VISCOUNT GALWAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 94, 15 January 1935, Page 5

VISCOUNT GALWAY

Attends New Zealand Function ROYAL EMPIRE SOCIETY GATHERING Dominion Special Service —By Air Mail. London, December 21. The annual New Zealand reception and ball arranged by tire Royal Empire Society was made specially notable this year by the presence of Viscount Galway, Governor-General Designate of the Dominion, and Viscountess, Galway. With Viscountess Elibank, chairman of the hospitality section of. the society, and Sir James Parr, High Commissioner, they received the guests in the picturesque hall of the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers. The spirit of these gatherings is indicated by the fact that the second dance on the progr-amme was a “Paul Jones” and Viscount Galway seemed to enjoy thoroughly the opportunity of dancing with a number of partners in a short time. During the evening in a brief speech Sir James Parr expressed the pleasure of those present in having the opportunity of meeting Lord and Lady Galway. He felt sure that they would have a great welcome in New Zealand and be very popular. Lord Galway, who was received with applause, made a pleasant and graceful speech in response, emphasising his pleasure at the prospect of seeing so beautiful a country as New Zealand. He felt sure that be would enjoy thoroughly every minute of bis term of office. Lord Galway has been busy, choosing the members of his staff and Lady Galway with the multiplicity of arrangements involved in transferring a family to the other end of the world. The domestic staff will proceed to New Zealand by the lonic in February. Among the New Zealanders present at the ball were Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Wray, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. DuCroz, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. N. Fitzherbert, Mr. pnd Mrs. F. T. Sandford, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. B. Drew, Mr. David Jones, Dr. and Mrs. J. 11. Hall, Dr. A. J. Harrop, Mr. Nigel Wood, Miss E. Amess, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Bailey, Miss Celia Drummond, Mr. M. Maurice Smith, Mr. K. Kirk, Mr. M. E. Hankins, Mrs. Fair. I UNDER SAMOAN SKIES Land of Sunshine IDYLLIC ISLAND LIFE Tire delight of life under Samoan skies is that of existence in a land of sunshine, warmth, odorous flowers and soft “trade” breezes; of leisurely habits and of the companionship of people who are kiudliness and hospitality itself, once you have won their confidence! You live mostly in the open, for it is always warm. The native houses themselves are the finest and most suitable tropical dwellings in the world. The huge, dome-shaped roofs are of thatch, finely woven out of sugar cane fronds. This is laid over a close lattice work of mulberry-tree wood which is supported by posts of coconut trees, for these two woods alone resis't the ravages of the white ant. The roof falls to within about five feet of the ground, leaving an open space all around. Palm leaf curtains may be .let down over this in wet weather. The floor of the Samoan house is sometimes of wood, but more frequently only of smooth round pebbles from the beach over which are laid many of the soft, beautifully woven Samoan mats. The family, which may be numerous, generally sleeps upon couches formed of a dozen or more of these mats. If there is a European guest, more amenities may be provided, and one end of the house is curtained off for him by drapings of the native cloth, called “tapa.” This is made of the bark of the mulberry tree pounded into pulp, dried and covered with curious designs stained in with native dye. /Snugly ensconced behind this, his privacy is respected by the rest of the family, and at night the whisper of tlie odorous trade breezes through the surrounding palm groves and across the thatched roof of the Samoan house is as soothing and as slumber-inducing as the gentle fall of a summer night’s shower upon the roof of a New England farmhouse. In Samoa, as in Tahiti, you “wake to the golden dawn” with a feeling of unreality, of being in fairyland. If you are a newcomer, you find it difficult for a while to convince yourself that all this dream-world is actually a part of the “hustling” clamorous place you have left behind, four thousand miles across the sea. And you wander happily through many tranquil days, tarrying long on white beaches beside blue lagoons or swimming in limpid waters which are always of a perfect temperature that never varies. On moonlight nights the silvery rays filter down among the coconut palms, flash on quiet, warm lagoons and probe with ethereal fingers into tropical gardens, while the gently stirring air is heavy with the scent of a hundred blossoms. —M.T.G., in the “Christian Science Monitor.” GRACE DARLING OAK Ceremony at Battersea Sea Scouts and lifeboatmen sailed up the Thames on November 25 and landed on the foreshore of Battersea Park for the ceremony of planting the first Grace Darling oak tree.

During the next four years similar trees will : be planted in British ports throughout the world to commemorate Grace and William Darling’s brave deed on September 7, 1838. Chelsea Sea Cadets, followed by the crew of the lifeboat Herbert Joy. climbed up a rope ladder on to the foreshore and “fell in” on a parade led by the Dagenham Girl Pipers-and the Barnardo Boy Pipers. Sea Rangers and members of a number of well-known women’s rowing clubs carrying their oars were also present. The oak tree, sent by Sir Charles Trevelyan, Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, was planted by Commander Strong on behalf of the Merchant Navy. Lighthousekeeper Mills, Chatham, threw the first spadeful of earth Into the hole, while carrier pigeons were released with the news. The story of Grace Darling, the lighthousekeeper’s daughter, was recalled by Admiral Mark Kerr. "Her name is famous,” he said, “not on account of her beauty, for she was not a peautiful woman, but because of one great act of daring which she and her father carried out.”