POPULAR TRAVEL TALK

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 14

POPULAR TRAVEL TALK

MRS PARTRIDGE’S VISIT TO AMERICA

A large audience was attracted to the Southland Women’s Club yesterday afternoon when Mrs E. Partridge gave an interesting travel talk. Mrs A. F. Ritchie Crawford announced that the speaker would describe her travels in America.

At exactly this time last year, Mrs Partridge and her husband arrived in the United States of America from England and travelled from Montreal to New York through miles of vividly tinted trees. “Next to the English spring,” said Mrs Partridge, “the American fall is the most beautiful season in the world.”

The brilliancy of the night-lighting of New York, the novelty of dog-racing, visits on two days to the World’s Fair, and the lack of flowers because of the city’s rock foundation, were but a few of the impressions gathered during a stay in the city. The beautiful skyline of New York was described as a symphony in steel, and the view of Manhattan Island from the top of the Empire State Building afforded a magnificent panorama. Some idea of the vast scale of crowds and buildings could be realized from the fact that 10,000 persons passed daily through the doors of Macey’s, the world’s largest departmental store. A visit to Chicago was interesting from several aspects, the beauty of its lakeside frontage, the presence of gangsters in the city, and the extensive acreage of maize grown in the surrounding country, which goes to feed the cattle which is eventually canned in the huge factories of Chicago. CONTRASTING SCENES The long trans-continental train journey brought new sights to the tourists’ eyes, some of which were the miles of derricks on the oil-fields of New Mexico, the miles of purple sage and herds of prairie cattle of Arizona. In striking contrast was the luxurious residential area of Hollywood, where the avenues of royal palms, absence of fences and the continental awnings on

the white houses, basked in the perpetual sunshine. No visit to California would be complete without seeing at least one of the old Spanish missions, whose architecture and associations are full of interest. At the alligator farm, where there are 2000 reptiles. “Old Bill,” 250 years old, who commands a fee of £3O a day for film appearances, has already earned £12,000 in this way.

On the way to Yosemite Valley, the del Monte fruit orchards were passed. Orchards of almond, fig and peach trees stretched for miles. In the valley, the alternative of the simple cabin life or the luxury of the famous Ahwahnee Hotel was offered.

In San Francisco, the harbour was almost deserted as the many strikes had discouraged shipping companies from trading in that quarter. The Oriental life was very much in evidence in the population, shops and art in the city. The last glimpse of American life was at Honolulu, the Hawaiian Paradise or “Playground of Millionaires.” Mrs Crawford thanked Mrs Partridge for her talk, saying she had the gift of observation and gift of imparting impressions. She presented her with a novelty bouquet A song was sung by Mrs Frampton, accompanied by Mrs A. E. H. Bath, and a pianoforte duet was played by Mrs F. Jones and Mrs Bath.

Members of the club each brought a gift as a contribution to the toy bazaar which is a forthcoming event at the club.

PRESENTATION AT MATAURA

POPULAR PARISHIONER FAREWELLED

On the eve of her departure for .Palmerston, Mrs S. E. Smith was the guest of parishioners of St. Saviour’s Anglican Church, Mataura, at a function in the Stewart Hall. The large attendance was an indication of the goodwill of the congregation, and an expression of appreciation of her services so willingly given over the past four years in the capacity of organist and choirmistress. The Vicar, the Rev. J. Morland, was in the chair. Mr Morland outlined the work of Mrs Smith for the church, stressing the fact that she had ever been willing to look after the choral side and to coach the choir individually and collectively. Since her advent, considerable progress had been made with a consequent improvement in the attendances. There was little doubt that she would find ample scope for her talents at Palmerston and, like Mataura, the church in that centre would find her an acquisition.

In making a presentation of an oak chiming clock on behalf of parishioners at Mataura, Mr T. G. Boyd paid a tribute to the interest and enthusiasm of Mrs Smith in the management of the choir and in other spheres of church work.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr J. Henry, Mrs C. D. Taylor (Mothers’ Union) and Mrs J. Walker (Ladies’ Guild). Miss Margarita Smith was handed small tokens from the choir and the Sunday school. Responding for his wife, Mr Smith assured those present that whatever Mrs Smith had done for St. Saviour’s had been a pleasure to her. Those who contributed to the concert programme included Mesdames T. K. Fisher, H. Brownsey, A. Turner, Misses M. Christiansen and I. Knowles and Mr R. Poskitt, while Mesdames Smith, C. H. Hargest anH A. Turner as accompanists and played for ,the dancing.