LADY NEWALL

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 2

LADY NEWALL

INTEREST IN DOMINION (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, October 18. “You know. I’ve seen very little of my husband during the last live years. Hts work has taken up all his time, and I’ll be quite frank when I say that we are so looking forward to living a more normal home and family life in New Zealand. We shall both enjoy a rest during tfe voyage out after the strain of these years.” This was the comment made by Lady Newall. wife of Sir Cyril Ncwall, whose appointment as the next Cover. nor-General of New Zealand was announced recently. Lady Ncwall has made her London home temporarily in an hotel. "Our flat in London was bombed, and we've had to move out.” she explained. "Fortunately, both Sir Cynl and I were at our country house at Addlcstone, in Surrey, tor the weekend. AH the children are at boarding school."

Lady Newall has spent much of her time since the appointment was announced in sending her resignation to various societies and organisations. She has been a voluntary worker for a great number during the last five years, while her husband has been so fully occupied at the Air Ministry. All will greatly miss her energy and flair for organisation. "There is so much to be done before we leave for New Zealand that I often wonder how I am going to manage it all,” she said. "Neither I nor my husband have ever been to New Zealand, but it is one of the places we have most wanted to see. “As for the children, they are thrilled. They have been abroad before, of course. They were with us in Egypt during my husband's term of office there. In fact. Francis remembers it as the place where he learned to walk! "They were also with us in France and Switzerland.- They were very keen on ,ski-ing in Switzerland, and I know they’ll be delighted when they find they can take their skis with them to New Zealand. W&’re all very fond of yachting, too, ana from ail I hear New Zealand is one of Die places for yirchting." Lady Newall. who has the reputation of being thorough in 'verything with which she is associated, is quietly amassing a store of information about the Dominion. New Zealanders whom she meets and people with a knowledge of the country find they are plied charmingly yet insistently with questions. Agriculture and the life of the farming community are among her special interests. “I can’t profess to a profound knowledge of farming’,” she admitted. "But it is obviously such an important part of the country’s life. When you think of it, there ,is often so much aimlessness in people crowding into towns merely for the sake of being in a town or city.” Lady Newall is an accomplished pianist and singer—although she declares that she is very “rusty" these days. She is keenly interested to learn of the musical activities of the Dominion. , ... Music, she firmly believes, will give her a direct link to getting to know the Maori people. , . , "I’ve heard that they’re very devoted to music, and I’m sure that will be a common ground for us when have the opportunity of meeting them.’ An American by birth. Lady Newall has travelled widely on the Continent, and several years have passed since she visited her native Boston for any length of time. Her last visit to America was made after she travelled there in the Queen Mary on its maiden voyage. Sir Cyril and Lady Newall were married on the Riviera during 1925. _ ENGAGEMENT The engagement is announced of John Hawdon, younger son of the late Lieutenant Francis Davison, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and of Mrs Davison, Lowry Peaks, Culverden. to Norah Evelyn (Brownie), younger daugh'ter of Mr and Mrs F. W. Freeman, “Jesmond,” Dyer’s Pass road. Cashmere, Christchurch. WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE ’ UNION DISTRICT EXECUTIVE Mrs C. W. Barrcll presided at the monthly meeting of the North Canterbury district executive of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Mrs Grigg gave a comprehensive report on her recent visit to unions on the West Coast. A letter was received from Mrs Nome (Timaru) telling of good work being done by union members for the sailors visiting the "Seamen’s Rest,” Four members volunteered to collect for the Health Stamp Committee on November 26.. Mrs Woodward had taken a concert party to the Reformatory, and Mrs Black reported that patients had been cheered by.visits paid by members to the mental hospital.