LADY SOLICITOR’S WORLD TOUR

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 135, 4 March 1929, Page 5

LADY SOLICITOR’S WORLD TOUR

NEW ZEALAND’S HILLS THE GRANDEST “If I could choose the country I preferred to live in, I would unhesitatingly adopt New Zealand. The main reason why I admire your country is because of its mountains, and the climate, in spite of the ruin, is quite a good one.” Such is the opinion of Miss Marie B. Byles, a Sydney solicitor, who is just completing a thirteen-months’ world tour with a run through the Dominion. In a chat with a “Dominion” reporter on Friday, Miss Byles stated that she was an ardent mountaineer, and had consequently favoured hilly countries. She had visited England, Scotland, Norway, Canada, California, and New Zealand.

The finest scenery on the tour had been enjoyed in Canada, which was visited in July and August, when the weather was perfect. She attended the annual camp of the Alpine Club of Canada, which last year had been lo-

cated about 95 miles from Banff. The highest peak climbed by Miss Byles was Mount Asslnaboine, which was about 12,700 ft. It was higher than Mount Cook, but was not such a big clidib. It takes about fifteen hours under good conditions to ascend Mount Cook, whereas Mount Asslnaboine cap be climbed in about ten hours. Mount Victoria, near Lake Louise, about 10,000 ft. in height, was also climbed by Miss Byles. “The mountains of Canada are not so grand as those of New Zealand,” declared the Sydney lady solicitor, “but they are more beautiful, as one gets views of beautiful lakes of opalescent blue right under the mountains, whose grandeurs are reflected in these natural mirrors. The tall dark pines standing out boldly against the background of snow-white peaks also make an exquisite picture, which all who have visited Canada remember so clearly.” Miss Byles stated that she had met the New Zealand artist, Mr. Duncan Dorrock, at the Ball Hut and he had said he longed to paint some of the Canadian pine trees with his pictures of Mount Cook. Norway, Miss Byles’s favourite land, was visited in June. The Australian lady saw a great deal of life in Norway, and found it an ideal country. The people are intensely patriotic, peace loving, industrious, very courteous and most friendly to foreigners. The whole of Norway is intensely democratic; even the members of the Royal family travel in tramcars, ana a visitor may easily be surprised to learn that the person beside whom he has been sitting in a public car is no less than a royal prince. Miss Byles stated that a Norwegian girl on one occasion happened to mention to a casual friend, “Oh, I should so much like to see the Prince. ®o y ou may,,” replied the stranger, taking off his hat with a bow; “I am he.