OVERSEAS VISITORS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 81, 2 October 1940, Page 7

OVERSEAS VISITORS

AN AFTERNOON RECEPTION

BRITISH CHILDREN'S

ESCORTS

Mi-. O. N. Gillespie, who was chairman at the Travel Club reception at the D.I.C. yesterday afternoon, said, as an excuse for the weather, that the only reason it had suddenly turned wintry, with overcast skies, and showers of rain, was to make the visi-

tors i'rom Scotland, those who had escorted the first group of British children to New Zealand, feel thoroughly at home in this country. There was, however, nothing cold about the welcome which these visitors received at the reception, and the room was gay with flowers. Each of the women guests of honour wore a lovely spray oil tulips, their petals turned back to make them look like some tropical exotic. The special guests included Mrs. Peter Fraser (wife of the Prime Minister), Miss Jean Johnston (former headmistress of a girls' college in Glasgow and senior escort in charge of the group of British children who have just recently arrived in New Zealand^. Mr. C. U. Campbell (only male escort

in charge oi: the children). Misses A. E. Guthrie, A. P. Ferguson, and B. M. Feilding (other members of the escort party), Miss Winifred Lancaster (a former.nui'sc who has travelled extensively in the East), Mr. Michael Terry, of England (well-known explorer and author), and Mrs. Terry, and the Rev. L. O. Beere (an Anglican missionary who has spent eleven years in Korea). Other official guests were Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Harper, Mrs. Beere and Miss Valeric Beere, Miss St..Paul (London), Mrs. Mcllroy (Auckland). Mrs. A. C.

Scott (England), Mrs. E. Grundy, .Mrs. J. W. Carr, Mrs. N. Grace (Invercargill), and Mrs. S. Dicky. ' The hostesses were Mesdames J. I. Goldsmith^ W. Burton, E. Ransom Myers, S. Gyles, M. Ham, and Miss N. E. Donovan (secretary). The speakers included Mr. Terry, the Rev. Mr. Beere, Miss Jean Johnston, and Miss Winifred Lancaster. Miss Johnston said how greatly she admired New Zealand and how sorry all the members of her party were to have to return so soon to Britain. A vivid description of Peking was given by Miss Lancaster. The speeches made by Mr. Terry and Mr. Beere are reported elsewhere in this issue. Tea, and songs by Mrs. Royston Clark, accompanied by Mrs. Bernard Webb, elocutionary items by Miss Evelyn Goldsmith, and the singing of "There'll Always Be An England" by the assembly, with Mrs. G. R. Myers as accompanist, completed the programme.

I Gooseberry has no connection with the bird; it ought to be gorseberry, or roughberry. Neither has "gooseberry fool" anything to do with '"fool." The "French of the dish is "foule de ■ groseilles."