Touring Party Watched Leopard

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 2

Touring Party Watched Leopard

The English-Speak-ing Union of Detroit had one of the largest memberships in the world and its biennial trips abroad had become one of its most attractive features, said Miss Winifred Eliason, who was in Christchurch on her fourth tour with union members.

Since 1958 she has travelled through the Greek Islands and the Holy Lands, the Middle East, the Western Mediterranean. Spain and

Portugal. Now ehe ii travelling with a party of 143 on a tour through Kenya, Ceylon, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Mias Eliason enjoys travelling, but says the companionship of union members “makes the trip," Mrs Mary Schoonover, leader of one of the six sections into which the party is split, agrees. “Travelling in a party like this is much more fun than being alone,” she said. “We know each other well, and It’s great fun being together. The party has found accommodation in New Zealand pleasing, and much as they anticipated. “We knew you were an up-and-coming coun-

try,” Mrs Eliason said. “But we were amazed at Africa. The ML Kenya Safari Club is very plush, absolutely world class.” The Tree Tops, and Secret Valley hotels were less opulent but certainly not lacking in interest and excitement Built on stilts 20 feet from the ground, they featured leopard watching as a major tourist attraction. The leopards were attracted to meat left on ledges built below the hotel and Miss Eliason and Mrs Schoonover, with their party, waited five hours to be rewarded by the sight of a large leopard devouring the meat while cameras flashed.

“We we warned not to take pictures until the leopard had begun eating. After the first few bites he was so absorbed he took no notice of us shooting away," she said. Rotorua is an eagerly awaited atop. In Auckland the party will be entertained by English Speaking Union members. “We are thoroughly enjoying our stay in New Zealand. We are a good-will group, and we find the people here very friendly," said Miss Eliason. Already, the Detroit union has plans for its next trip in 1969, and whether the decision is for South America or Russia, Miss Eliason will be going along.