LUNCH CLUB

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3907, 14 February 1929, Page 2

LUNCH CLUB

INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MR C. M. ,CRON QUEST.

The monthly meeting of the Foxton Lunch Club was held to-day when Rev. W. 11. Walton presided in the absence of Mr. W. E. Barber. Mr. 0. M. Cronquest (Shannon) gave the address and took for his subject “The Island of Niue.” Present: Messrs J. Martin, J. Aitchison, A. E. Scott, R. M. Parkes, F. Desm'ond, W. S. Heyes, Stevens, Murray, Giblett, M. E. Perreau, G. ,F. Smith, H. Osborne, H. E. Gaibett, Revs. W. H. Nicholas and Edmondson, and the secretary (Mr. I. Corn). Visitors present were: Messrs J. Desmond (Wellington), Hood (Wellington), Mathews and Howard (Palmerston North). A number of apologies were received.

Mr. Cronquest dealt with his subject in an attractive manner. -Niue Island, said the speaker, was discovered by Captain Cook and was particularly isolated. The name of the island meant “eocoanut,” of which trees there were a great number on Niue. The inhabitants numbered some three to four thousand natives and only about twelve whites. The Natives were particularly hospitable and clean. The island possessed only one safe port named Alofi and had no wharfage accommodation nor could any vessel visiting the island anchor during its visit owing to the presence of coral reefs and the danger from a sudden visitation of a hurricane. Straight up from the sea rose solid rock coral cliff’s some 70ft. in height, and the sea, rushing through blow-holes along its base presented a very interesting spectacle. Alofi is the main village ,at which is located the Residency, and there were eleven villages in all on the island, most of which were built on the coast line. Copra was the chief product but with the newly organised steamship service to the island a banana trade was also springing up. The huts were made of burnt coral. An old. custom which obtained on the island was that of burying the owner of a hut under the centre 'of the dwelling but since the arrival of the European the custom was abolished and the body is now buried in front of the but over which is erected a slab of coral. The eocoanuts growing in front of the hut are tabooed after the. death of the owner for some twelve months.

To see island life, said the speaker, tli-d traveller should go to Niue, as it existed in its pure state there. Referring- to the Native games, lie said a form of cricket was very popular. The teams were comprised of some 30 odd Natives and at each end of the pitch a captain or spokesman took up his position and prior to a ball being pitched up the bowler was harrangued (for some two or three minutes on the art of howling. On the ball having been played and hit by the batter .a member of his side blew a whistle to let him know when it had been fielded so as to run no pisk of being stumped. Spear throwing- was also very popular and the Natives were particularly adept iu this art. There was one, school on the island unjjpr the control of a white man and a hospital with one white nurse and several Native assistants. Mr. Cronquest gave an interesting description of Native mat-making and illustrated his address with a number of Native articles. In conclusion, AL-. Cronquest said that for a real good holiday a person could not select a better spot to go to than Niue. The Natives were most courteous and the visitors would see Native life in its real and pure state. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Cronquest was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the chairman and Mir. M. E. Perreau for his interesting and instructive talk.