ILL-STARRED ATHENIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23951, 28 October 1939, Page 18

ILL-STARRED ATHENIA

DUNEDIN WOMAN LOST LETTERS TELL TRAGIC STORY “I was fortunate to get the last berth on the Athenia,” wrote Miss A. B. Fletcher, of Dunedin, in a letter written to her sister, Mrs Edward Roberts, of Highgate, iust prior to the outbreak of war. A second letter written on the eve of sailing, and received only last week, showed how nearly Miss Fletcher came to cancelling her arrangements for what was to prove a fatal journey. “ I had changed my mind, and thought of going to Cornwall instead,” she said, “ but they were so busy at the shipping office when I went to cancel my berth that I decided to keep to my original intention and leave by the Athenia.” Miss Fletcher, though an Australian bv birth, lived the greater cart of her

younger life with her sister in Dunedin. She was well known to the members of St. John’s parish and taught for 15 years in the Sunday school, without, it is said, missing a Sunday She returned to Australia some 20 years ago. and since then had visited Dunedin only at interyals Last November she came back intending eventually to make her home here. Before settling down, however she decided to visit England and left with Mr Thomas Ritchie’s oarty in April last. From her letters, she thoroughly enjoyed the tour and at its completion stayed in London to visit relatives in England. Her decision to leave England was apparently made suddenly as she wrote on August 30 that she had decided to go to Canada to spend some time there and in the United States before returning to New Zealand, She said she felt it would be better for her to leave, because if war were declared she could be of no use, and the fewer useless people in England the better.

As Miss Fletcher did not cable that she was leaving London it came as a great shock to her relatives to learn from the papers that she was missing from the Athenia. Both the High Commissioner and the Prime Minister’s Dtpartment in New Zealand have been most considerate in keeping her Dunedin relatives informed of any news that came through about the Athenia’s passengers. It was hoped that she might have been picked up by the City of Flint. It must now unfortunately be assumed, however, that she was among the first British victims of the war. Miss Fletcher had many friends in Australia and New Zealand who, with her relatives, will sincerely regret her loss.

need for carrying on with those jobs which were nearest at hand., She quoted the message sent by the Minister of Agriculture to the women’s organisations, which stressed the need of supplies of produce for Great Britain, and asked workers on the land to do all they could to increase production. The speaker said that the work of the W.D.F.U. and W.I. at the Exhibition was to be arranged under one heading—“ Country Women’s Exhibition ’’—but the two organisations were to give individual lectures, so that visitors would see the work that was common to both, as well as the separate types of activity of each. Miss Kane paid 7 tribute to Mrs A. E. Woodhouse. of Timaru,. who had edited “ Tales of Pioneer Women.” The tales had been sent in by institute women from all over New Zealand, and the compiler had spared no effort in making sure that the data was correct in every detail. Miss Kane also referred to the successful institute tour to the A.C.W.W. conference in London, and congratulated the MidOtago Federation on having such an efficient organiser in Miss Brenda Bell, whose work and knowledge made the tour possible. Members were asked, at the conclusion of the address, to cooperate in every way and to carry on to the best of their ability in these troublesome times. Vocal solos were sung by Mrs D. Dunlay, Miss H. McCaw providing an able accompanist. The following resolution was passed by the meeting: “That the Broadcasting Board should be asked to allow the federation to continue its fortnightly broadcast, as this was greatly missed, especially by country members.” Questions were answered by Miss Kane, who informed the meeting that the Adult Education Council has been so impressed by the experimental work done in the Taihape district by providing tutors for dressmaking, drama, and public speaking that it had asked the co-ordinating committee of the W.D.F.U. and W.I. to submit a plan for the advancement of the scheme, and had promised to supply the necessary funds.