“KIWI HOUSE"
POPULAR HOSTEL N.Z. FORCES IN LONDON ENTHUSIASTIC HOSTESS (By Telegraph—Tress Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON. Dec. 11. Kiwi House, which was opened last March by Lady Hewart, formerly of Wanganui, lias proved one of the most popular places among New Zealanders of all ranks when they arrive in London for leave. It has the distinction of providing the only accommodation in London specially reserved for New Zealanders, and, therefore, is in much, demand, particularly as it is very difficult to obtain accommodation in London hotels nowadays unless it is booked in advance. Thirty-five beds are available nightly at Kiwi House. They are all invariably filled, while at week-ends there are frequent volunteers willing to sleep on sofas, in baths, and even on the floor. Officers pay 6s 6d and other ranks average ?,s Gd per day. which includes bed and all meals. Lady Hewart spends much of her time .in the club and brings from Lord Hewart’s farm at Totteridge an apparently unending supply of fresh vegetables. She is most ponular with the boys, many of whom often have been surprised to find her open the door to • them in the early hours of the morning when they have returned from a night out. Lady Hewart also surprises them. by her unusual memory for names and faces. The night porter at Kiwi House is now temporarily Ray D. Purvis, of Balclutha, who 'is a member of the Merchant Navy. He has been twice torpedoed. The first time his hands were badly injured. The second time his ship was torpedoed in the Caribbean and he was for several days in a lifeboat .before being picked up by a Spanish fishing schooner and taken to Panama and then New York. He has experienced a very wide variety of living conditions. It was practically impossible to lie down to sleep in the lifeboat, and in the fishing boat he was over-run by cockroaches and lived on soup and rice, but in New York he was given a private suite with a bathroom at the Imperial Hotel.
All New Zealanders are very grateful to. Lady Hewart for providing and keeping up. Kiwi House, which is certainly doing very good work.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19421214.2.72
Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20966, 14 December 1942, Page 4
Word Count
368“KIWI HOUSE" Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20966, 14 December 1942, Page 4
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