NOTABLE GUESTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 4

NOTABLE GUESTS

Travel Club Reception The Wellington Travel Club had a very large attendance at an afternoon reception, at which Lady Cynthia Colville and the Hon. George Colville were the guests of honour, held in the Palm Lounge of the Hotel St. George yesterday. The hostesses on this occasion were Mrs. James Payne, Mrs. J. M. Donovan, Mrs. 11. B. Oakes, Mrs. G. T. Wilson and Mrs. S. V. Fernandez, who received the guests at the entrance to the lounge. The afternoon was begun with the serving of tea, and this gave the large crowd an opportunity of getting comfortably seated to listen to the music and the most interesting speeches that followed. Miss Olga Burton played a violin solo, accompanied at the piano by Miss Lalla Vondersloot, and Miss Molly Cummings sang, “Lo, Here the Gentle Lark,” with flute obligato played by Mr. Cyril Ainsworth, and piano accompaniment by Mr. Clement Howe.

Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, as chairman, welcomed the guests of honour, and said how delighted the Travel Club felt in having this opportunity of meeting them. “In Lady Cynthia Colville.” he said, “we are fortunate in meeting one who has had family associations for generations with the life of England. Her father, the Marquis of Crewe, has been Secretary of State for the Colonies and also for India, and has held several other postions of importance in the Empire. Lady Colville has the honour of the personal friendship of Queen Mary, to whom she is a layly-in-waiting. We in New Zealand have a reverence and true regard, affection and esteem for Queen Mary.”

Mr. Hislop continued to tell Lady Cynthia of the successful effort of the women of New Zealand in raising a sum of money to acquire a portrait of Queen Mary for the National Art Gallery and all that was needed mow was permission for this portrait to be painted. To the Hon. George Colville, Mr. Hislop extended a warm welcome also, and said he felt that he would return to the Homeland as an ambassador for us in New Zealand. Mr. Colville (was travelling for relaxation after a strenuous life, having been secretary of the Chartered Accountants of England for many years, and the speaker wished him a most enjoyable holiday in this part of the Empire. “As an Englishwoman as well as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary,” Lady Cynthia said when she rose to reply to Mr. Hislop’s welcome, “1 am very touched to hear of the portrait that will be the gift of the women of New Zealand to your National Art Gallery, and I have little doubt that the idea will have Queen Mary’s interest and approval. 'lmpressed With Beauty.

“I have been asked,” she continued, “to speak about my impressions of New Zealand. So far I have seen only its natural amenities, and so often first impressions such as these are superficial ones. Everything I have seen in a trip through the South Island, however, has impressed me tremendously with its beauty.” Lady Cynthia spoke particularly of the magnificent scenic beauty of Milford Sound, and the the natural growth of New Zealand. The native bush she found particularly interesting after having been so used to the oaks, beeches, limes and other trees of England. Arum lilies growing wild by the wayside were commented on, and also the mountain lily, to be found growing thousands of feet up on the mountain sides. She had been very impressed ■with the glaciers, never having set foot on one before and she said it was “a wonderful and terrifying experience.” Little everyday points that struck the visitor were received with great interest by her listeners, who were amused to hear our taxicabs described as magnificent in comparison to those in London. In conclusion, Lady Cynthia remarked that she and her husband were most touched by the kindness that they, had received in associations that they had had with the people of New Zealand, and that they derived as much enjoyment from being among the mem'bers of the Travel Club as they did in seeing the beauties of the country. So far the visitors have toured only the South Island, having travelled straight down from Auckland on their arrival, and they are now looking forward to seeing something of the North. The Hon. George Colville also spoke in most enthusiastic vein of the pleasure that he and Lady Cynthia were deriving from travelling in New Zealand, and said that it was amazing to come so far from England and see new beauties and enjoy new delights. “Your harbours,” he remarked, “are my envy. They are the most wonderful land-locked harbours I have ever seen, and as my enjoyment in life is boat-sailing, I wish I had one of them to pursue my hobby in.” He also mentioned the beauty of the wild flowers, which he said laughingly “compared wonderfully with our old friend at Home—the gorse—which makes a beautiful show when at its best.” Mr. Colville caused much amusement by adding that he bad been very “touched” by our sandflies. An interesting feature of the afternoon was the presentation to Lady Cynthia of a box containing some Maori art work, as a memento of the club, by Mrs. Peti Parata-Olsen, whose mother had made a similar presentation to Queen Mary when she visited New Zealand as the Duchess of York.

Another special guest who was introduced bj' Mr. Hislop also gave a brief bur most interesting speech—Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, M.P., Civil Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. Lindsay has been in New Zealand only six days, and has made only a short stay at each town. He spoke of the great inspiration it had been to him to see the wonderful spirit that existed in this far corner of the Empire, where he felt everywhere that, he was really "at home.” He found that we had the same ideas as the people of Great Britain about the main things of social and political life, and that here we breathed, the same atmosphere as those of the Homeland, with the additional invigoration of youth and new ideas. “We at Home,” he said, "can supply the old traditions and background, and you can give us life and vigour as a young and flourishing people. I have found here, and in all the other Dominions that I have visited, a rock of common sense that is a tonic in these times of conflicting opinions.” There followed an informal half-hour during which all the guests moved about the room and talked to one another, and many had the opportunity of oaversation wiUi tfie