LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4566, 8 November 1937, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Readers will be pleased to learn that the Railway Department has arranged a week-end excursion to Welington for next week-end. Full particulars will be found in the advertising columns of this issue.

An exhibition of girls’ handwork will be held at the High School on Friday next, 12th inst., at 2 p.m. Parents and friends are cordially invited to be present.

The local Poultry Club has arranged for Mr. Jarrett, the Government poultry expert, to give an address in the Municipal Hall to-morrow at 8 p.m. All interested are invited to attend.

A beautiful old custom of the Maori race was revived at the local Maori Pa on Saturday, when thanksgiving services for the recovery oi: the sick, known as Kaihakari, were held. The services were in honour of Mrs. Tukorehu.

Ideal conditions prevailed for the opening of the Riverside Tennis Club yesterday, and the thirty or so players spent an enjoyable afternoon. The president of the Club, Mr. J. G. Irvine, welcomed visitors and members to the court, and stated that all indications pointed to a most successful season.

By advertisement through our paper on Wednesday last, the Combined Societies and Band gave notice of a grand concert to be held at the Empress Theatre on Wednesday next, 10th inst. In addition to the Auckland artists ah'eady advertised, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Swift are bringing a talented violinist from Taumarunui, so with a full band of 40 players, patrons are assured of a good evening’s entertainment.

In this issue is advertised the annual general meeting of the Te Kpiti Aero Club, and anyone interested in aviation is cordially invited to be \ present. The full scheme of improvements to the landing ground is nearing completion and matters affecting the future development of the Club will be discussed.

“New Zealand is a pocket edition of the world,” was the summary given by Mr. R. T. Sladen, who has returned to Christchurch after a tour of eight months and a half abroad. Mr. Sladen visited the United States of America after passing through Canada, and visited Britain and countries on the Continent. “ I met an American on a train” he said. “He asked me where I came from. He had not heard anyone speak as I did. I told him I was from New Zealand, and he asked what we had there. ‘A little of everything,” was my reply, and that is my impression after my travels. I am more than ever satisfied that New Zealand is a paradise,” he added. “As for machinery and fashions, I think the Dominion is as up to date as any other country in the world; for postage, we are, of course, the cheapest country of all; and the food is definitely cheaper and, more than that, it is fresh and not tinned or dried.”

“The German people dare not speak. They worship Hitler; but they fear him, too. He is the will of Germany, as far as I can see.” This statement was made by Mr. R. T. Sladen, who returned to Christchurch after a tour of more than eight months of America and Europe. “When you ask Germans questions, they look round to see if anyone is near, and after that they may say something. I will say this, that the Germans treated us like brothers. There were no signs of poverty. Everybody seemed to be working. Of course, uniforms are everywhere; but you never hear talk of war from anyone. The only racial feeling observable was a distinct leaning to Great Britain, and if there was anything else, no one dared speak and you could not find out.”

“I think the living of the people of New Zealand is quite above par, and at a very reasonable outlay of money,” said Miss Lucy Gage, Professor of Education at Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee, who is visiting Christchurch, in an interview. “I do not think the New Zealanders appreciate it fully,” she added. “I love the plentifulness of things here and the friendliness of the people.” The climate, too, impressed Miss Gage, with the varied flowers which can be grown in the Dominion. “I have never seen such a combination of northern and southern flowers,” she said. No discrimination in favour of the North Island was found in Government Tourist Bureaux. Specially interested in sociology, Miss Gage said that of the many countries she has seen she would prefer New Zealand to live in —next to the United States.