MOTOR TOUR OF EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 2

MOTOR TOUR OF EUROPE

CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENTS’ VISIT TO ITALY Miss Winifred Patterson and Miss Joan Baxter (Christchurch) have just returned to England from a 3000-mile motor tour of Prance. Italy, and Switzerland. After a holiday on the Riviera they crossed the frontier into Italy. Although they had been advised against doing this, because of the tension of the political situation, they found that they were, given a very warm welcome In Italy- Everywhere they, ffiiind the people kind] and helpful, dnd? the . were ing in thdfif custom of staiiding to ' attention at the salute whenthey saw hf foreign car. As 95 per cent, of cars in Italy are of Italian manufacture, any English car was hailed with cpriosity, .and the one in question was always .surrounded by children (and often adults too) as soon as it pulled up. Striking evidence Of propaganda was given in the slogans. tgned by Mussolini, that were to /be seen by the hundred, in every village and town, painted on every available wall. The most common one was, “Believe —Obey and Fight!” All were belligerent, and all portrayed Italy’s power and supremacy. : The New Zealanders drove over the Simplon Pass' (6500 ft). This had been open to tourists only thrfie days. In winter the crossing has to be done by tunnel. This was a wonderful trip, and the grade was found to be very good. The maximum was one in eight. Towards the summit, the road ran through steep banked lanes of snow—one could touch it on each side from the car. There were numerous glaciers, and at the summit, where the St. Bernard Hospice is—the snow was very thick. The air was, bitterly cold, but there was brilliant sunshine. The Swiss side of the Alps was much less severe; very little show anywhere, and the temperature much higher. The travellers werfe fortunate in being in Milan. this year, as there is a comprehensive exhibition there, portraying the life and works of the famous Italian master, Leonardo di Vinci. From all parts of the world have come loans of his wonderful work. ENGAGEMENT NOTICES Mr and Mrs Everett Jack, Forfar street, St. Albans, announce the engagement of their elder daughter, Nola Frances, to Reginald Morris, elder son of Mr and Mrs John R. L. Simpson, Main road, Redclilfs. NURSE MAUDE NURSING ASSOCIATION DONATIONS ACKNOWLEDGED The Matron of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association gratefully acknowledges donations and gifts of clothing and groceries, from the following organisations and anonymous donors: —“Aged and Children,” Tai Tapu well-wishers* Kaiapoi Woollen Company, Avonside Girls’ High School, Salon Celia, Amberley, Riccarton, Amuri, and Tai Tapu* branches of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, the. Lake Coleridge, Coalgate and Parnassus Women’s Institutes, “J.C.8..” “E.C.C.,” and “M.W." COFFEE PARTY Guests from town and country met last night at a very pleasant coffee party given at Riccarton House by Miss Janet Deans and Mr J. H. Deans, of Kirkstyle., Mr Deans was a member of the committee that organised the Medbury Old Boys’ dance held later in the evening, and the coffee party was an enjoyable prelude to the dance. Those present were Misses Janet Deans, Jane Deans, Eva Hutton, Patricia Riddiford, Ann Chapman, Joan Preston, Shirley Buchanan, June Wright, Joan Evans, Messrs John Deans, David Deans, Adrian Deans, Patrick Deans, George Hutton, Russell Guthrie, Tennant Ronalds, John Drew, and lan Guthrie.