COMING TO NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 154, 27 December 1935, Page 13

COMING TO NEW ZEALAND

THE BARONESS BURTON

The arrival of the Orama in Sydney on December 18 was notable for the number of distinguished and interesting passengers aboard, including the Duquesa de Dato, a Spanish noblewoman, who is voyaging round the world; Baroness Burton, an English peeress in her own right, who with her husband, Major W. E. Melles, is now a guest at Government House; and Mme. F. Kveton, wife of the new Con-sul-General for Czechoslovakia, states the "Sydney Morning Herald." It is the first visit to Australia of Baroness Burton and her husband, and they will go on to New Zealand for the trout fishing, as the former is an enthusiastic sportswoman. At her home, ' Rangmbre, Burton-on-Trent, England, she carries out her chief hobby, the breeding of dogs—mostly Keeschounds (Dutch barge dogs) and Cairn terriers. The-estate is large, and Baroness Burton herself takes a part in the work of running such an extensive establishment. In this she has the assistance of three kennel-maids. The Rangmore dogs are shown all over? England, and Baroness, Burton herself often acts as a judge at dog shows. She also has two estates in Scotland, Red Castle, in Rosshire, and Dochfour, in Invernesshire, which she visits frequently during the grouse and pheasant shooting seasons. She is an expert shot. Baroness Burton and her husband have a London establishment at 6 Grosvenor Square. ARDENT SPANISH KOYALIST. An ardent Royalist in sympathy, the Duquesa de Dato had many interesting things to say of the new Spain, which, she said, owed its modern advancement rather to an intellectual than to a political revolution. The Duquesa, whose home is in Madrid itself, is an accomplished linguist and a student-of literature, and she finds particular appeal in the writings of the modern Spanish poets, including Gomez de la Senna. The women of Spain today are much more free than were those of her own generation, she said. They are now permitted to attend the universities, whereas before they were obliged to study at home; the domination of duennas and chaperonnes is no more. Women walk in the streets and partake of meals at cafes unescorted, if they wish. This- change, the Duquesa de Dato remarked, began to take place about 50 years ago, and was. largely due to the work of Maria de Maeztu, the great Spanish feminist. The revolution has been responsible for women obtaining the vote, and the Duquess de Dato is anxious to be back in Spain by March, so that she can record her vote at the coming elections. She is convinced that the heart of Spain lies in royal rule, and that the restoration of the Spanish Royal family is not far distant. When in Rome this year she attended the marriage of the heir to the throne, Don Juan, and was struck by the number of loyal Spaniards present—many, of them being members of the poorer classes. NEW CONSUL'S WIFE. Another accomplished linguist is Mme. Kveton, wife of the new ConsulGeneral for Czechoslovakia, who speaks English, Russian, French, and Spanish, as well as her own language. Mme.. Kveton, who is tall and dark, takes considerable interest in clothes, which she buys in her home city, Prague. She and her husband were met on arrival by the Vice-Consul for Czechoslovakia (Dr. A. Solansky) and Mme. Solansky. Mme. Kveton has the distinction of having lived in most parts of the world, but this is her first visit to Australia.' The last two years she has spent in: Mexico City where her husband was Minister Resident, but before that she lived in Montreal, and she also' spent two years in LiveiS pool, England, where she first learnt to speak English.: After three months' tuition she became so proficient that she was able to give a-lecture in English on Czechosloyakian women. The position of the latter, said Mme. Kveton, is now. one of complete equality with ■men, as the republic in the first years of its- life passed a law-that there should be no sex-differentiation^ The shops' in Prague, Mme. Kveton's home city, she described as "very beautiful, but small and specialised, riot departmental stores." Her personal interest is portrait-painting in, oils, a hobby which she first took up four years ago at the instigation of a friend, who is himself an artist. She has studied art in both Prague and Mexico City, and found particular stimulus for her work in the latter city, as she explained, the Mexican types are fine, and make excellent subjects. , Mme. Kveton is also a proficient needlewoman, and has brought out with her the cherished bobbins with which she makes torchon lace. M. and Mme. Kveton have; one son, M. Mirek Kveton, who is married and lives in Prague! ■ ,• '■■-