TRAVEL TALK ABOUT AFRICA GIVEN TO WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 187, 25 August 1937, Page 11

TRAVEL TALK ABOUT AFRICA GIVEN TO WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

The social circle of the Twyford Women's Institute, of which Mrs. O. H. Thompson is leader, met at Mrs. P. G. Nicoll's home, when Mrs. W. Nicoll, of Hastings, gave a most interesting travel talk on South Africa. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Nicoll said that South Africa was essentially a country of blue skies and fair weather, except, of course, for its brief rainy season. As a country it relied largely for its prosperity on' its minerals. Farming was hampered considerly by insect pests, ciief of which were locusts. Continuing, the speaker stated that they had landed at Capetown, which was a beautiful city of white slate-roofed buildings and background of liigk mountains, void of trees or vegetation. Beautiful sandy beaches were skirted by a magnilicent marine drive. On leaving Capetown for Caledon, a distance of 84 miies, large areas of vineyard and dairy farming country of not very good quality were passed through. At Caledon a tcn-acre rock garden of indescribable beauty was visited. Its natural rocky formation, profusely covered in gailyLued flowers and its iris-bordered stream meandering through, -made a picture long to be^remembered. Around Oudtslioorn, the next stopping place, large quantities of wheat were grown. Here a model Dutch farm was visited. Generallv speakiug, the Dutch i South Africa were lazy and indifferenfc farmers, but there were exceptions. From Oudtslioorn to Knysna, a distance of 124 miles, ostrich farms 50 miles in cxtent were journeyed through. The foliowing day Mrs. Nicoll said they travelled through wliat is knowh as the Wilderness, and over two high passos. The sccnery in places was very fine, and the mauve and yellow-eovered mountain-sides were most appealingly leautiful. Beyond this wild* flower garden territory, and .before Teaching Johannesburg, good sheep country was to bo found apart from natural grasses. Tiio sheep, chiefly Merino, f eed on salt bush, which grows from about ni'ne to 12 inches high. Johannesburg was a wonderful city containing many line public buildings, outstanding among which were the post office and library. The rents were very high, but the living expenses were generally much the same 'as in New Zealand, except that meat and fish were very expensive, and fruit, parlicularly oranges and bananas, very. ckeap. Among many visits of interest was one to the "Robinson Deep" gold iiiine, said to be the deepest mino in the world. It was possible to travel 65 miles underground in this ruine. In the vieinity of Johannesburg were iron, silver, copper, tin and asbestos mines, apart from numberless coal mines. Mrs. Nicoll then went on to describe a visit to the Kruger National Park, which is claimed to bo oue of thc world 's most wonderful sanctuaries for wild life. Inside the park approximately 750 miles of roads have been constructed which can be traversed by motor-cars. Of tho numberless wild animals to be found there, in all about 40 varieties, some are very rare, while others again are plentiful. The park is a wonderful place for bjrd life of all kinds, from the splendid martial hawk eagle to the little scops owl with its crescendo whistle, most uncommon of bush sounds, which is heard either by day or by niglit. Tho larger rivers are crossed either by low-level concrete bridges or by pontoons operated by native attendants. White men are in charge of mOst of tho rest camps, which contain accommodation for from 12* to 300 visitors. The huts, which can bo hired for a nominal sum, are constructed of concrete walls and thatched roofs. Visitors must bo in these rest camps by 7 p.ut., and are prohibited from making any noise after 9.30 p.m. . It is ossential that in evcry possiblo way this sanctuary of wild life be kept in its natural form. Sliould a lion happen to bo restmg on the road in the way of the motor:car. the sightseers must await the lion's pleasure befor® travelling on. At Pretoria, with its beautiful palms and low buildings, is situated the Government or Union Building, which is 900ft. in length and constructed in African grey stone with pillars oi" African black granite. This building contains in all 300 rooms and 280 electric docks, all of which are operated from the master cloekroom. . Surrounding the building aro splendidly laid-out grounds. On being questioned concerning • educational matters in South Africa, Mrs. Nicoll stated that the standard of education was high.' In . tho sckools children have to learn both Afrieanus (Dutch) and Englislu All public notices, names of streets, Government paper, have to be printed in both languages. Again, in answer to a question, the speaker said that the roads generally were not very good, but, nevertheless, on account of the vastness of their country, people thought rothing of travelling from 400 to 500 miles in a day. Mrs. Nicoll was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and asked if she woul'd return at a later date and continue her travel talk.