FOXTON LUNCH CLUB.

Shannon News, 19 February 1929, Page 3

FOXTON LUNCH CLUB.

INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MR C. M. CRONQUEST.

The monthly meeting of the Foxton Lunch Club Was held on Thursday - when Rev. W. H. Walton.presided m the absence of Mr W. E. Barber. Mr €. M. Cronquest (Shannon) gave the address and took for his subject The Island of Niue.”' There was .a good attendance and visitors present were: Messrs J. Desmond (Wellington), Hood (Wellington), Mathews and Howard (Palmerston North). A number of apologies were receiv€d Mr Cronquest dealt with his subject in an attractive Imanner. Niue Island, said the speaker, was discovered bv Captain Cook and was particularly isolated. The name of the island meant “cocoanut,” 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 ac commodation 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 coral cliffs some 70 ft; 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 tiadw 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 undei the centre, of the dwelling but since the arrival of the European the custom was abolished And the body is buried in front of the hut and over it is erected a slab of coral. The cocoanuts growing in front of the hut are tabooed after, the death of the owner for some twelve months. The Niuean is a particularly friend ly and courteous person. Whenever he meets anyone he always exchanges a friendly greeting. He is very peaceful and, scrupulously clean. He religiously bathes twice, a day and even the smallest infant is subjected to a bi-daily tub. He is, like most other members of Native races, very superstitious. He will not venture out after, dark alone for anything but will ,after some persuasion, accompany a European at night because he considers the white man is immune? from the spirits. |To see island life, said the speaker, the traveller should go to Niue, as it existed in its pure state there. Referring to the Native games, he 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 1 spokesman took up his position and jirior to a ball being pitched up the bowler was harangued for some two or three minutes on the art of bowling. 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 sj as to run no risk of being stumped. iSpear throwing was also very popular and the Natives were particularly adept in this art. There was one school on the island under 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, Mr (Cronquest said that for a real good holiday a person could not select a better spot to go to than Niue. The visitor would see Native life in its real and pure state. At the conclusion of his address Mr Cronquest was accorded a hearty vote cf thanks by the chairman and Mr M. E. Perreau. for his interesting and instructive talk. '