LIFE IN KENYA COLONY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1933, Page 6

LIFE IN KENYA COLONY

MISS I. M. SMART IMPRESSED.

SISTER AT NAIROBI HOSPITAL. After thre years as a nursing sister in a European hospital at Nairobi, Kenya Colony, Miss I. M. Smart has returned to New Zealand on eight months’ furlough and is staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Smart, Opunake Road, Stratford. Miss Smart is much attracted by Kenya Colony and in an interview with a News reporter yesterday gave an outline of the colony and of Nairobi where she is stationed. This is the first time on which she has revisited New Zealand in her three years’ term and that accounts for the length of her leave, but the trip to New Zealand took six weeks in Mombasa and Bombay. The hospital system in Kenya was entirely different from that of New Zealand, she said. The hospitals employed only trained staffs and there were no training schools or probationers. The hospital in which she was working was one of 32 beds and was therefore smaller than the Stratford institution with its total of 66 beds. The climate, Miss Smart said, was excellent and though it was barely two degrees south of the equator Nairobi’s situation on a tableland 6000 feet above sea level tempered the climate and the town enjoyed a very even temperature that gave unusually healthy conditions for such a latitude. Nairobi boasted modern buildings, electric light, telephone service and the other amenities common to an up-to-date town. There was a broadcasting station; reception from Europe was difficult to obtain.

The town was the centre of a district devoted mainly to coffee planting but the decline of the price of coffee coupled with a serious drought, which extended from January to October, had reduced the earning capacity of the district considerably. Around Nairobi the roads were good but out in the “blue” they degenerated into rough tracks and eventually ceased to exist in any shape or form. There was a daily train connection with Mombasa, a port that was the outlet for the produce of the colony. The distance was 300 miles and the trains ran at night. The trains were very comfortable with a restaurant car and sleepers for everyone. Game such as zebras and giraffes but not the larger game was often seen from the train. “I like Nairobi and the colony very much and intend to return,” Miss Smart stated. PERSONAL. Members of the staff of the Stratford Evening Post assembled at the office yesterday evening and presented to Mr. C. W. Hodge, who is to be married, a case of cutlery and a piece of brassware. The presentation was made in recognition of Mr. Hodge’s association with the Post staff. Miss T. Maxwell, who has been staying with her brother, Mr. C. Maxwell, Okato, returned to Stratford on Thursday. z ELTHAM TALKIES. “LUCKY DOG.” “Lucky Dog,” the sensational story of the devotion which exists between a man and his dog, which will be shown at the Eltham Theatre to-night and tomorrow night, is one of the finest, cleanest pictures to be produced in many a moon, and is bound 1 to appeal to everyone, man, woman and child. In this production Charles (Chic) Sale, famous make-up artist, comedian and humourist, appears for the first time as he is in real life. With him is Buster the wonder dog, whose performance is one of j the finest ever given by a dog. The story ; of “Lucky Dog” is that of a man who i loses his position, prestige, wife, pro- I perty and servants, in fact, everything but the love of his dog. I

SCHOOL YEAR COMPLETED. CEREMONY AT HUIROA HALL. A successful dance was given in the Huiroa hall on the occasion of the school break-up. As the usual end-of-year concert had to be abandoned because of the prevalence of influenza among the children, only 1 a few items were given but they were well rendered. Items were: Song, seniors, “Capstan Bar”; song, juniors, “The Merry Brown Thrush”; seniors, “Hear the Echoes”; senior boys, “Three Merry Travellers”; juniors and infants, “Up the Airy Mountain”; solo, Nola Stephenson, “About the Fairies”; trio, “The Funny Little Brownies,” George Read, Lionel Read and Ray Prince.

After the prize-giving dancing was enjoyed by the children and adults. Father Christmas distributed the gifts hanging on the glittering Christmas tree. A display of school handwork' proved of groat interest and a brisk sale of articles was made. Sugar-bag work was in demand.

The prize list is: Form 3, dux of the school, Tui Fraser; form 2, Doris Martin 1, Daphne Ritchie 2; form 1, Zena Williams 1, Robert Read 2; standard 4, Dorothy Mitchell 1, Leo Rogers 2; standard 3, Margaret Mitchell 1; standard 3a, Gwen Stove and Audrey Taylor, equal; standard 2, Nola Stephenson 1, Lena Martin 2; standard 1, Archie Wallace 1, Ray Prince 2; primer 4, Jean Mitchell 1; reading and recitation, Delphine Murphy arid Ailsa Ritchie. In addition all the other children received prizes and every child, including those below school age, was given a present from the Christmas tree. '

STRATFORD EVENING SPORTS. HANDICAPS DECLARED. Handicaps for the amateur athletic sports to be held at Victoria Park, Stratford, to-night have been declared as follow;— The events in the men’s running will be 100, 300 and 880, the handicaps being: C. P. Rogers 7, 15, —; F. Young, 4, 10, —; J. Rogers, 10, 28, —; I. McCready, 9, 26, —; H. Lampshire, 12, 32, —; D. Jones, 9, 24, —; R. Clayton, —, —, 70; R. Jackson; S. Calcott, 12, 32, —; M. Thompson, 12, 30, —; E. Irving, 12, 28, 50; G. Bird, 11, 30, —; A. Gorringe, 9, 24, —; L. Greig, 12, 30, 60; M. Herd; R. Kirkwood, —, 24, 60; J. Tubby, 12, 34, —; W. Adams, 12, 30, —; J. Whiting, 8, 15, 45; R. Burt, 12, 30, —; M. Sheehy, 12, 22, 50; R. Knight, 9, 16, 20; Prestidge, 10, 20, 45; Clapham, 8, 22, 40; Cuff, —, 34, 70. Ladies’ events will be 75 yards and 100 yards: Misses K. Rogers, 7,9; B. Watkins, 9, 12; M. Young, 9, 12; Davies, 11, 14; Hitchcock, 5,6; Reakes, 6,7; Thoms, 7,9; Irving, 10, 12; Reader, 11, 15; M. Major, 11, 15; Mesdames S. A. Lay, 6,8; Cleaver, 10, 14.

Field events comprise long jump, shot and javelin, handicaps being in feet and fractions: S. Lay 2 J, 7, scr.; A. Adlam 3,

‘scr., 45; J. Whiting 3,6, 50; R. Burt i, 7%, 53; J. Ward 3J, 8, 57; T. Reader 3, 7, 60; D. Vincent 3i, 8, 55; C. Currie i, 8, 56; P. Rogers 2t, 9, 70; W. Ireland 2J, 8, 70; Jenkins 2J, Bj, 70; L. Fryday 4, 3i, 70; W. Thurston 3J, 3J, 65; A. Rankin 3}, 7i, 65; G. Bird 4, 10, 72; R. Jackson 4, 10, 72; E. Irving 3, 10, 70; P. Schwieters 4, 81, 70; R. Clayton —, 7, 72. Cycling events will be the half and three miles, handicaps being in yards: A. Adams 30, 150; W. Ludlam 35, 170; D. Letford 40, 200; L. Greig 95, 400; W. Harkness 85, 370; J. Ludlam 60, 350. One iriile walk (handicapper, Mr. R. E. Thomas, Eltham): S. E. Coleman scr, W. Coleman 40yds, B. Campbell 210yds, D. G. Leydon 230yds.