BROTHERS MEET FOR FIRST TIME

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 294, 8 September 1938, Page 10

BROTHERS MEET FOR FIRST TIME

One Back From Africa After 38 Years

BOER WAR VETERAN AND WELLINGTON DOCTOR Two brothers shook hands for the first time yesterday when they met on the Maunganui's deck as the steamer berthed at Wellington. They had never met before. One was Dr. Alan Tennent, Hataitai, the other his elder brother, Mr. L. C. Tennent, who left New Zealand 38 years ago, before Dr. Tennent was born. He went with the I 1 irst New Zealand Contingent to the South African War aud has spent his life m Africa since. “I have a very soft spot for Africa, Mr. Tennent said. "It got me when I went over there for the Boer War, and I knew I would never come back to live here. Africa is a land of eternal sunshine. Dar-es-Salaam, where 1 live, means in Arabic ‘A Haven of Peace.’ It is a miniature Sydney harbour, with palm trees growing all round, and it is very happily named.” He explained that he was engaged in a shipping concern which carried out most of the lightering operations at the three main ports. Sisal fibre was the main export. He took six months leave every three years, and this time had decided to revisit New Zealand. Mr. Tennent said that Africa was still a land of opportunity for the.right men. In Tanganyika, although there was a large German section, the relations between the British and German settlers were happy and cordial. He added that although his business headquarters were in Dar-es-Salaam, his home was in Southern Rhodesia. Mr. Tennent was a mere boy when, in 1900, he left Timaru, where the Tennent family was then living, for the South African War. Afterward he remained in Africa, first as a tourist guide in the hinterland, later mining and farming. He was joined there by two of his brothers, and they participated in the German South-West African campaign. He joined the wartime expedition into Tanganyika, then German East Africa. The object of his present visit is to see his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Tennent, Woodville. He will probably spend about two months in New Zealand. (Picture on page 9.)