THEIR FIRST MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23599, 8 September 1938, Page 7

THEIR FIRST MEETING

TWO GROWN BROTHERS / PRAISE FOR AFRICAN LIFE . (Special to' Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Sept. 7 Two brothers, both grown men, shook hands for the first time on the Maunganui’s deck to-day as the steamer berthed at Wellington. They had never met before. One was Dr Alan Tennent, of the other his elder brother Mr L C. Tennent, who left New Zealand be fore Dr Tennent was born. He lett with the first New Zealand contingent to the South African War, and he has spent his life in Africa since. “I have a very soft spot tor Africa,” Mr Tertnent said. “It got me when I went over there for the Boer War, and I knew I would never come back to live here. Africa is a land of eternal sunshine. Dar-es-Salaam. where my home is, means in Arabic a haven of peace. It is a miniature of Sydney Harbour, with palm trees growing all round, and it is very happily named.” Mr Tennent explained that he was connected with a Government shipping company, • which carried out most of the lightering operations^ at the three main ports. Sisal fibre was the main export. He took six months’ leave every three years, and this time he had decided to revist New Zealand. Mr Tennent said that South Africa was still a land of opportunity for the right men. In Tanganyika, although there was a large German section, the relations between the British and German settlers were happy and cordial. He added that although his business headquarters were in Dar-es-Salaam. - his home was in Southern Rhodesia.