ST. ANDREW’S GUILD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 72, 24 February 1932, Page 9

ST. ANDREW’S GUILD

OPENING MEETING. The first meeting of the year was held by St. Andrew’s Church Ladies’ Guild in the Memorial Hall yesterday, when there was a good attendance of members. Mrs M. Aitchison, the president, extended a welcome to new and old members, also intending members, and expressed the hope that the year would bring forth much useful work. Songs by Mrs Fell and Miss M. Walker delighted the company, Mesdames J. K. Paton and B. F. Barlow playing the accompaniments. The tables were charmingly arranged with flowers in crimson shades, and tea was served by Mesdames J. Murray and R. D. Knight, who were the hostesses for the afternoon. The speaker was Mr D. W. Low, who was introduced by Mrs Aitchison, and gave a brief account of his impressions of the journey to the Old Country made last year via Australia and the Suez Canal. Mr Low touched on points of interest at .the various parte of call in Australia and exhibited sketches made by himself en route. In Colombo, Itlie speaker said, with its streets full of colour and life, the Eastern glamour was brought to the notice of every, sense one possessed. The drab rocks of Aden had been seen against a vivid sky, with a few green trees in the foreground in striking contrast. There had been time to visit the famous cement tanks said to be 1000 years old, and on the way had been noted pyramids of salt drying, * resembling a military encampment. Describing the trip through the >Suez Canal, Mr Low said he had been struck with the contrast in transport. There was the oldest method of transport—walking. Across the desert could be seen camels, overhead were aeroplanes, and on the Egyptian side were splendid asphalt ronds with a never-ending stream of cars. Port Said gave a real vision of the East with its crowds and colour. Malta, the finest view of which was obtained from the sea, the speaker described as rocky, hard and grim, epitomising the strong, virile British character. Most of its tall, well-built buildings had window balconies, and there were statutes everywhere. There a visit had been paid to the famous Cathedral, the home of the Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem.

Algiers, the next port of call, had been termed the “Silver City,”' or the “Waterfall of Marble,” on account of the beautiful glittering appearance of its numerous palaces. Divided into two, the old town was almost wholly Moorish, the new principally built and inhabited by the French nnd the headquarters of the French Legion. Among its 100,000 inhabitants were people of all nations. Gibraltar was next described with its great fort, the town nestling under the great rock, on top of the old Moorish castle. Tile first sight of England had been the twinkling lights of the Isle of Wight. _ London itself had wonderful attractions to people from this, corner globe, Mr Low said. Not planned in any shape or form it had simply grown from the early days,. There one could do what one liked, dress as one liked—no one paid any. attention. Colon and Pitcairn Island, visited on the return journey, were mentioned, and in conclusion Mr Low said {ie hoped his talk would bring happy memories to those who had already visited places mentioned or induce others to go there.

Thanks to Mr Low and the performers were voiced by Mrs Murray, and to the hostesses by Mrs Collins.