting, and I am very fond of an outdoor life —that I am looking forward to very much in New Zealand." Asked if she did anything in the way of philanthropic work. Lady DicksonPornder pleaded not guilty," but Sir John confessed that she was president of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in which she took a very active part, and that she had for years assisted him very considerably in the work of the Great Northern Hospital, of which ho is chairman. The onjy child of tho Governor and Ladj Dickson-Poynder. Joan Alice Catherine, a beautiful girl of twelve years, is at present being educated under a private governess, and will go out to New Zealand with her mother. There it is honed sho will spend tho greater part of her time.