RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

HOME, SWEET HOME

There’s no place like home, and that seems to apply, particularly, if home Is Christchurch. The people of the city take tremendous pride in it, as evidenced by the quality of the gardens, public and private, by its monuments and plaques. Some of the buildings are nice, too. There seems to be more of the “I’d never live anywhere else” attitude than in other parts of New Zealand. The * Christchurch man in exile is particularly enthusiastic. He does not recall the proud passage of the Heathcote as it •weeps down to the broad

sweep of the Estuary at low tide. He regards Christchurch as a Garden of Eden, sans serpent. Of course, he tells his children of all that loveliness. And when he is able, be brings his family to see the city and stay in it Sometimes it can be disappointing. One . young family man we know has lived in the far south for years, but he has kept his children posted about the place. Instead of Red Riding Hood, they were given pictures of the daffodils in spring, until one of the older boys started to show a bit much interest in the nurses. But he had one particular convert among

his children, a daughter aged 12. He filled her with dreams of the golden beaches, the arborial splendour, the stately homes, the oh so pretty Avon meandering its way through a large-scale oldworld garden. Finally, their dreams came true; a holiday in Christchurch was arranged. The little girl was told that at last she could bask in the New Brighton sun, dodge the golf balls in Hagley Park, and go for a boat ride on the Avon. They went for the boat ride first. Within five minutes, she was violently and undeniably sick.