WORLD-WIDE WELSH

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1929, Page 8

WORLD-WIDE WELSH

WELCOMED AT EISTEDDFOD. AUSTRALIAN’S HAPPY TOUR, Scotsmen generally get the credit of being found in every corner of the world where a penny is to be made, but Taffy apparently runs them close. According to Mr R, H. Owen, homeward bound for Australia, aboard the Niagara, there were 600 overseas delegates at the Royal National Eisteddfod, held this year at Liverpool, representing Ireland, Canada, U.S.A., Mexico, Eucador, Brazil, Argentine, Patagonia, France, Germany, Palestine, Egypt, .Tanganyika, South Africa, India, China, Australia and New Zealand. All these six hundred were on the stage and got a great reception from' an audience of 13,000, gathered in a building specially put up for the occasion. An interesting incident was the presentation of a throne-chair from Australia. It is made of woods from each State in the Commonwealth. This is the first time a throne-chair has been presented. On former occasions bardic chairs have been given and these were won by the successful candidate, but this throne-chair will be used permanently. Between the Eisteddfods it will be placed in a Welsh museum, so that it will be always on view. Mr Owen says the singing was magnificept. The Americans, with their usual thoroughness, had their choir in uniform, had spared neither time nor trouble m practising, ana had chartered a Cunarder to bring over the friends and supporters of the team. However, they did not win, though their singing was very fine indeed. The Australian party, comprising eleven, had a wonderful time in the Old Country, and again when crossing Canada and the United States, the various Welsh societies showing them the warmest hospitality. For those people who “have not the Welsh” it would be kind to explain that the word Eisteddfod, which always’ bothers non-Cambrians, is pronounced “1-steth-vod,” the “th” in “steth” being pronounced as the “th” in “whither.”