FOND OF N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 166, 9 April 1932, Page 6

FOND OF N.Z.

Lady Angela St. Clair Erskine INTERESTING PERSONALITY Tail, distinguished, a member of a very old family, the posesssor of a keen sense of humour, and a woman of sparkling intellect, Lady Angela St. Clair Erskine is undoubtedly an unforgettable personality. She' impresses one with her vitality and her capacity for appreciation. On Tuesday, before she left Wellington for England, via Australia, she told "The . Dominion” some of her doings during’ the seven weeks she had spent in New Zealand recovering from indifferent health. “I think this lovely little country is a land of contrasts, contradictions, and coincidences,” she said. "The unexpectedness of it all and the constant surprises that greeted me have been fascinating. “Of course, it also strikes me as being uncanny. I remember that up in Taupo I f e it —well, perhaps it is because I am what the Scotch people call ‘fey’—but anyhow, I felt all creepy up my spine. It seemed to me as though nature had taken some tremendous force and imprisoned it underground, and there it strives chained up, boiling and seething, waiting to escape. Yes, I’ve still got those little shivers up the spine, and it was certainly a great experience. "One of the surprises I got here —and I’m perfectly certain that, in no other country in the world this could happen

—was the arrival at 0.30 a.m. of the morning paper, a cup of ten, and a hot scone,” she continued. “I cau assure you I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I haven’t quite got over the surprise of it yet.” “It is my ambition,” she said, “to grow acres and acres of flowers out here —all kinds of flowers—and I hope, some day to be able to do it.” While in the north, Lady Angela, who is a keen fisherwoman, did some dry fly fishing, and landed numerous trout. She knows a great deal about .trout Ashing, and can talk on it for hours. “Speaking of coincidences,” she suddenly said, “my visit to New Zealand was partly brought about by my own health and by the fact that during the war I had a canteen at Etaples. At my canteen I met hundreds of New Zealand boys, and I felt I should like most awfully to visit the land where these splendid fellows came from. While I was staying at the Lake House, Taupo, a man came into the dining room, and as soon as lie saw me he said, ‘Ye gods, it’s Lady Angela,’ and I remembered him as an old New Zealand friend of the canteen days. We had a long talk. It was simply wonderful to talk of war days, leave, hospitals, and mutual acquaintances.” “I feel I must say something about my impressions of the people I met here in New Zealand,” Lady Angela went on. “I was struck by their kindness, and very touched by the way people who had never visited England kept saying they hoped to go ‘Home’ soon. It quite stirred me to feel how closely linked in our sympathies you of the new land and we of the old really are.” For the benefit of our tourist authorities, it may be added that Lady Angela holds the view that intending visitors to New Zealand are not told cnouglj of the practical side of things out here. Those who are thinking of coming here like to know something about the class of clothing to wear, the dates .of the fishing and shooting seasons, the best flies to bring, and all those little everyday things that save worry and speculation. Most countries that encourage visitors are very explicit and thorough in providing information of this nature. The present Earl of Rosslyn, by the way, is the brother of Lady St. Clair Erskine, whose seat is at Hunger Hill, Coolham, near Horsham. Her sister is tlie Duchess of Sutherland, and her daughter is married to Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt., M.P., and has four delightful children, Katharine, Elizabeth, Robin, and Angus.