OPTIMIST CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1938, Page 9

OPTIMIST CLUB

INTERESTING COLLECTION OF CURIOS. ADDRESS BY MR G. BARR. A large attendance at the Optimist Club tea last evening listened with much interest to Mr George Barr, who, in a most informative talk, told of his curio collection. From a few souvenirs brought back from • the Great War Mr Barr has built up a collection which today is of considerable value. Many of the native weapons of war Mr Barr described had an interesting story attached, and one in particular, the Ghurka Kukri. This religious weapon of leaf shape, once taken from its sheath, could not be returned unless it had drawn blood. Mr Barr also told of his collection of army badges and buttons, gas masks, helmets, bombs and other war curios, both ancient and modern. Included amongst the curios he has the common household irons that begin with the old fire heated iron, then the charcoal, brick, spirits and gas to the modern electric iron. Momentos from the South Seas, Japanese temple decorations, bottled snakes and lizards from Australia and numerous other curios all went to make a most interesting collection. At the conclusion of his address the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr F. Gillions.

Next week, the club expects a large increase in members, and arrangements have been made to cope with this.