BUSINESS WOMEN’S CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 25668, 10 May 1945, Page 6

BUSINESS WOMEN’S CLUB

TALK ON WAKATIPU “The Making of the Wakatipu” was the title of a talk given by Mrs John McKenzie, of Walter Peak Station, at a meeting of the Business and Professional Women’s Club on Tuesday evening. Mrs McKenzie recounted many of the fascinating legends, both Maori and pakeha, associated with the Lake and the district. One of the early names of Lake Wakatipu, she said, was “Wai-pounamu”-—meaning “greenstone.” In the early days the district surrounding the lake was a supply source of greenstone for the Maori race. More than 100 tools and pieces of greenstone found near the lakeside are now housed in the Dunedin Museum. The speaker traced the early history of the gold rushes in the Arrowtown and Nokomai areas to the present day. She told of the many prominent personalities connected with the early history of the county, and of the agricultural potentialities of the county. Reference was also made to the outstanding scenic attractions of the lake. Miss D. I. Buchanan extended a welcome to Mrs McKenzie, and also to Mesdames A. Walmsley and G. E. George and Miss Margaret Forde, of Christchurch. The speaker was thanked for her address by Mrs A. C. Dickens. The floral decorations at the Country Club were a feature of the evening, as it had been decided by the committee to celebrate the May Festival—in England a time of much rejoicing. Each member was presented with a posy of flowers, and the musical programme centred on the same festival. Songs were sung by Mrs L. Christie and Miss D. Swift, the accompanist being Mrs I. Spellman. During the evening a copper trail for the May Fair funds was conducted, and a competition was won by Mrs W. Weeds and Miss S. McKenzie.