NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22237, 30 October 1937, Page 22

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

IMPRESSIONS OF SCANDINAVIA STOCKHOLM AN OUTSTANDING CITY (FROM OUII OWN COEUFSrONUENT.) LONDON, September 8. Mr and Mrs Eustace King (Wellington) have -een abroad and they have noted many features that should be interesting to readers in New Zealand. For instance, when they approached Bergen, they were struck by the similarity of the coastal scenery to that “f Stewart Island, the hundreds of fishermen's cottages being prettily situated in cosy positions amidst the rocks. Bergen itself is a congested city like Wellington, with thrilling panoramic views from its hill tops. At Naerofyurd they found scenery like that jf Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu, with beautiful colouring, in a clear, bracing atmosphere. The lakes near Oslo reminded them of Waikaremoana. Norway reminded them of New Zealand more than any other country. In Sweden hygiene is the national cult and the cities arc beautifully kept. The girls of Oslo and Stockholm the best-dressed that Mr and Mrs King have seen, thoi. pride in their national colours and costumes being, apparently, supplemented by fashions from Vienna and Paris. Frcm the architectural point of view, the New Zealanders say that Stockholm is the best planned city they have seen, with its blocks of model flats '.n.id gardens and foun--1 .ins, with its provision for clean houses for the poor as well as community horrtes for old-age and for orphan.. The high standard of cleanliness and civic efliciency is evident everywhere, there being none of the litter seen in English towns. Among the thousands of children in Norway and Sweden they did not see one looking ragged

or dirty. Higher Culture A feature of both Scandinavian capitals is the encouragement given by their governmeftu to opera as a means of higher culture. In Oslo Mr and Mrs King raw "La Traviata" elaborately staged in the Royal or State Theatre, produced in a truly French setting, with a diminutive genius, both in acting and singing, namely Erna Bcrger, taking the name part. In Stockholm where they saw "Faust" and "Carmen," a long opera season is being maintained by bringing in all the local talent available. Their presentation of "Faust" (Gounod's) was most unusual. The scenery and dressing were medieval Swedish; the Kermesse scene could only be recognised by its music—the famous waltz was a Swedish folk romp round a maypole. Valentine's "farewell" song was cut out. and the third act opened with a Venusberg scene reminiscent of "Tannhauser." Margaret departed to Heaven accompanied by a procession of about 16 nuns carrying lighted candles, and Faust himself followed Mephistopheljs resignedly into space some time after the latter had led the way with outspread cloak, but with no sign of a fire. "Carmen" was interpreted, however, as it might have been in Paris or London. Mr and Mrs King left Stockholm with a longing to return and spend the greater part of a northern summer there, and to see the midnight sun on some future occasion. The nights are mild, and the days pleasantly warm, with clear skic^.

Education and Art Copenhagen has not the natural charms of the northern cities, but its people have done much to beautify it with parks and gardens. The city is. a vast commercial metropolis like Amsterdam or Liverpool, and its chief enthusiasm seems to be for education and art. The high schools and galleries are of outstanding culture, while efficiency is shown in both city and country, though hygiene was not so noticeable as in Sweden. The land has many woods of birch trees, but few natural : nes. Its quaint, squat, white plastered farmhouses arc a great contrast to the smart-looking, well-painted wooden houses of Norway and ~ w_den. They appear very snug, and the amount of produce which their thrifty owners manage to I turn out from a limited amount of land I shows that New Zealanders, both town and country, have a lot to learn before they can claim to be "leading the world." Mr and Mrs Kin" have yet to go to Yorkshire and Scotland. Mr lan S. Bamford and Mr R. M. Messenger (Wellington) recently toured Holland and Germany, and hen went 'to the Gold Coast, West \frica. In Accra. Mr Bamford had .ddressed, through an interpreter, the boys of the Bishop's Boys' School. He spent some time with Colonel W H. Bamford. Chief of the Gold Coast Police. ___________^___