CLIMBS AND SKIS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 23

CLIMBS AND SKIS

Enthusiast Visits New Zealand ‘•Wintering in Europe for those who are fond of walking and fond of scenery is not a hardship but a wonderfully pleasant experience.” said Mrs. Arthur Laurence, of London, who arrived at Auckland this week. This is Mrs. Laurence's first visit to New Zealand, and as she is an enthusiastic skier and mountaineer she anticipates some sport at the Chateau and the Hermitage. Arriving almost directly from Europe through London Mrs. Laurence was still enthusiastic about Switzerland, Norway. Austria and Germany, where she was touring with her husband and sister. The people of the mountain districts of these countries were, in her opinion, the healthiest and most cheerful people she had met. She was particularly charmed by the children, who could ski almost as soon as they could walk and were very sturdy and healthy looking.

The people of Norway and Switzerland were not fond of travel and although they were extremely hospitable and always happy to meet foreigners or tourists they seldom expressed a wish to leave their own country. A splendid example of the friendly and happy disposition of the Norwegians was in the way they celebrated .Christmas Day, said Mrs. Laurence. At that time she was the guest of a Norwegian family in Trondhjem. Ski-ing, skating and climbing occupied the entire day and at night huge log fires were lit and the servants joined the family in a huge and festive Christmas dinner, just like one large party of friends. All differences of class or station were forgotten for that one period every year, and celebrations lasted well on into the night. Most of the homes in Norway visited by Mrs. Laurence were remarkably cosy and comfortable. The larger places were steam-heated throughout and very tastefully furnished in a modern but simple style. She was impressjd by the hotels, which catered very largely for a purely tourist clientele and endeavoured to provide their guests with everything that they might expect of purely Norwegian custom and atmosphere, with the added facilities for obtaining the food and the comforts that they would wish from their own homes. The English, the French and the American visitor could be happily at home with the added pleasure of being in Norway. “The guest is treated like a guest in a private home —in fact, like a rich relation,” said Mrs. Laurence. Switzerland was in Mrs. Laurence’s opinion the Mecca of young people who were enthusiastic about winter sports. Thousands of people visited it every year, some of them just for the scenery and the benefit of the pure mountain air. In Berne there was a most efficient and up-to-date sanatorium for tuberculosis sufferers. It was one of the most inspiring buildings, she had seen, with groat open balconies and porches that could be. shuttered with glass against winds that were too strong and snow, with large airy rooms, many of which had one entire wall made of

sliding glass panels, and surrounded by a wide park. During her stay in New Zealand Mrs. Laurence plans to visit the Southern Alps, where she will spend some time. She isi eager to reach the summit of Mount Cook and various peaks and glaciers of the Alps. Mount Egmont, Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaruahoe are also included in her tour.