A GRAND TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 15

A GRAND TOUR

NEW. ZEALANDERS ABROAD

Miss Agnes M'Lean, who has just returned from a long tour abroad, taken in company with Miss Margaret MacGrcgor, was present at- a particularly r interesting mooting of the British Na--1 tional Council of Women held at-Ports--1 mouth. Sho heard a great deal that . was interesting, and met' Lady Aber--3 dceii,' the veteran social worker for j women and children, who is a fine Y speaker and an interesting personality. While at Portsmouth the travellers had ! an opportunity of going to the home • of the late Mr. Wylie, a Koyal Aeade- - mician, whose lovely sea pieces were , famous before the war, while, since, ', he has produced wonderful pictures of \ the battlefields and dug-outs. This was j a particularly enjoyable "visit. [ One very exciting evening was passed at the British House of Commons, when .- the travellors/^peiit ', from about three in the aite'r- '. noon till past eleven at night hearI iitg 'tho debate on the vote of cenj sure brought forward by Mr. Stanley Baldwin against the Government on account of the unemployment which is 1 .still so serious in the Old Country, They •-heard speeches .by Mr. Baldwin, Mr. ■ Lloyd George, Mr. Katnsay Macßonaid, , Miss Margaret Bo'ndfield, Lady Astor, and'Dr. Marion Phillips—all well-known i names in New Zealand—arid were thrill;ed to-think that they had had such a • fortunate opportunity. It was a most \ exciting evening, and there were cheers • and general excitement which added ■ much to thij interest, of tho. visitors. ! Miss M'Lca'h, cannot say enough for the beauty of Oberaminergau and the country which is passed through going to that interesting place. Although • the Passion Play is only."staged there once in ten years, Miss M'Lcaii said • that she thought, from thc'calm beauty of the faces of most of the people, they i must spend much time in preparing for tho great occasion. They saw: the play, . and could only feel that it was as near ■ perfection as any representation could 1 possibly be. A change of scene was to the French Eiviera, where they arrived in Carnival time, seeing many wonderful events and-processions. The "Battle of Flowers" was delightful, but both remarked on the extraordinary grotesques which form part of every show, andi make such a contrast to the beautiful designs commonly seen. What impressed them in Nice was the improved widened roads and streets, where very.beautiful fountains of rosecoloured porcelain caused their sincere admiration. They were much. interested to see Voronoff's house, with a rocky hill near by prepared for 'the many monkeys which he keeps for his experiments. WHEN THE HEATHER WAS IN BLOOM. Scotland was visited in July and August,, and the beauty of. that country was deeply, appreciated, the heather being in full bloom. After visiting Edinburgh and Inverness the travellers went to Oban, the island where St. Columba first brought Christianity. At Oban Miss M'Lean was deeply interested to be able to get a model of tho "M'Lean Cross," designed for an early branch of her family. Many interesting sights wero seen in that part—a Druid's castle, Staffa, with the beautiful round columns delicately tinted, and tho Isle of Mull. The famous Pass of Kiiliccrankic, the Trosachs, Loch Katrine, and other places wore visited. Then tho return, was made to Edinburgh, where the marvellous war memorial "'as the centre of interest to Hie New Zealanders, who specially appreciated the beautiful "Women's Window," in memory of tho women who gave war-servico. : They loved seeing the sculptures of tho animals that were within the war zone, most of which did their part in sor- : vice; there wore oxen, nsses, horses, elephants, pigeons, pelicans, canaries, . mice, etc. Those sculptures wero all the work of famous artists. The appreciation of London and Eng- i land geenrally was, of course, very j keen. Tho travellers went from tho i Lake Country iu the North, to York | and other cities, going later to the I beautiful southern counties down to 1 Cornwall and tho, Islo of Wight. This i is just a mere sketch of a wonderful i tour. Both ladies appreciated to the < full the wonders of the Old World, : without losing any of tho love and appreciation they feel towards "little | New Zealand."

Mirny plans liuvo IjOoh uiatle for a ploasaiit evening at Marstlon Diocesan Scliool at Karorl on Friday at S o'clock. Tho occasion, is the annual reunion oi' old. girls of the college. A play entitled "Mrs. Moonlight," will be read by Bonn Levy! It is hoped that all ex-pupils will make a point of being present, anil keeping up their interest in llieir old. school.