NEWCOMERS TO NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 12

NEWCOMERS TO NEW ZEALAND

TRAVEL CLUB WELCOME

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

Count Wodzicki, the ,new ConsulGeneral for Poland, and Countess Wodzicki; Deaconess Margaret Taylor, formerly' of India and recently inducted into her parish in Wellington by the. Bishop of Wellington; Mr. W., J. Garnett, official secretary to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, and Mrs. Garnett; Miss Arrowsmith, a missionary on furlough from Amoy, South China; Mrs. F. A, Swoffer and Miss Swoffer, of the Channel Islands; the Rev.' Mr. McClevie; Mrs G. Myers, an American journalist 'who has just completed a novel with a New Zealand setting; and Mrs. Geoffrey Myers, formerly of London, were among the visitors entertained by the

Wellington Travel Club at a reception in the D.I.C. Tearooms yesterday afternoon. They were welcomed by the chairman, Mr. R. H. Nimmo. and Mrs. T.. C A. Hislop, the Mayoress, also said a few words specially welcoming the Count and Countess Wodzicki.

Short speeches were made by the Count, Mr. Garnett, the deaconess, and Miss Arrowsmith. Tea was served; and a delightful musical interlude was provided by Miss Ena Rapley, who sang, accompanied at the piano by bMrs. Bernard Webb, '■ The speeches made by Count Wodzicki and Mr. Garnett are reported elsewhere in this issue. RELIGION IN INDIA. Deaconess Margaret Taylor, who was teaching in India for over thirty years, spoke of the progress of education among the women of India ahd the important part which religion played in their lives, no matter what their creed. Indian girls, she said, would fast for thirty days in accordance with a religious custom, and go to school and do their work fasting. Commenting on her speech and the appeal she had made for a wider and fuller observance of the Christian religion, Mr. Nimmo said that religion woud have to be an essential,part of the war effort if we are going to win through. CHINESE OPTIMISTIC. Miss Arrowsmith, an English woman who has laboured in China for eleven years, described the international settlement where she was stationed— a tiny island 300 miles up the coast from tlong Kong. When she was leaving the school children, she said, gave her a farewell party, and they formed themselves into a representation of a map of the islands of New; Zealand and sang a song which they had made up about China, and New Zealand.

Speaking of the war in China, Miss Arrowsmith said the courage, endurance, and sense of humour of the Chinese was bearing them up in the most amazing way and they were quite optimistic about the outcome of the war. On her particular island, they were maintaining about 500 refugees. When they came it had been astonishing the.way international help had poured in, she said. Mass handling was making it possible to feed them for about a penny a day each. ■ Other visitors at the reception included Miss Tunbridge (Christchurch), Mrs. Solbman (Napier). Mrs. McAlpine (Auckland), and Mrs. Corner and Mrs. L. Grant (Taranaki). The hostesses were Mesdamqs W. Burton, J. W. Mackisack, S. Gyles, G. Castle, and Miss N. E. Donovan (secretary).