TRAVEL CLUB

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22241, 4 November 1937, Page 2

TRAVEL CLUB

IMPRESSIONS OF PITCAIRN ISLAND

MORNING RECEPTION

Mr Will Hutchens and the Rev. A. C. Watson, who returned last week from a visit to England, were the two guest speakers at the morning reception given by the Canterbury Travel Club in Ballantynes tearooms yesterday. Mr Hutchens had many interesting, things to tell members of a visit he had paid to Pitcairn Island 15 years ago. He prefaced his talk with a brief outline of the history of the mutiny of the Bounty and of the landing on Pitcairn of some of the survivors.

The houses on the island were a cross between a Maori whare and the early settlers’ homes in New Zealand, said Mr Hutchens, and one man who had iron for his roof was a most important personage. Having no export trade, the only means the islanders had of getting some of the clothes and articles which they required was by barter, and as soon as an ocean liner hove to off the island it was surrounded by islanders jn their boats. He had been fortunate in having an opportunity to go ashore, but he and other passengers had been warned that they did so at their own risk. The landing was dangerous, and was, said Mr Hutchens, just like shooting the rapids. _ As soon as the boats touched the shingle, everyone jumped out. He had been the first person to photograph Mrs Christian and her sons. The islanders were very musical, and harmonised well, and he would never forget the hymn of farewell they sang as they gathered to watch the liner depart., Mr Watson described some of his impressions of the Coronation as he had seen it in Westminster Abbey, and his departure from home at 5.30 a.m„ in prescribed dress, in order to be in his seat at the allotted time. Mr J. G. D. Ward introduced the speakers, and two songs were sung by Mrs Claude Davies, who was accompanied by Mr Davies. „ Mrs Gladstone Ward and Mrs M. H. Godby were the hostesses, and the honoured guests included Mr and Mrs Nicholls (England), Mrs Shiel (Singapore), Miss Rae (Melbourne), Mrs Browning Mummery (Australia), Mrs Dupin and Mrs Astley (Auckland) Mr and Mrs Sullivan (Fox glacier). Miss Jean Thomson and Miss Joan Craig (Rotorua). Mrs Rawlinson (Milton), Mrs Steel (Auckland), Mrs Peat? (Wanganui), Mrs L. F. de Berry (Wellington), Mrs Vernon Smith (Auckland), Miss Mary Anderson (Dunedin). Mrs D. W. Anderson (Wellington), Mrs A. C. Clarke (Rotorua), and Mrs Crawshaw (Napier).

CERCLE FRANCAIS

PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES PRESENTED

EVENING MEETING

The Cercle Francais not only encourages its own members to speak French fluently and to appreciate French literature and art, but it also stimulates secondary school children to take a greater interest in their French studies. Each year the Cercle conducts an examination in oral French, and entries are limited to three scholars from each school. This year the schools represented by the 34 candidates were Christchurch Girls ,High, Avonside Girls’ High, Technical College, Selwyn House, St. Margaret’s College, Rangi-ruru, Christchurch Boys High, and Medbury Preparatory School. The first prize in each division was given by the Alliance Francaise in Paris. , . ~ At an evening meeting, held m the Students’ Union building of Canterbury University College last night, Mme. Alan Just, president of the Cercle, welcomed the examination candidates, who with members, enjoyed a talk on “La Fontaine,” given by Professor C. Malthus, and a musical programme given by Miss Christobel Robinson, Dr. Winsome Schroder, Mrs V. Moffatt, Miss Alys Jones, and Mr Russell Sumner. Mrs Sydney Thompson presented the prizes as follows; Seniors, 16 years and over—Gold medal given by the late Mr G. Humphreys and first prize, Betty Wright (Avonside Girls’ High School); Marie Donaldson (Selwyn House) 2, and Romola Rowe (Avonside Girls’ High School) and Aithna Cato (Christchurch Girls’ High School), equal, 3. Juniors, under 16 years—Bronze medal presented by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, and first prize, P. D. O’Donoghue (Christchurch Boys’ High School); Joan Hunt (Christchurch Girls’ High School) 2. O. W. G. Lewis (Christchurch Boys’ High School) and Myrtle Roper (Avonside Girls’ High School), equal, 3. Pass Certificates, 50 per cent, and over- Seniors: Aldwyth Taylor (Rangiruru), Jean Norrie (Christchurch Girls’ High School), D. A. W. Jane (Christchurch Boys’ High School), Patricia Fowler (Avonside Girls’ High School), Brenda Blackburn (Christchurch Girls’ High School). Juniors: R. M. Cato (Christchurch Boys’ High School), Sonia Cooper (Avonside Girls’ High School), Joan Hammersley (Avonside Girls’ High School), Janet Jermyiv (St. Margaret’s College), John H. Pocock (Medbury Preparatory), Patlene Sheffield (Selwyn House), and Patricia Morrison, and Jessie Palmer (Christchurch Girls’ High School). A bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs Thompson.

PLUNKET SOCIETY

LINWOOD-AYONSIDE

The monthly ‘meeting of the Lin-wood-Avonside sub-branch of the Plunket Society was held at the Plunket rooms. Chester street, with Mrs J. E. K. Brown presiding. Nurse Gibbs reported that she had attended 120 mothers and 121 babies during October, and had paid 39 visits to homes. There had been 14 new cases in IVie district.

The treasurer, Mrs H. Ayres, reported that for the month of October the donation box had yielded 14s 6d, and scale hire had reached 3s, subscriptions £1 ss, and a further donation of 2s 6d had been received.

CROCKFORD’S CLUB

The first round of a three-night Mitchell match, played at Crockford’s Club, resulted as follows: —North and south: Mrs Noel Laver and Mr E. F. Stead 1. Mrs H. H. Wauchop and Mrs R. H. Hennah 2. Mr W. A. Gudgeon and Mr A. Hunnibell 3; east and west: Mrs M. Clark and Mrs J. L. Findlay 1, Mrs A; S. Geddes and Mrs M. E. Pipe 2, Mrs H. C. D. van Asch and Mrs G. Johnston 3.