LANTERN LECTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 3

LANTERN LECTURE

ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT

A lecture on "The Charm of the English Lake District" was given by Mr.! Alan C. Browne, F.R.G.S., A.R.C.A., in! the Sanitarium Health Food-Cafe, Willis Street, on Saturday night. This was one of the; lectures which Mr. Biowne brought back to "New Zealanders at the conclusion of his four years' lecturing -throughout Britain on-the beauty of New Zealand : Illustrated with lantern slides from the speaker's own photographic studies the lecture dealt entirely with the districts around which Hugh Walpole has written his novels of the Herries Series—'Rogue Herries," "Judith Paris," "The Fortress," and "Vanessa." Commencing at the quaint market town of Keswick, its early history and associations with Viking tunes were1 spoken of. Views were shown of the charming Newlands Valley, of the Druids' Circle, of the site of the mill where the first lead pencils in the world were made from Borrowdale "Wadd" or "plumbago," and of wellknown Lakeland personalities including Hugh Walpole himself (who was born in Auckland, New Zealand) and Lord Lonsdale, the famous sporting peer. Photographic studies were shown of lakes and valleys, 'old farms and quaint villages, of Watendlath, the home of Judith Paris, of rock climbing and the climbing accident, fox ' and cub hunting, and finally from the little hamlet of Seatoller in the delightful and famous valley of Borrowdale with its golden birches, the journey was made over the fells via Styhead Pass and Great Gable to Wasdale and Wast Water—the deepest and gloomiest lake, in England. The whole of this fascinating and beautiful country is full of the most romantic and historic associations and quaint Old World customs. These were touched upon briefly in the necessarily short time of the lecture. One of the most outstanding photographs was the war memorial on the summit of Great Gable, the mountain known and loved by all rock climbers and lovers of the hills. This is a simple bronze tablet let into the highest rock on one of England's finest mountains with an inscription by the Fell and Rock Climbs ing Club stating: "In glorious and happy memory of those whose names are inscribed below, members of this club who died for their country in the European War, 1914-1918: These fells (mountains) were .acquired by their f Jlow-members and by them vested in the National Trust for the use and enjoyment of the people of our land for all-time." ■

It is one of the sanest and most eloquent war memorials I have ever seen," said the lecturer. "In so congested a country- as England the gift of this beautiful mountain to be. kept free for the enjoyment and recreation of the nation is a.thought worthy of those who died." '

In spite of a very wet night there was a very good and interested audience. Mr. , A..-Leigh Hunt operated the lantern and a vote of thanks at the conclusion was proposed by Mr. G. A Hart, late City, Engineer.