A LAND OF REVOLUTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19448, 6 November 1925, Page 5

A LAND OF REVOLUTIONS

LIFE IN CENTRAL AMERICA. EXPENSES OF A CONSUL. An interesting talk on Central America was given by Mr. Walter F. Boyle, United States Consul, at the Auckland Rotary Club luncheon this week. He related numerous experiences connected with his four-ycar sojourn there as consul.

Central America was sometimes referred to as the “Land of To-morrow,” said Mr. Boyle, but there was no “tomorrow” about it as far as revolutions were concerned. During his stay there, strange to say, not one revolution occurred; seven or eight times there was one brewing, but none of them ever got a good start. On the principle of taking things in time, the speaker sent promptly for an American warship whenever there were signs of trouble, Whether or not it was the calming effect of the warship he could not say, but the fact remained that on every occasion he was subsequently placed in the difficult position of having to explain to the naval officers that there was nothing for them to do.

The lower coast of Central America was mainly concerned with the growing of bananas for the United States. He described in interesting manner the running of the banana trains and banana steamers to and from the States, which often took away as many as 86,000 “stems” in a single day. On the islands off another part of the coast there lived a colony of people who were the lineal descendants of the

old Spanish and British pirates. Such j names as Morgan and Kidd were still common among them, yet despite their rollicking ancestry, the people themselves were very mild and harmless, their principle diversion, being occasional Church festivals. They spoke English, and although under the Government of Honduras, they still claimed British citizenship. When the Great War broke out they sent away a large company of men, many of whom never returned. The remainder of the address was devoted to a racy outline of the lives and fortunes of outstanding personalities | who achieved high distinction in the various revolutions, and to a humorous description of the difficulties of travel , in the high lands of Honduras. | On the motion of Mr. L. Taylor, Mr. : Boyle was accorded a hearty vote of I thanks for his address.