HERE AND THERE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 14

HERE AND THERE

'Homewood" Open to Public,

The gardens of "Hbmewood," Mr. B Sutherland's residence at Karori, will be open to the public tomorrow and on Sunday. This generous offer has been made by Mr. Sutherland to assist the' Amateur Athletic-Clubs. An admission fee of one shilling will be charged. The interests and beauties of "Homewood" are limitless. Flowers, ferns, and rare birds have been brought from all corners of the world to fill its hothouses and aviaries. The aviaries'themselves hold hours of interest in their varieties of beautiful birds representing nearly every country of the world. Fairylike grottoes filled with ferns,, where miniature waterfalls drop into illuminated pools, are peopled with realistic figures of dwarfs. In the main fernery are rare specimens recently imported from abroad. • The gardens are a. blaze of colour, and English and native trees provide shelter about" the fawns. Visitors may take bathing suits, and tennis rackets for there is a superb swimming bath'and tennis courts. ' ' " Woman Architect's Work. An interesting point for: women in the Glasgow Exhibition is the fact that orfe of the, buildings, covering 10 000 square feet, has been designed by Miss Margaret Brodie, A.R.1.8.A., a Glasgow architect. It is stated that there is' space for the women of the Empire to show their work in every industry: arid' profession. The Women s Electrical Association has a special "show" of its own. "Vitamins" are brought to the fore by another association and it is emphasised by. yet another that to keep fit people need not do physical "jerks." A very interesting silkworm, exhibit has been arranged by Lady Hart Dyke, and the children s section is large, varied, and most interesting. ' •' , Death of Pioneer. Mention is made in a southern exchange of the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Breitmeyer, said to be the oldest na-tive-born white inhabitant of Canterbury. She was born at Akaroa in 1842, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter' Brown having arrived in the colony by the ship Bengal Merchant in 1840. They came first to Port Nicholson, but finding that there was trouble going on with the Maoris they left by the schooner Scotia for Akaroa. Mrs. Breitmeyer was baptised by Bishop Selwyn, during one of his x visits to the South Island. Mr. Brown joined the rush to Gabriel's Gully gold diggings, but was never heard of after leaving home, and all efforts to trace him failed. At the age of nineteen Mrs. Breitmeyer was married by the Rev. W. Aylmer to George William Breitmeyer whose parents had brought him at the age of two to New Zealand in the ship Cpmte de Paris. Their married life was spent at German Bay, Pigeon Bay, and Christchurch. They had thirteen children, of whom six sons and three ■daughters are still living.

Flat fur boleros which have a simple charm in shaved Persian lamb, musquash or astrakhan, on black tailored lainage frocks, are chic in Europe. This bolero style can be worn beneath an overcoat during intense weather changes, so can the new twopiece morning suit from Chanel in navy, brown, and black. These suits for country wear have plain lainage skirts with matching coloured woolknit jackets. . .

YOUNG GROUPS

VICTORIA LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

It >is mentioned in the thirty-fifth annual report of the British Victoria League that there is a growth of young groups of people in the League, which naturally gives great satisfaction, for these young folk will be those who will carry on the work of the League in the future. It is hoped to have yet further expansion,, for there is plenty of work for all in a League which.has so many fine aims and objects, and which is one that encourages friendship and hospitality, almost as its first aim.

In the report the committee expresses its warm appreciation of the generous hospitality offered everywhere to their representative, and to the kindness of the Governments in Australia and New Zealand in giving Miss Dray ton passes -or all her railway journeys. This made her visiting the twenty-two branches in Australia and New Zealand much more easy, and,, of course, not nearly so expensive. The committee regretted that, owjng to the work looming in connection with the Coronation, it was not possible to accept a warm invitation for Miss Drayton to visit South Africa.

The report also states that the Victoria -League has been asked by. Sir Samuel Wilson's committee and by the Royal Empire Society and Overseas League to deal with all invitations to stay in private houses offered to overseas visitors through any of the organisations. The High Commissioner for New Zealand also asked the League to take over all offers of individual hospitality sent to his office. One of the characteristic letters received at the London office of the Victoria League was from a South African business man and his sister. He-wrote as follows:—"On arriving in. London one feels so much like a tiny grain of sand on a vast seashore, and, without friends to begin with, it is so long before one establishes, the right social contacts that .the Victoria, League stands .out as one's happiest association. It is; in fact, a, symbol of the English desire to, befriend the-visitor, and very welcome indeed- were the invitations we received."